I feel like im just wasting my time in school. Im considering just dropping out and moving to new york to pursue my dream. Whay do you think?
I feel like being in school is just taking up time that i could be using to try to pursue my dream. I dont know if i should stay in school or drop out to do what i wanna do.
truthfully, succeeding in this industry in any city is unbelievably difficult to impossible. the chances of you supporting yourself by acting or singing alone is slim to none. new york is the most expensive city in the country, and there are about a million wannabe actors living there, all with the same dream. you have to be VERY well-informed on every aspect of the business, and also have a solid career that brings in money just to pay your bills. most people tend bar or wait tables and audition during the day whenever they can, but most auditions require you have an agent (which requires you to be unbelievably lucky and have pages and pages of professional paid work in your resume) and/or be union (which requires the same as above). unfortunately, ive known many many experience actors and signers who have moved out to nyc and l.a. to pursue their dreams, and so far noone has succeeded. its a tough existence, and even getting a side job right now is really tough, seeing as the economy is in the toilet. it would be VERY wise to stay in school
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truthfully, succeeding in this industry in any city is unbelievably difficult to impossible. the chances of you supporting yourself by acting or singing alone is slim to none. new york is the most expensive city in the country, and there are about a million wannabe actors living there, all with the same dream. you have to be VERY well-informed on every aspect of the business, and also have a solid career that brings in money just to pay your bills. most people tend bar or wait tables and audition during the day whenever they can, but most auditions require you have an agent (which requires you to be unbelievably lucky and have pages and pages of professional paid work in your resume) and/or be union (which requires the same as above). unfortunately, ive known many many experience actors and signers who have moved out to nyc and l.a. to pursue their dreams, and so far noone has succeeded. its a tough existence, and even getting a side job right now is really tough, seeing as the economy is in the toilet. it would be VERY wise to stay in school
References :
bfa in theater (now a med student/professional model)
With all due respect you would be in the company of thousands of others with the same idea.
Beyond that, and again with no offense meant, NO education is a waste of time and to Pursue a dream is noble, but one must have income that allows a place to live, food to eat, transportation costs, the cost of pursuing that dream through auditions, other genre education, etc.
Without knowing at all what your experience has been so far, or areas of possible talent, I might, if I were you, look into that community college and any theatrical programs they might offer, or classes in theater arts/acting. I’d also be purusing local community theaters for auditions in the upcoming season.
Passion is a wonderful sense, but often must also be tempered with our realities. I’m not trying to discourage you at all, but a move to NYC, unless you have ways to establish yourself there and some support structure, can be very difficult.
Steven Wolf
References :
NYU graduate/ 40 plus years in theater