What would you tell your child if they want to be an actor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That I know multiple people who majored in the “right” things at theater school, and they never worked in the industry or only got one piddly tech job. Ever. It’s that worth $200,000 to you and her?

Which college costs $200,000?

for a 4 year degree? Most of them, easily.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend majoring in something else and just trying out for all of the plays at school (and/or minoring in theater). I say this as someone who majored in theater and had quite a few classmates who have had success and are making a living. a

[Anonymous]

My adult DS, who is now 24 years old, wanted to be a professional golfer at the age of 18. He was very good but I didn't think he would make money as a professional golfer. After high school, skipped college and tried to qualify to play professional golf. He did that for five years at the cost of 50K/yr at my expense. After five years of pursuing his dream, he came to the realization that it would not happen, and decided to go to college. He is now doing very well at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in finance. I have no regrets supporting his dream because I have the financial resources to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That I know multiple people who majored in the “right” things at theater school, and they never worked in the industry or only got one piddly tech job. Ever. It’s that worth $200,000 to you and her?

Which college costs $200,000?

for a 4 year degree? Most of them, easily.

JMU tuition is $12k/year.

[Anonymous]

I would be very frank about their chances for success and encourage them to develop a skill in addition to acting that they can use to support themselves. Ultimately it’s their choice!

[Anonymous]

I think people are over-estimating how much a major matters. There are tons of things a person can do with a degree in the fine arts, and tons of skills that an acting major would gain that would be useful outside the arts.

My friends with theater degrees are teachers and journalists and lawyers and diplomats, and in each case I think they are using their skills even if they are not on stage.

[Anonymous]

I went to NYU twenty years ago and was friends with lots of actors in Tisch. I know of exactly two who had decent careers in acting, one of whom is a nepo (her father is a famous actor).

Of those I knew the best:
1. Ex-GF: she interned at Vogue in college, now has a very successful career as a celebrity stylist, 100K+ followers on IG. Came from a very wealthy family, was always more interested in fashion than acting.
2. Successful friend #1: landed a recurring role on a very popular TV show in the mid and late 00s. Now works in local theater in LA, occasionally has bit roles, did some independent film. From the Midwest, working class background (like Jenna Fischer....but way less success)
3. Successful friend #2: father is a famous actor. She had some buzz after leaving NYU, did some Broadway stuff. Not acting a bunch these days, I think she's doing the mom thing.
4. Working local actor: teaches high school theater, does a lot of work in community theater in her home town (acting, directing, producing). Seems to love it the most out of our friend group. LMC background.
5. Working actor: moved to LA, has about 15 credits on IMDB in small roles. Works in the SAG union and very involved in union affairs. I think SAG union is her real fulltime job. Middle class background.
6. My former roommate: moved to LA after NYU, never really motivated. Last I heard, he was working at a gym in LA. Comes from an insanely wealthy family and has a big trust fund.
7. Middle Class Friend #1: stayed in NYC, became a professional recruiter. Nothing really happened with acting career.
8. Middle Class Friend #2: moved back to hometown, did MLM and became SAHM. Nothing really happened with acting career.

I think you're more likely to eek out a living as a working actor these days with the rise of streaming platforms (vs. 20 years ago when you were just vying to get on cable or broadcast TV). My suggestion?

1. Don't go to college
2. Take acting classes at Stella Adler, Meisner, Atlantic School, Lee Strasberg acting academies
3. Get an agent
4. Audition, audition, audition
5. Take some writing classes and start writing scripts. Studios wants someone who can create and act. It's all about content creation.
6. Develop a backup skill that allows you to WFH or has flexible hours to pay the bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are very involved with theater & drama and want to major in drama in college.

Prepare to be a HS drama teacher bc that will be the end result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let them try, Don kill their dreams.

so, you plan on supporting them till you die?

Love your either-or fallacy here. A real hallmark of an educated mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are very involved with theater & drama and want to major in drama in college.

Prepare to be a HS drama teacher bc that will be the end result.

And just PRAY they don't end up being someone who disparages teachers while using redundancies like "end result."

[Anonymous]

My sister was very into drama and went to Tisch. Our parents paid full freight. She has never had a paid acting job and has worked as a nanny since graduation. Seems like it was a waste of 200k (would probably be even more now!!!!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That I know multiple people who majored in the “right” things at theater school, and they never worked in the industry or only got one piddly tech job. Ever. It’s that worth $200,000 to you and her?

Which college costs $200,000?

for a 4 year degree? Most of them, easily.

JMU tuition is $12k/year.

You're being silly. 12K/year is just for tuition. You don't need a place to eat or sleep.

FWIW, tuition+room/board at UVA can get up to almost 45K/year for in-state. Therefore, 200K is about right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister was very into drama and went to Tisch. Our parents paid full freight. She has never had a paid acting job and has worked as a nanny since graduation. Seems like it was a waste of 200k (would probably be even more now!!!!)

Are your parents wealthy? Did she meet her client there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let them try, Don kill their dreams.

so, you plan on supporting them till you die?

Love your either-or fallacy here. A real hallmark of an educated mind.

? It's not dramatic. You realize that the vast majority of actors don't "make it", right? That they usually end up taking low level jobs like waiting table to pay the rent?

So, unless your kid is willing to live that way, and you're also fine with it, then yea, you would be supporting them till you die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let them try, Don kill their dreams.

so, you plan on supporting them till you die?

It’s called letting your adult kids make their own mistakes. Not talking about college.

that's an expensive choice. I guess if you have the money and are fine with throwing it away...