Post covid, likelihood of needing a college degree for theatre?- Page 2

[dangeresque49]

Posted: 1/19/21 at 5:19pm

In the audio world if I could go back and do it again I would just spend those 4 years getting experience instead of going to college. I look at how much it costs and see a scenario where you could spend less on reliable transport and work for little to no money to get experience over that 4 years. I didn't go to school in NYC tho so maybe college is worth more there.

[DanielFanning]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 12:05pm

I think that having a degree is important. It's only my opinion, and I don't want to say whether it's the right one or not.

But having a degree provides you some benefits

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 12:21pm

So, now that this has been drudged up nearly 2 years later...Jorge....What did you end up doing??  

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 1:37pm

Not to get too much into my personal life, but in fall 2021 I decided to not go back to school and took a year to just work and live in Chicago. After a year of trying that I moved back home and now I’m looking to go back to school in the spring.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 1:45pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Not to get too much into my personal life, but in fall 2021 I decided to not go back to school and took a year to just work and live in Chicago. After a year of trying that I moved back home and now I’m looking to go back to school in the spring."

 

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 1:45pm

DanielFanning said: "I think that having a degree is important. It's only my opinion, and I don't want to say whether it's the right one or not.

But having a degree provides you some benefits"

Unless you want to teach academically.  As with all production jobs, it’s who you know and how you create your own opportunities is how you enter the theater world.  You get your experience on hands working on other related jobs so you have some on hands experience to qualify when a door opens.  I’m a Photo Art Director and always advise others to intern or just get on a working set on any capacity. Hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and opportunities will open up for you if you’re great.  For theater, just get yourself in there doing whatever.  If you’re good, things will unfold for you.  That degree won’t do anything for you.  Your experience will.  

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 1:57pm

JSquared2 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Not to get too much into my personal life, but in fall 2021 I decided to not go back to school and took a year to just work and live in Chicago. After a year of trying that I moved back home and now I’m looking to go back to school in the spring."





"

It really was not a fun year for me, I’ll say that.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 2:09pm

You don’t. If you’re pretty and mildly talented, you’ll be fine. 
 

That said, there are like 4 major colleges that all have ties to certain casting offices in the city. Michigan is tied to Telsey, etc. So those connections help a lot, obviously 

[bwaylvsong1]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 2:51pm

SouthernCakes said: "You don’t. If you’re pretty and mildly talented, you’ll be fine.


That said, there are like 4 major colleges that all have ties to certain casting offices in the city. Michigan is tied to Telsey, etc. So those connections help a lot, obviously"

Exactly, to be a performer, nobody cares unless you went to one of a handful of specific schools.  I have a Master’s (albeit not specifically in performance) that hasn’t helped my career at all.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 3:21pm

I might be the wrong person to say this, since I have both a bachelors and masters in theatre and am working on my Ph.D. in it, but I think that depending on what you are going to use it for, theatre degrees can be a really bad idea unless someone else is paying for it. At the age of 40 I am one of the few remaining people I went to school with for my bachelors degree or MFA program that is still acting professionally. Most left the business years ago, and some of them were extremely talented. Either things never took off for them, or they couldn't handle the crazy lifestyle. I myself make most of my living from being a theatre teacher, and although my acting training was very valuable, that is how my degrees have been most useful to me. 

When asked, I always encourage my high school students to double major if they want to study theatre in college - not necessarily to have something to "fall back on," but because there is so much one can learn in college, and it is so expensive, and honestly one can receive excellent training at a wide variety of acting studios for a fraction of the price. Just my two cents.

 

[babyjunegem]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 6:13pm

I'm going to suggest something and it may or may not be your angle. First, you don't need a degree. Second, I highly suggest working in Film/TV production -- go for being a Production Assistant in the "AD"/Assistant Director (you'll have to start as an additional PA/dayplayer) It is a good way to build a skillset to succeed in entertainment. A lot of theater managers pivot to film and some start in film/tv and then leave for theater. It's a tough lifestyle, but honestly, it's the best kind of apprenticeship you can receive. Some shows hire a lot of Broadway talent, so, you'd be well positioned to talk to the right people. I can only speak for NYC.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 9:10pm

It’s tough to study and get a degree, then you’re going in for stuff that pays $400/wk that won’t even pay your rent yet it has a huge turn out and you have to be there at 6am. It’s a grind. 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/15/22 at 10:06pm

I think going back to school in the spring is a wise decision. I don't think the people telling you that you don't need a degree are grasping that you're not interested in performing or doing costume, stage or lighting design or being a stage manager, you want to go into Theater Management i.e. the business side of theater. While they may teach you the specifics of business related to the theater, I would think they will expect you to already have a fundamental grasp of general business, accounting, financial and marketing principles. They will teach you how to apply those principles to economics of the theater but they will expect you to come in already knowing them.

