How to know if you want to be an actor?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>How do I know that I truly love acting? </p>

<p>I just got into acting over the summer when I got a scholarship for an acting conservatory. It was great, we did scene study, movement, vocal exercises, shakespeare, and such... but I sort of didn't have a good time as I thought I would have had.</p>

<p>One of the reasons why I applied for the Conservatory was because I was very self conscious of myself and felt that this would help. It did help, it exposed my consciousness and fears, but I still had a reoccurring thought of judgement by others. So each day I hung out with maybe five out of the twenty students (ones I felt comfrotable with) and didn't push myself to talk to others too much because fear of judgement. </p>

<p>One guy kept making fun of the way I talked and made me even more self conscious about myself. I know he meant it in a playful manner, but it was just something I was really weak about.</p>

<p>And so anyway, I was in a school play, now a part of Honors Theatre and I like acting. I really do. but how do I know I want to be an actor?</p>

<p>I'm a 12th grader and don't know how to approach acting in college.. I am not sure I see myself doing this for my career. I like Chem but I don't even think I see myself being a pharmacist... too boring. I'm not good at math, or history either. Only thing I'm good at is acting</p>

<p>My theatre teacher tells me I'm great at it, that I have talent, encouraging me to apply to AMDA (which I will). Advice please and include depth!</p>

2

<p>KeepFloatin, the entertainment world period is very tough. On one hand, a lot of people in the business would probably tell you if you have the slightest doubt about a passion for it, get out. On the other hand, you seem fairly new at it and it sounds like you’re gifted as well. I would say to visit any options your teacher may have. Go to plays, musicals etc. when you can. If you decide not to major in it, still take some classes as electives. But, pursue the options for College programs in Acting. You may find a fit with one or more. Having a background like that can help you in many fields you may pursue in your future. Best of Luck to you!! Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders!</p>

3

<p>“But, pursue the options for College programs in Acting”</p>

<p>you mean just continue to get involved with Theatre?</p>

4

<p>I kind of agree with the people who say “If you have to ask, you probably don’t want to be an actor badly enough”.</p>

<p>If you really don’t know what you want to major in in college, it might not be a good idea for you to go to college right now. Take some time off. A year or more. Get a job, just for the pay, and a place to live.</p>

<p>I’ve found that what helps me figure out best what I really want to do with my life is working at a job that I hate. College isn’t really helpful, because it is such a “feelgood” environment with way too many things to choose from. When I deny myself all of these choices, it helps me think “Okay, the ONE thing I really want is . . .”</p>

<p>College isn’t going anywhere. You can always go to college another time. If you even NEED to go to college. And if you have already figured out WHY you are going to college, you will do much better. When I first started college at 17, I really didn’t know why I was there, so this quickly led to failure. Then later I figured things out, and came back and did really well.</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

5

<p>Why do I now have a [sappy</a> old Van Hagar song](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube) stuck in my head? The guitar solo prolly 'splains it better than the lyrics. ;)</p>

6

<p>Sometimes people just like being in college. It’s a good place for them to explore and learn new things, and be with people. If you are generally enthusiastic about learning, you’ll probably go through a valuable process of figuring out what you want to do. </p>

<p>Since a huge amount of post-college work is still not major-specific, I don’t see any reason not to major in what you enjoy. You’ll still have a college degree, and you can always get further training as you discover what you need and want. I have a BA in English, which I enjoyed getting (can’t imagine having majored in anything else), and a professional Master’s that I got 5 years later when I knew more about what kind of credentials I needed for what I wanted to do.</p>

<p>Because there are so many ways to have a life in the arts, I think a degree in an arts-related area, or any subject not directly related to having a “job,” is a great way to learn more about something you love, something you can enjoy for the rest of your life, whether it is your “career” or not. Studying just about anything in college will help you grow as a person and give you skills you can take to your next step.</p>

7

<p>^^I agree with EmmyBet a zillion percent, and can’t say how strongly I feel about the need to remain open-minded at your age! Very, very few people really know what they want to do when they’re teenagers–for that matter, most adults follow a somewhat meandering path, with plenty of surprises. I majored in English too and, like EmmyBet, have no regrets, only gratitude for what I learned about analytical thinking, reading, and writing, not to mention art, beauty, and the human condition. I also went to grad school (in “education”–deadly dull) and have ended up teaching photography and doing extensive academic advising in a private school. My photography knowledge comes from learning-by-doing, but my undergrad education is the reason I can do ALL of the rest of my job. My daughter’s undergrad degree in theater (a BA from a liberal-arts college) would have enabled her to go on to a grad program in set design, but she realized that wasn’t a profession she wanted and is now finishing up a master’s in counseling. As a theater major, she did lots of reading, writing, and thinking about how people’s words and actions reflect their inner thoughts. It has been a huge asset to her in her graduate program, and her professors universally appreciate her ability to write. </p>

