" Do not make your training decisions based on a desire to “make it”. Train if you believe it is making you a better artist."
=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>
(Evangelizing)
@sloopysnoop The answer to your question depends on your own definition of a working actor. My D does not consider herself a working actor, because she has worked full time jobs in entertainment jobs (casting, marketing, talent management) since graduation and does not audition. Yet she is very involved in the theatre world. Many of her friends who graduated NYU with her consider themselves working actors because they have jobs (babysitting, hostesses, wait staff, personal trainers, etc) that allow them the flexibility to continue to audition during the day. The actual time they spend performing varies, but most spend many more hours off the stage, rather than on it. Some have had more success and have booked cruise ships or tours that have kept them employed for 6 months + at a time (which can be re-newable). Others have done summer stock and/ or very short limited runs (so maybe have worked in theatre 2 to 8 weeks maximum per year.) But then again there are two students who are maybe 3 years ahead of D who have leads on Broadway! Now almost 3 years out of school, some of D’s friend are re-assessing their direction because they want to have a more secure lifestyle and more money. Some are going back to school for law degrees and such. Some are sticking with entertainment and are at prestigious theatre programs. Some are leaving the NYC area and taking jobs in family businesses that were always their Plan B. Some have headed to CA to try out the TV/ movie market. So there is no one path.
Also, don’t assume that all kids should, or do, select colleges solely based on where they’ll find the very best performance training, since for most working actors that neither starts nor ends with college. There are many other amazing non-performance learning experiences that some future MTs will want to incorporate into these unique four years, many of which will also ultimately make them more interesting humans and more employable actors.
At our Indiana U parent info session they told us they used to say choose another profession if you can. They don’t anymore, because they feel there has been a renewed interest in musical theatre, but there is 85% unemployment and a $15,000 average annual salary of those employed.
The Kardashians are not terribly interesting yet get lots of work. I’d say being an interesting and interested human being is certainly a life-long quest and one worth pursuing. Don’t necessarily agree it makes one more employable as an actor however.
@MTMommaJAA you are good! I’ve been searching all over that website for that sort of information! Finally called the school today and spoke to the director. She was fantastic, answered all our questions, super excited about this program!
I agree there has been a renewed interest in MT. Increasingly there is cross-over in some genres between film and television as well. I think the entertainment industry as a whole is undergoing a huge transformation just in the past ten years due to a myriad of factors. Our kids will need to be far more versatile than our generation.
Yes from Syracuse! D really didn’t like that audition, so a bit of a surprise!
It seems that millions of viewers (I’m not among them) disagree with you. Surely you don’t think they are employable due to their excellent performance training?
“But you gotta get a gimmick”… in certain casting situations a Harvard degree will get you seen more quickly than a triple time step will.
I think they can dance? =))
Sorry about the confusion. I am very well aware that there are many paths to take to get the same end result with this career path or many different possible branches to move into that may or may not involve performing and also that training continues well after college. I think by “working actor,” the reference in the discussion was that a working actor was someone who was solely or mainly employed as an actor. I agree that this generation of kids will need to be very versatile (and creative) to be able to support themselves, and I think that is true no matter whether they are pursuing a chance to perform or not. I did not mean to unleash a whole can of worms and I apologize. I will not say anything about the Kardashians because my momma taught me to not say anything about someone if I cannot say something nice. Now I will go back to my little corner and continue to lurk.
Don’t @sloopysnoop, stay unlurked :).
…de-lurked? 
…lurk-negative?
I think in this economy, pursuing musical theatre is no more risky than anything else, you know? I mean, it USED to be “Why be a starving struggling actor when you could get a law degree and be guaranteed to make lots of money?” But nowadays, there are plenty of 20-somethings with impressive degrees and Ph.Ds who are working at Starbucks or entry-level jobs or unemployed. Nothing is guaranteed anymore. So you might as well pursue something you love!
ex-lurker
@actorparent HEAR HEAR!!!
No word from Syracuse, here. Guess we will wait another week. Onward!
Same here. Good thing we are so good at waiting and waiting and waiting by now…