<p>I have approached this question with my mother numerous times and am truly thinking about it, how would I support myself after college if I got my BFA. I have looked over double majors, but I am truly dedicated to this art form and want to try to focus on it. If you wonderful people can help me out with stories or ideas and such I would truly appreciate it!</p>
<p>Here are some past discussions that are worth reading:</p>
<p><a href=“Graduating from a MT Program...now what? - Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums”>Graduating from a MT Program...now what? - Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums;
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1318265-what-future-are-our-mt-s-training-for.html#latest”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1318265-what-future-are-our-mt-s-training-for.html#latest</a></p>
<p><a href=“report successes after graduation here! - Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums”>report successes after graduation here! - Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums;
<p>Tell your mother to go to the SUNY Fredonia theater department website and read an article written by the chairman of the department. It talks about all the skills one learns as a performing arts major that are directly translatable to various careers.</p>
<p>If you end up in NY City after you graduate I would try to get a commercial agent as well as a legit/theater agent. You might also consider doing extra work. </p>
<p>You would want to leave yourself flexibility to audition, so taking on a double major in the hope of getting an alternative full time job won’t help. Most of D’s friends who are auditioning are working as hostesses/ waitstaff in restaurants, take nanny positions, do children’s theatre/ parties/ classes, or work as personal trainers. These jobs allow them to make money (though many have parental help) and audition or perform due to flexible hours. </p>
<p>Here is a list that Playbill put out of job offerings in the theater industry. Posting it just to show that you don’t have to be a waiter (not that this is a bad job). There are other options within the theater realm.
<a href=“http://www.playbill.com/news/article/193249-THE-CALL-BOARD-Available-Theatrical-Administrative-Positions?tsrc=nx”>http://www.playbill.com/news/article/193249-THE-CALL-BOARD-Available-Theatrical-Administrative-Positions?tsrc=nx</a></p>
<p>Bisouu–I am in no way implying that someone with a musical theater degree only qualifies for waiter positions. There are lots of options for BFA or BM students that are looking for full time work that is theatre or entertainment related. My D has opted to go this route and is not auditioning. She has worked doing film production, marketing/ development, casting and is currently an assistant at a top talent agency in their theater department. However, if you want to audition, you want flexibility and that is why most of D’s friends are working as waiters/ hostesses or sitters. Casting or assistant jobs will not allow that flexibility and many would see auditioning as a conflict of interest. There may be some part-time permanent positions in theatre that have flexible hours, but most are doing parties, running classes or handing out fliers as I described above.</p>
<p>@uskoolfish I hadn’t even read your post when I posted the Playbill information. Just thought it was an interesting/helpful list for the OP…I was addressing the OP’s request for info. Wasn’t at all criticizing.</p>
<p>When my daughter tells people what she is majoring in she often gets “you will be supporting yourself as a waitress until you hit it big?” Just wanted to share that there are lots of other options out there. </p>
<p>I tell my students while they are still in high school to start thinking about what they love to do that is flexible and that people will pay them for in NYC. One former student and recent college grad is a professional pet sitter, and she’s great and works all the time (but flexibly). Others do web design, nanny school-aged children (so they have time to audition during the day), etc. - all things that they really enjoy and in which they have extensive experience and special talent. </p>
<p>My D is a 2014 graduate who made the full time move to the city last month. Through networking she landed a job this week as a personal assistant to someone in the theatre industry. She will be working 20 hours per week on a flexible schedule for someone who is supportive of her auditioning. She is beyond excited at the opportunity, as she knows she will learn so much in this position, and I am thrilled with the fact that she will be able to supprt herself. </p>
<p>My D, recent MT grad (with dual degree in history), is working PT as an historical interpreter at a museum. She is also in rehearsals for an upcoming show (non-Equity). Between the two, she is almost supporting herself. We’re still paying for phone, auto insurance and health insurance. Her friends are waiting tables, bartending, working as personal assistants, interning at theaters, working in box offices. Just based upon the experiences of many of her friends with MT degrees, it takes them a couple years to get their feet on the ground. </p>
<p>@CoachC @austinmtmom Thank you so much. At one point, a month ago or so, I felt like MT was a ship waiting to sink on my dreams, but on CC I have found reassurance (especially in your answers) that I can actually do it. Thanks.</p>
<p>@broadwaybum, MT actually is a ship waiting to sink. So are many other professions. The question really is: how good a swimmer are you and if you can’t swim, how close is the nearest life jacket that you can at least hang on to? </p>
<p>Watching my own kid who is several years ahead of you try to sort that out right now. So far, she’s a very good swimmer. I think she’ll eventually need to also be good at finding the nearest life jacket. And by the way, swimming well includes being able to swim to the survival job. Which means you need to be aggressive enough to get one (expect the competition to be full of people like you in the same boat) and reliable enough to keep it once you get it. </p>