<p>A conversation I have regularly with high-school juniors and seniors (and their parents) is about debunking the notion that you “have to know what you want to do” in order to choose a college. They get paralyzed because they don’t have a specific career in mind. College is about growing up as a thinker and an individual; it’s where you learn to listen and read and craft a careful response to what you learn. You learn to seek out and analyze evidence for what you say, rather than blurting out what you think or basing your understanding on something you read online. It prepares you for what comes next, but it’s just a stretch of road, not the whole journey. </p>

<p>My son is interested in getting a BFA, and I’m supporting him not because I think a BFA is necessary for his future but because it could be a good fit for the way he thinks and learns (intensive, kinetic, direct). If he ends up in a BA program, I’ll be even happier, though, because in my opinion he still needs to improve his analytical writing and build a broader foundation of knowledge about the world. So to the OP, I’m chiming in on the side of those who have said that you sound like somebody who is open-minded, interested in a range of things, and curious about the world. You’re ready for college! Just go and see what happens. Do the next thing. You’re so fortunate to be able to go to college–take ALL you can from it! </p>

<p>And good luck. :)</p>

8

<p>Thanks, Times3. I really enjoy the people and the discussions on this thread!</p>

<p>One bit of advice I want to reiterate (and sorry if I’m getting the OP’s two similar threads mixed up) is that there are so many subjects you can study in college that HS kids haven’t ever even tried, that deciding in advance is not only unnecessary but probably a bad idea in general. Yes, some kids have had the opportunity to fall in love with something before they are 18. It is great for them to follow that feeling into college, and as long as they still have that feeling. But there are too many things that you might not have discovered yet to feel a failure, or to force a decision in yourself, before you even get to explore.</p>

<p>Take a look at the educational and career decisions of Will Shortz. He loved puzzles. He went to college. All he was interested in was puzzles. There was no major in puzzles, so he invented one. He has had a long, exciting career in puzzles, and has inspired people of all kinds who love puzzles to enjoy them however they want. Every interview or film I’ve seen with Will Shortz shows how much he loves what he does and the people who share it with him. Who could want a better educational or career path than that? </p>

<p>My D loves theatre. She did a lot of other things growing up, and in HS, too. She adores Acting, but I don’t think she quite follows the “I am an actor and only an actor” image that some of the people here present. What she does know - at least at this point in her life - is that if she’s not spending time with theatre, in one way or another (including watching, reading, writing or talking about it) she is not as happy as when she is.</p>

<p>Two years ago she had to decide whether to get a BA or a BFA in theatre. Like Times3, as a parent I did not focus on which degree was going to be a better career choice for her. What I asked her was “What do you want to be doing in college?” How much of her time did she want to spend doing theatre, and how much did she want to study or be involved in other things - not just majors, but in general? She had so many great BA options that she could imagine lots of different great opportunities, and still couldn’t make her choice. </p>

<p>So we narrowed the field: What do you want to be doing in college your FIRST year? She wanted to train, to do as much theatre as possible, and to go to as much theatre as possible. So she chose the BFA at the school near NYC (a BFA which does allow a generous amount of time for other academic study). Maybe she would have wanted to transfer, after she saw what that was like, but as it turns out she loves theatre more than ever. </p>

<p>Life is long, if we’re lucky. We might as well make our choices on what will make us happy now. Some responsibility toward the future is a good thing, but paralyzing ourselves because of it only wastes our present and makes us regret our past.</p>

9

<p>I don’t know much about acting and personally have not acted a day in my life. But I do know that Stephen Colbert (who did theatre before his television work) stated that he decided he wanted to pursue acting as a career after realizing that he loved performing in shows even when no one was showing up to them.</p>

<p>I personally will be starting college this fall as well and will be majoring in studio art. I had initially planned to do architecture; it wasn’t until I was set to apply for architecture programs that I decided I didn’t really want to spend my life doing that. I realized that painting was the only passion I have really had throughout my entire life. I considered that to be a red flag that I wanted to become a painter. So that is the dream I am following.</p>

<p>Perhaps you’ll have a revelatory moment, just as I and Stephen Colbert did. Until then, I think you need to keep an open mind in regards to career options that are not related to acting. If you truly do love acting and would like to make it your life’s work, I’m sure it will become clear to you eventually.</p>

10

<p>A legendary actress where I come from gave an interview talking about what she would say to a young actor. I’ll translate it for you word-by-word:</p>

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11

<p>EmmyBet said:</p>

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<p>I believe that an actor who’s “only an actor” is limiting himself very much. Like your D, I’m not only an actor. I’m a playwright. I’m a movie director. I’m a drawer sometimes too. I’m a poet. Everything I do that does not involve acting makes me grow as an actor as well. I decided to study acting because that’s the thing I can’t live without. All the other options I can see myself doing periodically, but not acting.</p>

