How do you know?

How do you know when your love of musical theatre is enough to pursue a career in it?

I've been visiting schools lately, but can't seem to feel 100% confident majoring in musical theatre, and all i hear from my parents is "do something practical". I've only just begun performing in plays/musicals this past year, but i love it, and while everyones at rehearsal complaining aobur how its late and they want to go home, im sitting there thinking how i could run the show over and over, and just being there makes me feel insanely happy. I just don't know if that's the kind of "i CAN'T do anything else" feeling one is 'supposed' to have. How do you know?? Eh. I realize this is probably not a definite answer question, but some advice from those of you in the same situation or already through it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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Think about yourself doing anything else. Being a doctor, journalist, lawyer, etc. Can you picture yourself doing it? If you can't picture yourself doing anything but theatre, then you know.

Hi-
I've been reading this board for a while now and I haven't felt the need to join until now. I am in the same situation as you are. I have been acting in community theater, school plays, and even a few local professional shows ever since I was very young. I am only in high school, but I have always wanted to be an actress and thats all I can see myself doing. Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who gave up his steady, "normal" job to persue his dreams of becoming an actor. He is not making alot of money, nor does he have any fame, but he is happy. That is all that truly matters. If you think you will be happy, even if you have no money and are living paycheck to paycheck, doing theater, then I say do it. That is what I want to do, because nothing beats that feeling of being onstage, and I'm the same way about loving rehersal. So good luck, and just do what feels right. Good luck.

Sorry about that rant haha.

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The safest bet is to apply to colleges that offer more than just theatre or apply/audition for schools with great theatre programs and then to some other ones. It's what I did and it left me room for my indecision. When it came down to the wire and I had to accept to one school, I knew my gut instinct would kick in and I'd make the right choice for me, theatre. I find pressure always makes me reveal what my true feelings are.

Cindy-

I'm stuck with that same problem. I've always loved music, acting and going to shows, but it wasn't until high school that I actually started performing on stage and taking voice lessons. I hear the same things from my mother all the time, she also claims I started too late. I'm shy, but when it comes to acting, I'm fine I have no problem doing it in front of an audience, I feel very comfortable up there. But when it comes to singing however, I really believe I have some potential, but I have problems singing solos in front of a lot of people and I get nervous (but I am getting a lot better).
Anyway, this all had a point, I'm going to be a senior this year so I'll have to start applying for colleges and picking a major. I CAN see myself doing other things, but I don't know if I'd want to. I guess I would just suggest what I'm planning on doing. I'm going to either put theatre in as part of a double major or a minor (the latter is the most likely, though). I guess just getting out there and trying it is the only sure fire way to tell. People change what they want to do in college all the time. I think it's just something you need go ahead and test out. Give it some time and see if it's something you truly want to do or if your interest gets captured by another field.

Hope that helps a bit! It IS tough, I know!!!!

Sorry to get off topic a bit, but Bway, that's a great quote in your sig, very true!

And that is good advice, there are lots of other jobs in theatre besides performing, but I know that for me, it would get hard after a while, I'd miss the stage too much...

My very own quote.

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Broadwaygirl, that's EXACTLY what I believe. I mean, I can paste myself on any uniformed body performing surgery. It's not practical, but I still see myself doing it. But that doesn't mean I would want to. Every career in the world, as far as seeing myself doing it, they're all equal, even being a performer. But your ambition to succeed will be the deciding factor in which profession you would like to pursue. Maybe you really want to become a performer, but unconciously, you have a love for something else. I dunno...people change, some people don't.

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Well this is all great advice. Most people have said something to the extent of: Can you imagine yourself doing anything else?
I am a rather adaptable person, and I can imagine myself doing almost anything as a career. However, I chose theatre because it is what feels natural to me. I can imagine myself working as a sales executive, and I can imagine myself hunting bears for a living. (both might be fun.) But there's nothing I love as much as performing, and it feels very natural. I'm a workaholic, and I work at anything I do. But for most things I have to push myself to work at them. With theatre, though the work is just as hard, I find myself automatically working on things. Does this make any sense? Sorry if it doesn't. And think of it like this: If you make the decision not to pursue Broadway, you always have the option of doing community theatre. And if you make the decision not to pursue a stable career, you'll know fairly quickly if you can't take it (assuming you get rejected constantly as it seems most do in the beginning).

Best of luck!

Are there any other careers in theatre that you can seriously earn a living at though?

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