<p>I am considering taking a gap year between high school and college. I wanted to get a little bit more information about how the colleges handle it when wanting to attend for theater. Are you able to defer your acceptance for a year or do you have to reapply the next year? Also, what are people's opinions on a gap year to live in NYC and audition.</p>
<p>If you do not already have an agent or manager in NY I would work on getting one before you start your gap year to ensure that you get in on auditions. </p>
<p>NY is not only a great theater market but also tv, film and commercials market. </p>
<p>If you are 18 but play younger I would suggest submitting to children’s agents. Many adult agents only look at headshots and resumes from actors who have been referred to them by people they trust, while kids agents in NY allow for unsolicited submissions. </p>
<p>The children’s agencies are looking for young adults since so many teenage roles are played by older actors that younger. If you would like agent suggestions you can PM me.</p>
<p>I think your plan for a gap year is a great idea.</p>
<p>In terms of whether you can defer admission or have to reapply, you will need to contact each program individually and find out their policy.</p>
<p>Living in NYC and auditioning will give you a very good idea of whether you actually want to do this with your life, and will help you see what education you need (if any!).</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish by moving to NY and auditioning. If you have money to live and don’t need an income that might be okay, but I wouldn’t hope for much more than the more “negative” side of being an actor, I wouldn’t hope for any major activity.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure that no Agent will be interested in you for just one “gap” year, nor will that be enough time for you to even get seen by many Agents. It couldn’t hurt but the likelihood is greater that you will go to the Equity Building at around 8AM, put your name on the list, and wait and wait and wait to be called, maybe. Perhaps a better option would be to get yourself Backstage and look for non-union auditions for theatre or to find student films and try for auditions to these things. There may be some website productions available to you as well. Most of these productions will pay little to nothing, so be prepared.</p>
<p>What you will probably find (I don’t know you or your abilities) is that you are not yet qualified to be a “pro” but you might learn enough to put you a bit ahead of those who graduate college with no idea of the business whatsoever. Don’t mean to be negative, just realistic.</p>
<p>You will need to look into each college you’re interested in to see how they handle gap years as each is different.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>So don’t tell the agent you are just taking a “gap” year. Tell the agent you want a career as an actor, and are going to devote your life to that goal (that’s true, isn’t it?).</p>
<p>Yes, you will see the negative side of being an actor. But you will have to see that some day anyway. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to know about it right away.</p>
<p>There are people who became very succesful actors when they were even younger than you are.</p>
<p>It is very likely that you will fail. But maybe you will be one of the small number who succeed. If you don’t even try, then you definitely WON’T succeed.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Kevp - It is very bad advice to say she shouldn’t tell the agent she isn’t just taking a gap year. Reputation is all she has right now and by lying she is destroying that. Lying is never a good idea, even in the evasive manner that you suggest.</p>
<p>I did not want to discourage just wanted a dose of reality to counter the “ease” with which some think getting an Agent or Manager might be. Non-union auditions without an agent (student films, digital media, non-paying theatre) is the best to be hoped for and an occasional day or two or three hanging out at the Equity Building hoping to be seen. (Which she may be if she truly looks 18TPY.)</p>
<p>Another idea for a gap year in NY might be doing some backround work and getting on set. Here are a few NY extra casting companies. Their websites tell actors how to sign up with them.</p>
<p>Centtral Casting [Central</a> Casting](<a href=“http://www.centralcasting.com/NY/producers/index.html]Central”>http://www.centralcasting.com/NY/producers/index.html)
Grant Wilfey Casting [Grant</a> Wilfley Casting - offers a complete package to both producers and directors, providing top-notch casting for principal players, day players, and background performers.](<a href=“http://gwcnyc.com/]Grant”>http://gwcnyc.com/)
kee Casting [Movie</a> and tv extra Casting and audition in New York. Background actor for movie and television part](<a href=“http://www.keecasting.biz/]Movie”>http://www.keecasting.biz/)
Sylvia Fay [Sylvia</a> Fay/Lee Genick & Assoc Casting](<a href=“http://www.sylviafaycasting.com/]Sylvia”>http://www.sylviafaycasting.com/)</p>
<p>Is it really a lie? If acting22 starts getting really good offers, surely they will stick with acting for a while. Otherwise, after a year, acting22 can go to the agent and say “I’ve been trying this for a year, and I think it would help me if I went to college and got a degree. I will contact you again when I am done.”</p>
<p>Depending on the college, you could keep the agent and keep working while at college. Many of my fellow undergrad students had agents.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I would think unless you already have some kind of amazing resume or an agent lined up and plenty of money to live on that moving to NYC straight out of high school is a very bad plan. Even graduates of BFA programs have a hard time making anything happen regarding agents and real opportunities once they get to the city. Also, I was told that the worst mistake new people make is being seen by agents before they are really ready to be seen, and she was talking about college acting and MT graduates.</p>
<p>actor12 what makes a person ready to be seen is pretty subjective. It is not only about talent just take a look at most of the CW TV shows. Who knows, this OP could have an amazing look and six pack abs, acting ability may not be required. </p>
<p>OP I would suggest you do know your type. Some types are more in demand and managers and agents are more willing to stay by you as you develop your acting talent.</p>
<p>Personally, I think my advice about going after a children’s agent if an actor is just 18 is a great idea. Agents with kids departments in NY are CESD, Abrams, JGD, FBI, Innovative, Don Buchwald, GenTV. Google them. Submit your material the way they ask for it and take it from there.</p>
<p>Some great advice here. To add to others: How about taking classes? As I’m sure you know, NYC has wonderful acting studios. If you have the money to move there, surely you’d have the money to take classes. That will both build your training and bring you needed connections and letters of recommendations for college when you go. </p>
<p>YOu say nothing about your looks or type, so I would also urge you to consider that. If you are young looking or special type (beautiful, ‘nerdy’ etc) then your chance of securing an agent for film etc would be greater. 18 TPY, particularly a certain type, are in high demand. I would definitely second Shacherry’s idea of simply soliciting agents with the list she generously gives. See what happens. If there is no responses from agents, then you can hone your skills with classes and auditions for non-union theatre, such as community theatre, or in student films. This is a great way of building experience and a resume.</p>
<p>Do be aware that NYC is extremely expensive and also extremely competitive, particularly if you’re competing for theatre work with union actors and you do not look young or are not a certain type. </p>
<p>But what are your motives in taking the gap year? REmember your goals and focus on these. If your goal is to strengthen your resume for college and to build experience, then taking the classes and auditioning for non union would be great (and if you land a spot in a film or commerical, or land an agent, even greater!) But if your goal is to see if you can bypass college, then you need to take a realistic look at your finances, type and experience. Good luck.</p>