<p>But OP, you have the luxury of living in a country that offers you the opportunity to go to college and study everything you want and are interested about. And who says you have to choose one thing? Don’t choose! Mayim Bialik (from Big Bang Theory) is an actress, has a PhD in neuroscience and also has time to raise her kids. Who knows if she’ll still be an actress after BBT is cancelled? She might start pursuing a career in neuroscience. The thing is, she has the option of doing both whenever she wants. And I think that’s marvelous.</p>

12

<p>OP- if somewhere down the road you do decide to pursue acting, be sure to look at a variety of programs and not just AMDA. There are a lot of discussions on these boards about AMDA, much of it in a negative light. I’m not telling you it is good or bad, but be sure to do your research. There are many available programs including BA, BFA, and 2 year certificate programs. AMDA is a very costly program so be careful. </p>

<p>Since you are not sure what you want to do, have you thought about attending a local CC? This would give you the opportunity to try a variety of classes at a low cost. A lot of CC’s have wonderful acting and theater programs. You could not only get more experience with acting but try some of the behind the scenes jobs too. I would also look for local theaters where you could audition. They are a great place to find out if you truly enjoy acting and all of the things that go with it.</p>

13

<p>@milkshakespeare</p>

<p>I’m gonna need you to translate your translation a step farther…</p>

<p>“So go away, go far away. Go be a banker, go be a doctor, go be a diplomat, go be a garbageman, whatever. Now, if you DIE because you’re not doing it, if you get SICK, if you’re in such restlessness that you can’t even sleep, then come back. But if you don’t go through this separation and through the necessity of these wooden boards here, this is not your craft.”</p>

14

<p>KeepFloatin - She’s referring to the theater. “Now, if you DIE because you’re not doing it [acting] […]”</p>

15

<p>@Emmybet,</p>

<p>Thank you for your response!</p>

<p>I think it was well said “…Majoring in the arts is a great way to learn more about something you love.” However, as much as I enjoy acting I am scared that if I choose a BFA (School that only focuses on a particular art) in theatre then I am limiting myself to my academics. Also that I may decide that acting is not for me but am trapped because I chose a BFA. I additionally feel that I have the potential to do “better” things, and if I chose a BFA it would throw away my potential to do these other things (academics/basically everything we were taught in school). On the other hand, I feel that if I chose a BA, I would setback my dream of truly being an actor, by not getting as much experience as I would with a BFA.</p>

16

<p>The way I’ve best heard it is pretty simple. If you can imagine yourself doing anything else and being happy then you shouldn’t choose acting as a career.</p>

<p>Sent from my XT907 using CC</p>

17

<p>Go chase another dream? Go do something completely opposite? “Now, if you DIE because you’re not doing it, if you get SICK, if you’re in such restlessness that you can’t even sleep, then come back.” That’s the thing, I like acting but in order for something to impact you where you can’t live without it requires love for the craft. I am still in the process to figuring out my emotions for acting (first experience ever during the summer). As of now I do not love acting. I enjoy it.</p>

18

<p>Riverx1</p>

<p>Here’s the thing: I can’t imagine what I could be doing that can make me happy. Not even acting, BUT it has always been a dream to be a movie actor, and is also something that I do enjoy doing.</p>

19

<p>Nobody is talking about the rest of your life. People these days change their careers several times over the course of their work life. You are allowed to get a degree in one subject, try that for a while, then go and get completely different training (maybe another degree or even a graduate degree) and pursue a completely different career. (You are NOT required to major in the same subject in grad school as you did as an undergrad)</p>

<p>KeepFloatin, I am afraid that if you just keep floating you will end up floating somewhere you don’t really want to be. I still think that if you have to ask whether acting is right for you, it probably isn’t. For one thing, you will be competing with people who are not floating, and have instead committed their whole lives to acting. How will you be able to compete with them?</p>

<p>Since you really have no idea what you want to do, I will repeat my suggestion that you take a year or more off, get a job and so on. Then you have figured it out, you can go to college as a highly committed student, instead of just floating.</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

20

<p>^right on the money, KEVP!</p>

<p>I know a young man that graduated from high school, went to college the next fall (without a real goal, just felt it was what was expected of him) and failed all but one class his first semester: didn’t have a goal in mind, wasn’t able to keep up with the work, fell behind in the first month, and just could never catch up. He moved back home with his parents, and went to work. He wasn’t qualified for many jobs, so ended up roofing houses - very physically demanding, yet mind-numbingly boring work.</p>

<p>After doing that for 9 months, he learned a lot of things about himself: number one, that he wanted a job that used his brain, not his brawn. He continued to live at home and work part-time, and over the next three years completed an Associate Degree at a community college (pre-nursing). He earned a full scholarship at an excellent state university, and earned his BSN & RN. He worked for a year as an RN, and then was accepted to grad school, and earned his CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). He’s now working in a CRNA practice, earning a great salary, and doing something he loves. He’s 29, and managed to accomplish all of this with minimal debt. He told me that he will have ALL his student loans paid in full within the next year.</p>

<p>There is something to be said for finding out what you DON’T want to do - sometimes that is all you need to give you the motivation to pursue a profession you love!</p>