So for those having children just starting out, I thought I’d pass along the post grad experiences of my D.
Graduate May 2017. Decide not to move to NYC or Chicago right away but work in a big Midwest city.
Cast in Hunchback the summer right after graduation
Move right into Annie (as Grace Farrell) right after Hunchback
Move right into a dancer gig for a big Christmas show in town for all of December
Sang backup for a Broadway star’s album
Get two callbacks in equity theaters for spring shows, but don’t get cast (very complimentary though)
Go to UPTAs, get 10 callbacks, accept a 9 week contract for the summer, about halfway through that right now
Get cast in Merchant of Venice and start rehearsal right after the summer contract ends
All but two of the above were paid gigs, and one that wasn’t was for a very popular community theater group that has sent a number of people on to professional theater (and she auditioned at the request of the director)
And while doing these, work 30 hours a week at a local performing arts center, give voice lessons, also get paid for writing a blog. Making enough money with these as well as performing to buy her own car!
I suspect my D is working a lot more now than if she had moved to NYC right after graduation, and she’s making very good contacts and establishing a reputation as a performer who is easy to get along with and who works extremely hard for her directors.
So tell your kids, there’s a lot of ways to make it in this crazy world they call theater!
That’s fabulous, @jeffandann! Congratulations to your D!!!
@jeffandann Great job to your daughter!
Thank you for sharing! My daughter is a 2018 BFA grad and working her first post-grad contract. I love to hear these post-grad stories – I hope many more will share. It’s very encouraging to hear all the different journeys!
Thanks for the update @jeffandann! I have followed your postings of your D’s story since her senior year of HS. Love seeing how she’s making the journey her own.
I should probably change my screen name to reflect that my son graduated this past June, not 2019. He was able to graduate in 3 years instead of 4 due to taking 3 summer semesters and coming in with 2 AP credits. I haven’t posted in a while, but here’s another post-grad story. My son just received his BFA in MT from AMDA (yes, that AMDA where he received great training, plus many contacts which come in very handy as he discovered). The first weekend out of college he was cast in Joseph and the Amazing… because one of his instructors from school who was directing the show had an actor drop out and he immediately thought of my son and offered him the part. That show completed last week, and during the rehearsals he had auditioned for scare acting at Universal Studios for Halloween Horror Nights. He found out 2 days ago that he has been cast in that, so he’s employed for at least the next 3 months. After that will be more auditioning, the life of an actor. It helps that we live in Los Angeles, so there are many opportunities both in community theater and beyond. We shall see how it goes…