I still remember when my oldest graduated from college. It was a highly selective, expensive, non Ivy league. Graduation was held outside on the campus. Parents were walking around asking, does your child have a job? Only a handful of graduates had a job lined up. Every one of them was an accounting major. At least mine had a request for a second interview but turned it down because it was during her graduation. She did have acceptances into grad school including a free ride, which she took. Six weeks after getting her masters she had a job. The pay wasn’t great but benefits made up for it.She has continued to look for another job but still hasn’t found one.
The high school valedictorian, when my youngest graduated, went to Northwestern and got a degree in the mathematics field. I run into him a few times a year. He was a checker at a grocery store after graduation and now a checker at a hardware store. The only ones who have gotten steady, decent paying jobs are those who got them though clout. Even the IT field isn’t a safety like it was. Recently the largest employer in town announced that they would be transferring out of state or laying off 400 IT people.
It doesn’t matter where you go to school or what you major in, the jobs in your field are hard to come by unless you know someone. There is nothing wrong with performing at a Disney park, or on a cruse ship, as long as it puts food in your stomach, a roof over your head and pays the bills.
Ahhhh, @EastchesterMom -love Skidmore! My dad’s Irish family can be traced back to the 1810s in Saratoga/Ballston Spa. Yes-that’s how my mom is-she had never heard D sing (since she was like 6) until very recently. And her chin dropped.
@owensfolks My BFA/MT daughter lights up a room when she walks in. So do her friends in the program. I hope that as many of them as possible have the kind of careers they dream about…but they will be great hires for anyone looking for marketing, sales, event planning, teaching, HR, creative development talent. These young people know how to project, how to talk in front of others, how to improvise and invent. I have hired dozens of people in my 30 years as a manager, and my MT/Theatre hires have been among the most successful. They can ‘read the room’, command attention and keep it. When others question why we let D pursue an MT degree I just point out my MT hires now enjoying success-- in business, on stage, on camera, behind the scenes…and in the office.
My D (Marymount Manhattan MT Graduate) is now an elementary school teacher at an arts school here in California. When she was doing her student teaching and other students in her class were observing, D would get feedback about how incredibly comfortable she was in front of a class. When D was interviewing for the job she now has she had to teach a lesson to the principal and senior staff. When the principal offered her the job he told her that never before had he seen a teacher so naturally at ease teaching a lesson. D feels that her theatre background was wonderful preparation for where she is today.
We get the questions, too, but not as many this year as we already answered them for our son who is studying instrumental performance, lol.
I always say that the time to follow your passion is when you are 18 and nobody is counting on you to pay for school supplies and groceries. If you have to have 6 roommates and eat ramen when you are 22, no big deal. Much harder to try to follow a passion like this when you are 35 with two kids an a mortgage .
It always helps to point out to a lot of these folks that they aren’t working in the field they studied. Heck, many of the jobs out there today didn’t even exist when we parents were in college. The courage to jump into something they are passionate about and try to figure out how to make it work is a much better job qualification than a degree that may be obsolete in a decade.
Point out to them that MT grads are getting jobs right out of Undergrad…no problem. The #1 US export to the world is Entertainment…that should shut them up… how about all those voiceovet actors for video games and audio books, those national/international touring companies of shows…have their unemployed business major take a look at this…
We never had anyone question the path of any of our Ds, including the one who is an actor and playwright. I guess we were lucky! I wouldn’t have minded, though. It’s an opportunity to explain the importance of the arts in our communities and to encourage others to support the various arts. I’ve been involved in the theatre community for a very long time and we continue to be patrons and producing partners of a very successful theatre company in our city. I mention that only to explain how familiar I am with how the theatre ‘biz’ works. As much as I love it and support it, both with time and $$, I don’t think that it serves any purpose to minimize the difficulty of this path. Yes, many other college grads will not find their ideal job but most degrees differ in that theatre degrees are professional training grounds for these students who hope and plan to have a career performing.
It’s a difficult career and even if an actor is fortunate enough to book work, they will automatically be looking for the next job. It’s important that our kids understand this, and equally important that we, as parents, do. Getting into college is going to look like a breeze compared to embarking on a career after graduation for the vast majority of these kids. Being supportive, yet realistic is important.
@Luciamom It would be interested to see a breakdown on those 19,000 FT arts positions, what is included, and how many are in theatre.
@Luciamom Nothing wrong with kids doing both! My actor D was an excellent soccer player and played competitively on a travelling team for several years. It never cost anywhere close to 3k, though. The reality is that only a very small percentage of kids who participate in either type of activity prior to college, sports or arts related, will end up having a successful career in either.
Hey all. I resurrected my account (lol) because I kind of decided I needed to lay low until I had something good to share. It’s been rough to read about those who are making plans and deciding between multiple programs. I hope y’all understand. Everyone here has been great, motivating and super supportive on and off the boards (too many to name, but you know who you are ). You all seriously kept me from losing my mind completely. Thanks for all the virtual ears you provided me, when I needed to vent because I was beyond emotional.
So, I’m back because we finally have good news!! Two acceptances in three days. AMDA (which she just auditioned for last week) and U Arts (which she sent in a last minute video audition for). My kid now has a choice.
She auditioned in person at another school yesterday (one that she had planned, but was barely interested in). She suddenly is interested (didn’t know about Arts until afterwards), because she actually underestimated the ‘fit’ of the tiny little state school program up in the sticks. No result on that one (but she’ll get it soon). Even if it’s a no, she has options now.
AND, in the midst of all this, she was seen for a professional job. A live audition, then a callback the next day! The odds of this are way smaller than any BFA, BA or acting school program, by far. But it has boosted her confidence so much.
I’m just literally in shock right now. A complete 180 in three days.
@DramaQueen219 Omgosh I called it! I knew something Amazing was right around the corner. I’m so happy for you two. Things always have a way of working out. Can’t wait to hear where she decides to go! >:D<
Just as @toowonderful pointed out the amazing NYU Tisch Senior on Rise! It looks like CCPA (Roosevelt university in Chicago) have a recent grad playing in Rise as a regular as well. So glad to hear about the recent grads. Damion is a recent MT grad and 1 year after graduation, he’s landed a staring role. I love these stories! Also, we live minutes away from what Chicagoans call Roosevelt University. Many of the local kids tend to overlook their program. Clearly they make moves happen https://blogs.roosevelt.edu/review/2018/02/07/breakout-theatre-alumnus-damon-gillespie-to-star-in-nbc-drama-series-rise/
@DramaQueen219 , I am soooo happy for you!!! What wonderful news! We went to the “Admit One” event at UArts - it’s a great program, lots of successful alumni, fantastic location, and everyone was so warm and friendly.
And wow, a callback for a professional job!!! Fantastic! Fingers and toes crossed for her!
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I wouldn’t have minded, though. It’s an opportunity to explain the importance of the arts in our communities and to encourage others to support the various arts. I’ve been involved in the theatre community for a very long time and we continue to be patrons and producing partners of a very successful theatre company in our city. I mention that only to explain how familiar I am with how the theatre ‘biz’ works. As much as I love it and support it, both with time and $$, I don’t think that it serves any purpose to minimize the difficulty of this path. Yes, many other college grads will not find their ideal job but most degrees differ in that theatre degrees are professional training grounds for these students who hope and plan to have a career performing.
). You all seriously kept me from losing my mind completely. Thanks for all the virtual ears you provided me, when I needed to vent because I was beyond emotional.