#28: Some Roads You Plod Along With A Will
Wednesday 8/7/24
DEAR JULIE
“Dear Julie: my parents love that I do theatre and have always enrolled me in voice lessons, acting classes, dance, and all kinds of shows and workshops. but now that it’s time to talk about college, they are pretty serious about not choosing musical theatre as my major. they think it’s not a good investment financially & that there is so little security. i cant imagine doing something else - what can i do?”
Oh jeez! This is tough for sure. I’m going to assume, for my response, that they are paying for all or most of school & that you are serious about theatre. I’m also assuming they do not believe there is a significant skill deficiency (sometimes parents try to protect their kids from heartbreak when they KNOW their singing isnt all that good).
Here are some ideas if you still want to fight the fight!
While it sounds like you have a good work ethic, it’s hard to know for sure. Kids quit things ALLLLLL the time. Could it be that they have concerns you won’t make it? How have you proved you can stick thing out?
Have you offered to work summers & breaks to contribute to costs? This will help prove your commitment. If you work 8 weeks over the summer for 40 hours a week even at $15 an hour you can probably contribute $4,000-$5,000. Do that for 4 years and you have paid $16,000-$20,000 to your education! That can go to housing, books, living expenses, etc!
Explore options that allow you to double major or where the MT degree picks up a teaching cert or even a 4+1! This will help maximize the financial investment. There are plenty of incredible BA Theatre or BA MT degrees where you can double major in anything - arts admin, business, etc. OR see if there are BA or BFA programs that allow a strong minor.
Theatre is mostly an unregulated business. Anyone can declare they can coach voice/acting, anyone can open up a theatre training company, or become a producer, or a director etc - having a degree does give you a bit more credibility if you choose to pursue a career in theatre NOT as an actor.
Look, your parents arent wrong. A theatre degree is not a “great”’ financial investment. The amount of money that is put in, most likely wont ever be made back as a performer. Well, maybe over your lifetime but certainly not annually like if you were going to be an engineer. The truth is that 2% of actors make their living solely on acting. I’m sorry to agree but from a pure investment standpoint, they are right.
But a theatre degree is worth more than how good of an investment it is. The skills - both hard & soft - are practically unmatched. Learning the skills for a fine art is HARD. While learning those skills you also become highly competent in resilience, communication, interpersonal skills, EMPATHY, troubleshooting, and flexibility.
People I studied with in college went on to plenty of acting adjacent careers! Some are still actors - a handful make a great living in theatre, film, and tv. But MOST are choreographers, directors, producers, teachers, coaches, designers, technicians, agents, & casting directors! There are so many ways to have a life in art.
Dreams Don’t Die :)
Julie