<p>i am thinking long and hard about whether i want to join an acting conservatory (and this is just JOINING an acting conservatory… i have nil experience in acting, so being a professional actor hasn’t even crossed my mind yet). but in any case, i don’t think i would regret joining a conservatory even if i decide i don’t want to be an actor. i’ve taken some acting classes, and the skills, public speaking, movement skills, and self-confidence they teach you appeals to me and seems revelent no matter what i decide to do with myself later on. therefore i am leaning toward going. however, there are some things that keeps bugging me. </p>
<li><p>i am dead scared of new york – i don’t know why, but the thought of going to a town with so many people too busy to look at you might not be for me. plus the expense of new york keeps me up at night. does anybody else feel this way about new york? And LA just seems too show-biz for me… i don’t think i will appreciate the hollywood environment portrayed in media. </p></li>
<li><p>i have no idea how to audition/ do monologues. i thought i was so good that i skipped the monologue class and went straight to the scene study at my school. big mistake. now i feel i have no confidence to do any auditions required for these conservatories! i’m looking to see if there are any local classes that teach monologue work. but does anyone have any other suggestions? </p></li>
<li><p>i don’t know why but chicago appeals to me. probably the idea of having cheaper living expenses and i’ve heard of the loop (?), which sounded pretty cool. concerns from friends of mine are the danger of the city… but growing up in one of the ghettos, i’ve learned what to do/not to do in these kinds of places. act one studio is seeming really appealing to me, especially the price! but again, i’m not confident about the audition process. i had a hard time finding reviews about this place. anyone heard anything about it? i also can’t find their alumni page. </p></li>
<li><p>stupid me for not majoring in theater, now i feel so alone in this area and that i know nobody. (well i’ve interned a little bit, but the people i know are twice my age). even as i’m taking some acting/play analysis classes at school, i’m still having a hard time meeting people. i’m more concerned feeling alone once i move out. i think the first things i will get myself is a dog, though they’re very hard work and time consuming. vet expenses are what i’m worried about as well. don’t know if i will actually get a dog (not a cat person), but i’m dogsitting two dogs, and they make me so happy.</p></li>
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<li><p>Just get the best training you can wherever you are be it through a monologue coach or whatever … Really, your goal for now should simply be to become the best actor you can out of a love for it. Looking ahead to a career at this point is putting the cart miles ahead of the horse. It’s about the journey. Not the destination. Have you considered going for an MFA once you’ve gotten a little more training and experience? </p></li>
<li><p>You’ll probably make a lot of friends from your acting classes. Can’t help you with the dog although I’ll say it seems that having one will make getting a place to stay more difficult and often more expensive.</p></li>
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<p>NotMamaRose - I am a senior in college… graduation is dead near. </p>
<p>fishbowlfreshman - that was so helpful! i feel so much better now. i knew i loved acting, but the thought of being an actor and struggling to make a living, the possibility of living on the streets, etc., has set me back from taking up this journey for the longest time. i will definitely enjoy doing it just to do it. i’m not against the idea of an MFA after some training. but i would like some more experience before i decide this.</p>
<p>What fishbowl said about NY and LA are definitely true. There are ample theater opportunities all over the country, especially in Chicago. But you seem to be basing your feelings about the two cities on stereotypes alone. Have you ever visited New York or L? Spent a couple of weeks there? A couple of months? It’s hard for me to speak about LA since I don’t live there, but I’m from the New York area and no, not everyone looks you in the eye or smiles as you pass in the city, but it is not a place devoid of compassion by any means. Again, you don’t need to choose either of those places, but if something does come up, don’t make decisions without getting better senses of the place.</p>
<p>I’ve visited both places as a tourist. I’m sure there are some nice people everywhere you go, but in the end, my main concern is expense. I am from Seattle, which is not too different from Chicago (price-wise as well, I think). This might sound embarassing, but I have heard Seattle to be a great theater area. I know there are a lot of theater companies here, but none that I know that are acting conservatories (I only know one that offers acting classes quarterly). Am I wrong, or have I just not looked deep enough? For working actors now, do you wait on tables or bartend for a living? How did you ever get past the issue of money? I heard that it’s best to develop another skill to make money on the side as an actor. Such as helping companies do copy-editing, or learn web-development skills, etc. Any more creative ways of making money? Do people with MFAs (besides more training) have a higher chance of getting teaching jobs? Are Ph.Ds even necessary or available in this area? My main concern in the end is having enough money to survive, health insurance, and not going into debt. Otherwise, I think anything else that holds me back would be societal pressure… but if I’m able to make a living doing what I love, I don’t think pressure would bother me as much.</p>
<p>Fishbowlfreshman – I looked at that link, and looking at all those expenses makes me just want to stop at an acting conservatory. It must be really tough to go all the way, emotionally and financially. I found Portland Actors Conservatory, which doesn’t seem so competitive (no audition requried), and tuition is half the price of most of the other conservatories I’ve looked at. Does that say something about the quality of the conservatory? But Portland is a pretty quiet town, means it will be a lot cheaper as well. But I have heard that Portland is starting to get noticed and getting a lot of fillmming done there. Better to get out there while still cheap and quiet before everybody starts flocking there?</p>
<p>“Do people with MFAs (besides more training) have a higher chance of getting teaching jobs? Are Ph.Ds even necessary or available in this area?”</p>
