I am a Theatre major at FIU in Miami, Florida. Should I get my BFA or go to a school in New York City?

Question

I am a 23 year old college student enrolled at Florida International University in Miami. I am kind of frustrated at this point. I have about three years before I graduate with a BFA in acting. I WANT TO ACT. In addition to acting, I also write plays and poetry. I would love to go New York, but its almost unliveable especially if you don't know anybody there, I know it's wise to get a degree, the actors life is hard life, but I have been told over and over again that I am talented, by virturallly every teacher and director I have ever had. I wan't to go to school in New York, I want to do film and off broadway plays, I want to stop dreaming of acting and start doing it. What would you do if you were me? I have never been to New York before and I know I need more training as an actor. I have over 90 liberal arts credits and I just transferred to FIU, but I'm not sure its the best school for acting.

Answer 1

I believe you should be intelligent and get your BFA first because no matter how much talent you have, it does not necessarily mean you will find work. Acting is a tough business and I don't think you will be too excited about half way starving working minimum wage as a waitress. Be smart and get your education first so you can have something under your belt. Unless you have some producer or director in your face saying they want you now and they will pay you big money, then I would stick to the BFA, then later pursue the career in NYC

Best~wishes!!!

Answer 2

If you are pursuing your  theatre degree only as a backup plan, don't waste you time.  If you just need a degree to feel more secure about future income, there are many easier majors other than theatre.  Get an english degree, or a sociology degree, save you money and go to New York.

You say you need more training.  Good.  That is probably true.    Should that additional training be through a university theatre department of through  studio classes in NYC, or in a non degree conservatory program, or through private coaching? Going to college guarentees nothing in the acting world. Nobody is going to ask you for your BFA degree from FIU before they cast you in a Broadway play or a film.  The education you get in all aspects of theatre through FIU should be valuable whether you become an actor or not.

If you are itching to go to NYC, the question you need to ask yourself is "How good am I at this point?"  Will I be able to compete with well trained professional actors in New York most of whom had teachers and directors tell them they were talented too?  How have you done in competeing with other actors for roles so far?  Are you getting parts at FIU Theatre?  Have you auditioned for local plays and or film/TV work?  It is one thing to be talented.  It is another to be ready.  Are you ready financially?  Do you have money saved?  If not, you can look forward very hard just to pay the rent in NYC, not leaving you much time and/or energy to pursue acting work.  Do you have anyone to model your career after?  They don't have to be famous.  Just a working actor.  It is great that you are looking for answers to these difficult questions, but Yahoo Answers is a terrible place to look for them.  Talk to your professors at FIU Theatre.  I am one of them.  There is no absolute right or wrong answer to you dilema - only the right or wrong one for you.

Answer 3

If i were you id move to La or Ny and do either school for film and television or new york film academy. Go live your dream! You only live once!

Answer 4

How much regional community theater experience do you have?  You can have tons of references, but if you don't have any off-off-off Broadway experience, you are already in a whole once you get to NYC.  The acting schools in NYC are very expensive!  I would focus on regional theater for now, keep up the classes, and plan more effectively how to make a move to New York or even a place like Minneapolis (very strong theater there).  Read Variety and/or other theater pubs and look at off-Broadway auditions so you get a sense of what is involved.  You do NOT start on Broadway, but rather in small theater houses (if you are lucky), and work your way up!  A local person from Hawaii just made the big-time (South Pacific), and she did it through years of community theater, plus a ton of commercials for local companies.  

BTW, Starbucks practically supports the theater people in NYC!