#acting degree

[dreamwalkerdiary]

Is there anyone whose native language isn’t english and attend AADA or RADA?

I’m considering applying to either of these universities, but I’m afraid that english isn’t my mother tongue would mean a huge disadvantage for me.

[queenandani]

[Conversation with Counselor]

Me: I just don't understand why I have to take math if I am majoring in theatre

Counselor: Well, what if one day you get a part as a math teacher? Wouldn't it help if you knew about the subject?

Me: Uhhh that's what scripts are for... that's like saying "if you got a part as a serial killer wouldn't it help you actually murdered people"?

Counselor: That is not what I meant

Me: That is exactly what you meant

[queenandani]

It's always interesting telling people you are getting a degree in theatre/acting. Because you always get different responses. You are either going to get people who are shocked and just say good luck, or you get people who think it's cool and continue to ask more questions about it. Than there are times when you get people who will talk your ear off about how it is not a good way live a life. The person who is telling you this is probably a dentist who had a dream to be professional dancer years ago but had a long running line of dentists in their family who did not approve of this dream so now they tell anyone who is following their dreams to just get a degree in something they have zero interest in to regret it later.

[queenandani]

So I was talking to my counselor about how it is completely pointless to take a math class if I am getting a degree in acting and stage managing and she was like "well what if you got casted in a role of a math teacher? Wouldn't it help if you knew about it?" And I was like "Well there's this thing we do. It's called acting, where you act like something your not. And there's this thing they give you when you are casted, it's called a script. That's like saying, well if you get casted as a serial killer wouldn't it help if you killed some people??"

[section-palm-beach-real-sz]

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[i-remember-there-was-mist]

Hello! You answered a question about where you go to school being important; but what about what you major in? Being on Broadway is my dream but my parents are telling me to think "practically" so the best I can do is minor in theatre. Will participating in shows at school and community theatre help out at all? Thanks!!

-rolls eyes-  Ugh, I seriously am SOOOOOO over the whole, “No, think of the practicality of it!”  This is nothing against your parents and certainly not against you or your question–this is something against a whole movement of, “No, don’t follow your dreams, you’ll end up starving off the side of the road!”  Newwwwsflash–college isn’t the same as it was 30 years ago when our parents were there.  Almost EVERY major is impractical these days.  Psychology?  English Lit?  History?  There’s this constant joke around college campuses that everybody’s major has absolutely no job security or path, period.  Every Psych major I know went into the major because it was “practical,” and now they can’t find jobs and are all in graduate degrees out of necessity.  And you know what, many of them wanted to study psych, so more power to them.  But if they can follow their dream, why can’t we?  (Sorry, this is turning into a rant.  You fueled my fire!  :D Soooo, rant under the cut.)  

For some people, theatre isn’t the life for them.  It’s transient, it’s scary, it’s unstable.  Alright.  Got it.  So I don’t blame people for going into things like Computer Programming, where there is a high need for that skill.  Total respect for that.  But honestly, going to school for 10 more years and getting 100k into debt to study a major that has no jobs at the end of it wasn’t really the life for me either.  So what’s wrong with that?  Here I am, with more money saved up to my name than any person I know.  Here I am, without a cent of debt to my name.  Here I am, employed, working, and in the field I studied.  That’s far more than most of my friends who had “practical” majors.  Let me count my friends….One changed to English Lit, and she’s now working as a glorified secretary and absolutely hates it.  It’s not in her field, she’s miserable, her boss is a sleaze, she never gets to see her husband…  One got a religion/anthro major, and had to go get her graduate degree where she is working and studying full time.  That’s absolutely insane.  And it’s out of necessity, because she can’t afford to get more into debt.  One majored in international studies and has jumped from internship to internship, barely making a cent and hoping that one will lead to a “real job.”  My sister got her degree in business, and has hated the jobs she’s had for the past six years ,and so is going back again to finally follow her dreams. She lives in L.A., and she has so many living costs every month, I have absolutely no clue how she survives.  

Folks, parents, listen up.  These are the practical majors you are pushing us towards. And you know, if Women’s Studies is your passion, more power to you.  If Journalism gets your motor running, awesome. But theatre is where our passions lie, so what is wrong with that?  I just can’t even stand all this shit about, “Welllllll you knowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww it’s harddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd you need a backup plannnnnnnnn.”  Yeah?  Parents?  How much did you actually research about this career?  Tell me what you know about it past, “It’s hard, you need a backup plan.”  Tell me about the union.  Tell me about the benefits.  Tell me about retirement plans. Tell me about auditioning.  Tell me about subsistence jobs.  Oh right.  Because all you did was see a degree in the arts and freak the hell out over it.  Yes, it’s not easy, there is nobody saying it is, but for heaven’s sake, I wish parents would do even a sliver of research on the industry before writing it off.  It is a viable career path.  Absolutely, do your research and know what you’re getting into, because this world isn’t for everybody.   It is hard, and it is scary, but if that’s what you want to do, why is it so frowned upon?  

Okay, wow, I’m so sorry I went off on a rant.  This is absolutely not directed at you, obviously.  And thankfully, I had two parents who were so highly supportive of me and are with me 100% of the way.  My mom knows more about this industry than I do because of how much research she does. We’re an awesome team.  But man.  I am so.  Tired.  Of. Hearing. About. Parents. Acting. Like. This.  I know they want the best for you and they’re worried about your welfare, but I MEAN COME ON!  Forcing your child to only get a minor in theatre because they don’t support you?  Not cool.  At all.  

But to answer your question, it’s not absolutely necessary to get your degree in theatre, but I’d say almost all Broadway performers who got a degree got it in Acting/MT/VP.  I don’t really know anybody who only got their minor in theatre–because at most universities, a minor will be like…One acting class….  A costume class….And a theatre history class.  So you don’t get much love there.  But there is no prescribed path, so it’s not like the opportunity is completely closed to you, but I’d say it’d be significantly harder.  

Woo.  Well.  Got my anger out for the day.  I suppose I had some pent up feelings on the matter I didn’t know were bubbling within.  Ha!  So, thanks for the question, you’re lovely, this is absolutely not directed at you in any way, shape or form.  Follow your dreams, enjoy your passions, and have fun!  =D

[i-remember-there-was-mist]

I saw your post about AMDA and wanting a personal experience. There is so much I could say but I just left last week. I had no choice and 2 other ppl I knew did as well. It is awful. Save your money its called SCAMda for a reason.

=/  Sadly, this is what I’ve heard as well from all my friends that went there.  I didn’t want to make a blanket statement since I don’t have a personal experience, and somebody did contact me saying that he loved the program as well.  But this is definitely the experience I’ve heard is common amongst students there.  Really unfortunate.  

[i-remember-there-was-mist]

do u think a university degree in musical theatre makes it easier to get an agent and to be in shows

I think it’s not a requirement, but I think a degree will invariably improve your chances.  No matter how amazing you were in high school, four years of training is going to make you better, more knowledgeable, more well-rounded...In the end, your performance is really what matters, because your school likely won’t get you many jobs if you aren’t a good performer, but by training at a school, you will become a better performer.