So IMO, you're going to need at least a Bachelor's degree because I can almost guarantee you, your competition will have one and some might even have MBA's. Additionally, if you don't finish school, any competent interviewer will ask you this question; "So... why didn't you finish college?" You really don't want to have to answer that cause there really is no answer that will make you look good. Good luck in the spring.

[joevitus]

Posted: 12/15/22 at 10:26pm

A college degree is invaluable. The amount one can make with a college degree vs. without is shocking. That doesn't mean a degree is a ticket to a high-end salary, it's just closer.

Yes, I understand you plan to go into theater, and maybe you don't care if you don't make so much money, or you have the impression that you can make good money in theater without it. But with all the competition, not having a degree will likely be a way to weed out applicants (as others have mentioned) and if you've never worked in the professional theater, you really have no idea whether you will love it or not. You may, I hope you do as you want it, but you don't know. Professional theater and being involved in school plays or community theater productions are worlds apart, and just reading about professional theater doesn't really prepare you to know if it's the right fit for you.

As your parents are willing to pay for it, and therefore there is not great financial hurdle to continuing, please PLEASE get that degree. I considered dropping out. I switched schools and my graduation was delayed a year. I thought I would be in the world of professional theater, and wondered why I was wasting my time. I did not end up pursuing a career in the theater. (And I'm fine with that.) I cannot tell you how much having a degree has helped me.

If you want out sooner, you could consider mini and summer semesters to cram more in a shorter space of time. But please, please stick it out and graduate. It's worth it. 

 

[peterwalsh]

Posted: 6/13/23 at 1:07pm

joevitus said: "A college degree is invaluable. The amount one can make with a college degree vs. without is shocking. That doesn't mean a degree is a ticket to a high-end salary, it's just closer.

Yes, I understand you plan to go into theater, and maybe you don't care if you don't make so much money, or you have the impression that you can make good money in theater without it. But with all the competition, not having a degree will likely be a way to weed out applicants (as others have mentioned) and if you've never worked in the professional theater, you really have no idea whether you will love it or not. You may, I hope you do as you want it, but you don't know. Professional theater and being involved in school plays or community theater productions are worlds apart, and just reading about professional theater doesn't really prepare you to know if it's the right fit for you.

As your parents are willing to pay for it, and therefore there is not great financial hurdle to continuing, please PLEASE get that degree. I considered dropping out. I switched schools and my graduation was delayed a year. I thought I would be in the world of professional theater, and wondered why I was wasting my time. I did not end up pursuing a career in the theater. (And I'm fine with that.) I cannot tell you how much having a degree has helped me.

If you want out sooner, you could consider mini and summer semesters to cram more in a shorter space of time. But please, please stick it out and graduate. It's worth it.

"
I agree with you. I think that it's possible to succeed without a degree, and doing it with a degree will be easier. 

Updated On: 10/27/23 at 01:07 PM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 6/13/23 at 1:38pm

You don’t need a degree but that doesn’t mean you don’t need training. If you decide to not get a degree and head straight to the big city then make sure you attend every acting, singing, dancing class you possibly can and network the holy hell out of yourself.
 

However, before you do any of this this you need to do the most important thing. Be honest with yourself and your abilities. 

[melissagrimes]

Posted: 10/27/23 at 5:43pm

joevitus said: "A college degree is invaluable. The amount one can make with a college degree vs. without is shocking. That doesn't mean a degree is a ticket to a high-end salary, it's just closer.

Yes, I understand you plan to go into theater, and maybe you don't care if you don't make so much money, or you have the impression that you can make good money in theater without it. But with all the competition, not having a degree will likely be a way to weed out applicants (as others have mentioned) and if you've never worked in the professional theater, you really have no idea whether you will love it or not. You may, I hope you do as you want it, but you don't know. