If you did not make it on Broadway, what is your backup career?- Page 2

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 10:41am

teaching small children! OR, no laughing please, interior design!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 11:03am

Well I have a degree in Advertising Design, I cook, I design Costumes, Sets, and Props, I do voiceover work (I was "the voice of six flags great adventure" for the 2007 season and I have training as a lighting and sound technician. So I guess one could say I have some fallback careers

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 11:09am

Here's a sad story.

All I ever wanted to do was work on Broadway. All I ever wanted.

I spent my childhood in amateur and then regional theater; went to college in Theater School; produced my own revivals of Broadway shows, got great reviews, worked my way up from assistant stage manager to associate producer at one of the most famous theaters in North America...

Then one day, during an afternoon break from a rehearsal, I went to the movies and saw a film that utterly changed my life (you'll see why I don't name it in a minute). I decided then and there that I wanted to work in the movies and go to Hollywood. Broadway became my backup plan.

So I worked my ass off and finally made it to Los Angeles where I do, indeed, work in the industry. I achieved everything wanted to - sadly not before my folks succumbed to Alzheimer's - and now, guess what?

I am being absolutely screwed and betrayed, as only Hollywood can, in a movie project...

By the very same director/producer whose film encouraged me to go into the movie business in 1979.

You can't write irony like that.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 11:55am

Alternating shifts with Donna Murphy at Olive Garden.

[worrell4077]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 1:36pm

I'm currently in school working on a degree in Fine Arts-Theatre. I would like to be an actor, I know it might not happen, but I would just like to try. If it doesn't happen, then my fallback is to be a film/theatre critic for a newspaper. Oddly enough, alot of people I know think highly of my opinions on film and some have even said that I should be a critic. I just will try my best not to be a Jay Sherman

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:21pm

...Bwayfan4...sorry!=o I, by no means,meant any disrespect for teachers when I stated "..those who can't...". I just gave it as a plausible solution to stay involved in what one loves, and actually still make a difference.
Believe me, I'm one of those odd ones who cried when school was over...I was blessed with amazing teachers, and I have the upmost respect for the teaching profession. As a matter of fact, I am constantly giving this as an option when someone is not sure what career to choose, afirming that "teaching is a noble profession", and "we don't have enough good teachers".
So, I hope this will clear it up... :]

[ahmelie]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:35pm

If you give yourself a backup plan, you're gonna fall back on it. This business is way too hard.

So, if it turns out I don't have any talent or that I'm just unlucky, you'll be seeing me in the ensemble of ****ty regional theatres and at your local Applebees.

Cheers.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:11pm

I'm going to be a college theatre professor, with a doctorate degree. Honestly, whoever said that if you give yourself a backup plan is going to fail, you are correct. It seems less possible to be on Broadway everyday for me. It makes you wonder, if you have to risk your happiness for Broadway fame, is it worth it? I'm going to spend two years in between my bachelor's and master's on Broadway, hoping for a big break, working my a** off. If I fail at it, I can say I made a valiant try and hold my head with pride. If I make it, I'll be a very happy man =).

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:18pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 05:18 PM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:33pm

A very nice redaction, myshikobit.
I just wanted to disagree with you, and others, about how having another option for your life would deter you from succeeding.
I happen to be blessed with an interest in so many things, that it is almost difficult to let any of them go. The reasons I am not involved in the business, now, have nothing to do with having a plan B (totally personal reasons). When I got in the business, I already had something to fall back upon, but at that time I was immature enough to not see what a blessing that was...it actually allowed me to have a monetary base, while I was auditioning and working in the industry. It, in no way, took away from my love or drive for what I was doing in TV and films.
The reason why it is a good thing in life to be able to have an alternate career is that, without being a "downer" here (I will leave it up to your thinking as to what could happen) life can throw some curves at you, and it does not necessarily involve "not making it". You could make it, and still resort to something else, for whaterer reasons.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:40pm

Burning the bridge behind you leaves you no direction but forward....

I am finally able to tell my relatives to screw off (and I do, and not so nicely) when they tell me I wasted my life chasing my dreams.

I just wish I had realized I could tell them to screw off DURING the chase and before my success. It would have made things so much easier.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:45pm

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 05:45 PM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:53pm

allofmylife...I know. What you went through, almost all of us have been there, too, and have gotten it also from friends.
It is sad how those who don't understand this career choice, or are not couragious enough to follow their dreams, will try to discourage those who do have the love and guts to pursue this life... :[
Anyway, CONGRATS on your success

[Weez]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 7:03pm

There's "having a back-up plan", and there's "paying the rent between gigs". Ain't NOTHING wrong with or quittery about the latter, as far as I'm concerned. Broadway is an INCREDIBLY low possibility for me. I just want to be a paid performer, and I'd accept anything; TIE, tours of ****ty seaside towns, second sad lady from the right in a daytime soap, whatever. Yes, I have my *ideal* career path, which would involve a tour or two, a season with the Peter Hall company, a couple of seasons at the RSC, a couple of productions at the National, one of which transfers to the West End and then to Broadway, with guest appearances in 'Doctor Who' and other UK sci-fi or comedy series on the side.

So I guess I have two back-up plans, if you want to put Broadway as the ultimate. The first back-up is "working stiff actor in whatever I can get", the second back-up is "doing whatever pays the rent between acting".

I'm not sure where I was going with this one. Ah well. ^_^

[allofmylife]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 7:20pm

Paying the bills between gigs is part of the primary plan.

[aniala2009]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 9:30pm

I'm definately thinking prostitute.

But because I could possibly get arrested for something like that, I'd love to open up a little jazz cafe in like Ithaca or something. Find the local talent and as long as I'm around good music, I'm fine. I still may do the second thing later on in my life like when I'm 60...