| Are you a college sophomore choosing theater as | | | | many academic courses. Nothing could be further |
| a major, or a high school senior targeting top | | | | from the truth. Any talented college theatre |
| rated drama schools, theater arts programs, or | | | | student should take as many academic courses |
| conservatories for your applications? If so, you | | | | as possible, especially in the humanities. A |
| may be asking yourself, "Is this really a career | | | | respected and busy actor needs comprehensive |
| path for me?" | | | | knowledge of English literature, history of western |
| If you are grappling with this difficult question at all | | | | civilization, psychology, foreign languages, |
| you are on the right track. | | | | Shakespearean studies, dramatic literature, art |
| Every year my freshman acting students would | | | | history, as well as the more specific studies of |
| marvel at the ease with which their scientific | | | | opera, ballet, music composition and music history. |
| friends would commit themselves to biology or | | | | I always advise the young actor/singer/dancer to |
| engineering, untroubled by fears of the future. | | | | audition for professional theaters every spring, |
| They, on the other hand, were filled with doubt | | | | starting in the first year, acquiring a full four years |
| and insecurity. Some talented young people | | | | of work in high-quality, Equity (if possible) theaters. |
| dropped out of their studio work altogether, | | | | This prepares him/her with contacts (directors, |
| admitting they could not live with the employment | | | | writers, conductors, music directors, |
| instability they heard awaited them. Why is | | | | choreographers and producers) to approach after |
| pursuing a fine arts degree such a difficult choice? | | | | graduation. These are the summers to build a |
| Let's start by dispelling some general | | | | resume. You will need good credits when you are |
| misconceptions about spending one's life in the | | | | auditioning in New York, Chicago, Boston, or Los |
| arts. The worst of those would be "you cannot | | | | Angeles. I myself am opposed to accepting work |
| make a living as an artist." This is a dictum that | | | | in a small, non-union theater that pays no salary |
| everyone spouts without ever having actually | | | | at all, but if that is all you are offered, then be |
| worked in the arts. We carry the "starving artist" | | | | sure you are guaranteed several leading roles in |
| image from one decade to another, making no | | | | known works. Remember, from college on, you |
| real adjustment for social changes that have | | | | are building a career, a resume and a body of |
| occurred. Artists can earn a living. I have earned | | | | work. Every production you participate in counts, |
| one for forty years and counting and I have yet | | | | so choose wisely and do not get distracted. |
| to go "starving" for a single day. My arguments | | | | There are many books that will outline "the |
| with living as a "working artist" in this country lie | | | | business" in your city of choice. There are guides |
| with misguided government policy not individual | | | | to theatrical and commercial agents as well. There |
| effort. | | | | are acting for the camera courses, voice-over |
| Acquired artistry, top-notch training and consistent | | | | courses, and "how-to" books for breaking into TV. |
| professionalism will always serve as guideposts to | | | | There is no shortage of CD study guides, group |
| the performer's working life. But how can you | | | | seminars or private performance coaching of |
| make a living in this field? You start by training in | | | | every skill. You will have all the information you |
| the best theater and music programs you can | | | | need to learn how to make a living as an artist in |
| find, and there are many of them. You set the | | | | America. The Actors' Equity Association is a union |
| acquisition of a Bachelor of Fine arts or Bachelor | | | | you will be working hard to join, but from the |
| of Arts degree as a goal, understanding that the | | | | beginning you can turn to it as a valuable resource |
| full-course degree program is a better choice than | | | | and networking tool. |
| a two-year training program. You include as many | | | | The 21st century actor has many requirements |
| humanities courses that will support your art form | | | | to fill in terms of skill. The entertainment industry |
| as you possibly can. When you are in a college | | | | is now a broad-based, many-tiered, international |
| program you audition and perform constantly, | | | | employer. This is exciting! This is no longer a |
| stretching your acting and vocal range and | | | | private "Broadway" club, based on who-you-know. |
| challenging your artistic assumptions. | | | | This can be a high-salary, with-benefits career, but |
| Another common misconception is that | | | | you must be competitive to enter it. How can |
| performing artists in college don't need to take | | | | you be competitive? Read my next article. |