I need your advice I want to act?

Question

Hi, I'm an 18 yr old guy and I'd like to be an actor or something like that..I mean..I LOVE to tell stories and pretend I'm someone else..I do it everyday just for fun when I'm home and when I do it I really think I'm someone else and I think it'd be great to be able to do it as a job..u know..I just wanna be in stories and be able to let people dream with these stories..u know..it may sound kinda cheezy or whatever...anyway I'm very shy and I get very nervous when I know ppl are judging me (like at auditions)

so do you think I'll be able to do what I like to do? (I dont have any experience in acting and stuff and I'm already 18) any advice?

The thing is my parents dont believe in me AT ALL and call me crazy(seriously) ...I have $11,000 or something so far..do you think thats ok for a start?

Answer 1

Get a job, any job.

Then hunt down your nearby live theaters, and get involved.  If you go to school (high school, college), then get involved in the theater department.  That's how you start.

Acting usually doesn't pay enough to live on until you're very experienced.  So pursue it intensely as a hobby or side job.  As your experience and skills increase, you may be able to move toward making a living off of it alone.

You parents are just responding to your notion that you can just go "get a job" as an actor or storyteller when you have no experience.  It's not likely.  It's something you have to work at, and sacrifice your spare time for.  And as in any art or entertainment field, there isn't room for everyone to make a decent living at it.  Talent does not necessarily equal financial success.  There are plenty of highly gifted people out there having to maintain a "day job" to make ends meet.

But don't let anyone say you should do what you like to do.  Just be realistic about it.  Get a job, and work on your dreams with all your spare time.