<p>In terms of college and university teaching, yes… people with MFA and PhD degrees have a greater chance of being hired. For most tenured track college teaching positions a “terminal degree” in the field is required. For Theatre the terminal degrees are MFA, PhD or DFA (not a lot of schools offer this degree). In general MFA degrees are obtained in more “hands on” areas… like Acting, Directing, Design, Management, Technology. PhDs are obtained in more theoretical areas… like Theatre History and Criticism. Once can pursue an MFA degree with an undergraduate degree. In order to obtain a PHd one would first need to obtain an MA… sometimes this can be done at the same school… sort of a “fast track” PhD program. Generally speaking an MFA degree takes 3 years, and MA takes 1 - 2 years and a PhD takes 1 - 2 years of course work plus a dissertation (which can take much longer to complete…).</p>
<p>I have asked this question many a time. The result is always similar.</p>
<p>BFA courses prep the student right away for a career in the professional world. With BA/MFA, you obviously go to a lot more school, and maybe recieve a bit more training than those of the BFA. I believe the MFA and Ph.D. are for those who are most interested in instructing theatre. However, Meryl Streep, Tony Shaloub, Cherry Jones…all of them went the BA/MFA route, and there is no telling what one can make of it. I think those who go after the BA/MFA like the length of time to allow themselves to set priorities straight (a lot can happen to one in between 18 and 22).</p>
<p>So it’s more of a question of what you want and what you are ready for. If you feel as though you are ready for professional actor’s training right away, go for the BFA. If you feel as though you need time to establish and improve yourself before seeking professional training (there is competition even to go after training), than a BA/MFA might be what you want.</p>
<p>However, BAs shoul not be ruled out completely against BFAs. I know Northwestern’s BA in drama is a pretty challenging degree, and so is it at the UCLAs (so I hear). </p>
<p>“Dramatics Magazine” answers this question better in their January 2009 issue (the one with the college directory) a lot better than I can. I am only reporting what I hear</p>
<p>4321234 will graduate with an undergraduate degree in another discipline shortly. So, in this case graduate training and/ or conservatory makes the most sense. I have seen some people may choose to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in a new field, but since a bachelor’s degree is a bachelor’s degree regardless of discipline, I always wonder why they didn’t pursue post graduate training of some kind instead. </p>
<p>4321234 seems to feel like (s)he would like additional training before auditioning for MFA programs. In that case taking classes on a class by class basis or attending a 1 to 2 year conservatory seems like a good plan. </p>
<p>In general there are many paths to a career in the performing arts… however, a career in the performing arts in rarely “stable”.</p>
<p>^ I don’t really know what the schools are up there. I just mentioned it because I’ve heard it’s a good smaller market to start out in … mainly in film to my knowledge. I imagine there have to be some good places to train, but check it out. </p>
<p>4321234, I don’t know anything about Portland. I’d be leery of no audition, but that’s just me. It could be great. Just haven’t heard of it myself.</p>
<p>how do you decide which school is best for you? i see that some schools focus on different techniques. how important is it that the school has graduated a reputable actor?</p>
<p>i have found an acting school in my hometown that seems pretty good. their website is really comprehensive and resourceful. the teacher seems like he just wanted to teach acting in this town. it hasn’t been around for long. i’ve looked at it a few times but worried it might be a scam b/c i haven’t heard it anywhere else. how can i tell if it’s a scam or not? the guy has said so himself though, that they’re no one famous, just people with a passion for acting and who wants to teach acting to others. looks like a good place to start though. is it better to just take classes somewhere, or does a certificate mean much? he has said that to fully complete the entire process at his school, it takes 6 years, though some feel that 2 years would be enough. SIX years huh? i really wish i started early.</p>
<p>While I’m sure there will be those who will disagree, I believe that actors, like athletes, are born not made. You can be become a better actor by acquiring technique (and by that I mean physical and vocal training; not Strasberg, Meisner, etc.) but training by itself will not make an actor. The most a good school on your resume will do is to help to get you in the door. I know Juilliard graduates who audition constantly but work infrequently. On the other hand I know actors with non theatre degrees from state schools who work all the time. There is no magic formula, other that dedication to your craft, persistence, and 100% effort all the time.</p>
<p>there’s a reason people say to listen to your instincts, gut feelings, if you feel ny is too busy, it probably will be for you.
my d is living in ny and loving it, but she loved it the moment she arrived there for her audition, on the other hand my 2nd d would never live there!
listen to your gut feelings and visit as many schools/places that you can before you make your decision.
and you need to believe this is the only thing you want to do and go for it don’t let other people/society tell you any different
remember there is no such thing as luck, there is opportunity and prepardness.
remember that when choosing a school you need to find the best education for your chosen field.</p>
<p>Personally, if I was going to spend 6 years in a training program I would want a degree. An MFA would take you 3 years to obtain. If you are prepared to spend 6 years in a training program, I would suggest that you instead take this year to do a one year conservatory program, or take individual classes… then apply to MFA programs. </p>
<p>If you can take a class at this school without committing to 6 years of training, and you like the teacher I’d say give it a go. It sounds as if you are insecure about your decision NOT to pursue undergraduate training, and now feel behind the curve. This is not a race. There are many people who have undergraduate degrees in fields other than theatre who are very successful actors. Start taking classes. I think that you will begin to feel more confident about your ability to asses a training program after you have taken a few more acting classes.</p>