Acting...?

Question

okay, so i wanna act, no exp., 15, shy, but its the only thing i can think of that i want to do...

i know itd take a lot of time and practice [especiall for me, cuz i dont know if im that good]...but i also dont wanna ruin my life by wasting all the time and not making it...

what can i do? should i try to find something else in college, and then once im done, get a job and try to get into acting?

please help me! and please no discouraging comments like "you'll never make it, dont waste ur time"!!!

as far as i know, this is something that i REALLY want to do because whenever i think about not making it, i get really depressed...

acting seems fun, even if its a lot of work, it can pay well [[yeah, i know itd take even more hard work to make a lot of money]], and i wouldnt be just another person working in a cubicle [no offense]...it just seems like a pretty much all around good career...please help!

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a pretty good head on your shoulders, and that you have thought about a lot of the negatives that can come along with choosing acting as a career.

I am especially impressed that you are so aware of all the work involved, and yet you are still passionate about becoming an actor. My advice is to go for it.

Of course, there are many means to the same end, so you have to consider what is best for you. You mention college and should you study something else. It's not a bad idea to have another option, should your first choice of careers not work out, or if your priorities change.

You could go to a college that offers both a theater major and minor. In which case, you could study major in another subject and then minor in theater. You could even switch to majoring in theater.

Nothing is written in stone...we all have options in life. No matter which way you get into your acting career, it is best to become skilled at the craft. I suggest that you start now.

If you decide to apply to theater colleges that require auditions, you will need to work at this. Some of the schools can be very competitive. If you are interested in learning more about the college application process and training for theater, check out the college pages at

www.musical-theater-kids.com

Follow your dream and keep persevering!

Answer 2

As an alternate to acting why don't you try some of the behind the scenes work. Become a theatre tech, or a camera operator, or a props master, or any one of the other rewarding "non-cubicle" jobs in the industry.

With no experience, no real desire to act, a want for a fun job that pays well, and depression when you face rejection or disappointment, I really don't think starting an acting career is your best choice. I don't want to discourage you but I do think you should really look into the other side of the business.

I know a lot of theatre techs. They all love their job!! Each and everyone of them makes money; They are in very high demand, some having 3 jobs at a time and having to turn down 5-6 more a month. Where as most actors I know work for free just to get the experience (& still have boring or cubical jobs).

You still need the desire to work hard and the passion for the arts, but going the technical route sounds like an all around better career for you. Look into some of the colleges & universities that have amazing technical programs (hint: they are not always the ones with the best reputation for acting); and in the meantime ask your drama teacher if you can do lights or sound for one of the plays in your school to get experience. Some tech skills include writing quickly, sewing, doing carpentry work and painting- so if you can try working on those as well.