How do you break it to a friend?

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 2:20pm

That a career in professional musical theatre is not for him, i mean he's a good singer and an actor but he's 29 years old and is not professional quality and he's thinkin about quittin his job and moving away from his family and I'm worried that he might go into depression...do i tell him gently or just let him 'follow his dream'

Updated On: 8/7/07 at 02:20 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:23pm

Why do you think he won't make it?

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:33pm

because he's 29 years old and doesn't have the natural talent to become a professional musical theatre star

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 3:43pm

In what way?

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 6:46pm

Maybe he doesn't want to be a "star" Plenty of people have good careers in musical theatre, not on Broadway, that no one has heard of. IF he wants to be in musical theatre to be a star on broadway and make lots of money and be famous then break it to him. But if he's done some shows in reputable theatres and is stratigiclly planning his career and had good training then why discourage him?

[Fiyero13]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:24pm

yeah he wants to be a star on broadway on be famous, and is giving up his job to do it, can you still make a decent living if you never make it to NYC?

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 7:32pm

Yeah. You can tour and do regional theatre or join a company. I know some companies, like Shakespeare and Company don't pay too much but you do get housing and a car. You can be a succesful working actor and never step foot on a Broadway stage or star in a movie opposite Meryl Streep.

However, If your friend is just up and leaving everything he has for New York with nothing, just so he can become famous and rich then I would strongly advise him against that. In terms of breaking it to him try and persuade him to set his sights a little lower and then throw a copy of "Making it to Broadway:Actor's tales of climbing to the top" at him.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 8:12pm

My best friend, a really cute-looking, attractive girl with no singing talent and a permanent California cheerleader dialect, wants to "be a stage actress." Her very first show was junior year of high school, and she had about three lines in a bit part written for her. In senior year, she played a fairy in MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM; or, really, half a fairy, because her part was split. She has the same dialect/inflection for every single line, and she doesn't understand what they mean -- and if you try to tell her such (even in the most positive, non-criqituey way possible), she freaks out.

In other words, that was my story, and I just don't have the heart to tell her that she's not good enough to be set in her ways of being a stage acress. She's never even seen a Broadway show, on tour or not. She's seen high school shows. I feel horrible discouraging her (which is why I've kept my mouth shut), but I don't want her to throw her life away majoring in acting when she cannot, in fact, act. I sound like a jerk, bah... there's no real easy way to say this without sounding like one, though, right?

[dramadude2]

Posted: 8/7/07 at 11:50pm

I feel that I'm always judging myself and that I always need to prove myself to myself. If someone were to break this news to me, I would fall into an extreme depression. But that's because I live THEATRE. Luckily, I found my passion pretty early. If I dont have all the goods, at least I'll have the training and do theatre thing somewhere off Broadway. There will always be parts in plays. I'd suggest that he take more time to develop his craft more before making this kind of decision.
But that's my opinion.

[MarkRascati]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 12:10am

Let him make his own mistakes. That's not for you to do.

[blindshine]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 5:48am

This is a conversation of which I think we are all terrified but you've gotta consider the particulars. Here's a guy who is selfish enough to give up what I'm suspecting is a wife and kids in order to persue a dream. Talent, in his case, is an entirely different issue. Don't mention anything about talent, you'll only make an enemy out of your friend. Instead, focus on the issue of his family. If he still persists, let him make his own mistakes. It will teach him empathy and honestly, a few botched life choices will make him a better actor.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/13/07 at 10:16pm

Havent you read Stanislavsky? Theres three parts to being a good actor Talent Will/Drive and Mind. If you have the Drive and professionalism you can easily surpass someone with more talent because of your passion. It's the passion and drive and extreme work ethic that will get someone the parts. Don't discourage him, let him make his own mistakes and you might be surprised his drive might get him somewhere.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 8:28am

Yeah, but this person's drive is the fame. Not the work.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/07 at 9:18pm

well, still if he's driven enough to this "fame" thing. I just don't like people discouraging others. :-/

[flicker_]

Posted: 8/15/07 at 12:01am

Ask your friend why they are willing to move to quit their job, move to New York, and leave all their family behind. Is it because they want to become famous? Or is it because when he acts on stage it is the only place in the world where he feels truly right? If the former, I would strongly discourage them, because fame is really not a good enough reason to be willing to enter the harsh world of professional theatre.

[ben4]

Posted: 8/16/07 at 10:55am

I would encourage them to build up credits in community theater and gain skills in other production areas. You'd be surprised how much talent/hard work is needed in areas like Lighting, Costuming, Set Construction, Stage Management, etc etc. And not to mention there's more oppurtunity for these fields as opposed to that of acting.

I'm not saying he should give up on musical theater, but have fallbacks and additional skills to place on a resume. Also, to explore every oppurtunity he has locally before packing it up and moving to NY.