<p>I did not discover the MT part of CC until my son went through the process, and a painful process it was for me, him and anyone else associated with it. His highschool was a detriment in the process. We made every mistake we could have made, and when all was done, I was done with the process. Son went to a MT program which I believe was the only reason he graduated with a college degree as he was truly done with school. I was happy he had 4 more years to perform and enjoy himself, and hopefully get a college degree out of the deal, but was hoping he’d want to get into some other areas as well. So though over time I did read most of the MT threads, even the archives, it was all after the fact. They really would have helped me. I was not so gung ho MT and with other kids and other issues, once my MT kid was in college, it was really up to him. </p>
<p>The problem with art, theatre, creative writing, any writing, music, and any number of other professions that do not have enough paying jobs for those who want them, is that there a very, very , very few slots for so many who want one. My son who is in STEM, had his choice of jobs. There were simply more jobs than those who were seeking them in that field and who met the requirements for them. When you are talking about a part in a play, a paying part, a part paying a living wage, a part with some prestige to it, a Broadway show type part, the cattle call is just that and it’s frightening how many of those auditioning could do very well in that part. The odds are way, way against getting such parts. In jobs where that is the situaion, things can be dire in terms of getting anything for a very long time. </p>
<p>An old friend’s DD graduated from Columbia Journalism school after getting a BA from a very good LAC. She has been published in a number of things. Huffington Post, some other recognizable names. She’s an excellent writer, but getting published for pay these days is very, very difficult. Always has been but now with electronic media, finding any kind of job that guarantees regular pay has become just about impossible. I live right near a community of well known writers,and it’s been tough going for them, and many had already carved out quite a career with their writing. Getting any kind of predictable pay has become more difficult. For acting, I think it’s always been difficult, and has gotten more so, as more people are on the scene and there are more people with contacts. What performers tend to do is to stick with a group and go for opportunities where they are known rather than auditioning blindly, though my son’s room mate just got a great part on the road, a real paying plum on a cattle call. And my son did once too. More valuable than the parts, they extended their circles a bit more. Many of the opportunities do not come from open auditions so much as those by invitation so networking is important. </p>
<p>It’s the odds, which one cannot control, when there are only so many decent positions out there, and so many more going for them that make certain professions very difficult to net out a living wage. It’s not like theatre group or college or high school or summer stock where there is a closed group from which the roles are chosen. It’s wide open, baby, and some of those going for the parts have contacts that make them likelies and when you have none, the chances become astronomical.</p>
<p>Because they are adults when they embark on this journey, ultimately they are the ones who have to call a close to it. Many shift over slowly into other fields. They realize they don’t have the physical looks, the voice range, the dance skills, willingness to party to get roles too many time. Or they find they simply cannot find the time to audition and make ends meet even as they become more selective about their auditions. My son’s SO landed a job that pays too much, that she enjoys too much and is too much of a prize for to want to give up at this time in her life for a pursuit of a role in something that could close in a week or so, and then she’d lose this job. Ironically, a lot of theater positions are unsympathetic to actor or others who want time off to join a show. Would have thought they’d be the most understanding.</p>