Am I Crazy for Pursuing a Degree in the Performing Arts?
Written by Austin Satinsky
August 3, 2017
Set the scene; you’re hanging out at your family reunion, having as much of a “good time” as you can be having, when your great-aunt Stephanie runs up to you and asks you every stereotypical-distant relative question there is: How’s your sister? Are you seeing somebody special? Have you lost weight? Have you gained weight? Where do you go to school? WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING?
You recite your prepared responses like a pro. But when you get to the part about school, you bite your tongue as you confess your major…theatre.
Your great-aunt reacts like this:
And you’re standing there like this:
Student artists are always dealing with responses similar to this. We’ve heard all the classics: “Oh you do theatre? That must be sooooo easy!”
…or “It must be super fun to just sing showtunes and act for all your assignments!”
…and the always favorite, “So what’s your fall-back?”
With all of this coming at you on a constant basis, it’s starting to make you question your whole life and your decision to “follow your dreams”.
From every time your mother tells you to consider grad school, to the times when your father suggests teaching, you feel like you’ve let your family down.
And you’ve lied awake at night mulling over every choice you’ve ever made and you begin to ask yourself… am I crazy for pursuing a degree in the performing arts?
YES AND NO
Here’s the obvious: there are more jobs in engineering than there are roles in Hamilton.
But with that, there are plenty of jobs that aren’t just about being in the spotlight.
You’re getting a degree in a field that opens doors into commercial management, marketing and advertising, business, and even therapy. (Check it out.)
So the next time your family has the audacity to tell you that your life goal is ridiculous, remind them how less than ten percent of theatre grads were found to be unemployed.
Need some advice? We’ve got you covered.
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- 6 Steps to Memorizing Shakespeare
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- 5 Tips for Nailing Your College Music Theatre Audition
- 10 Tips on Owning the Room at Competition
- How to Balance Theatre and Coursework
- The 10 Secrets of Great Understudying
- 10 Items Every Actor Should Carry in Their Rehearsal Bag
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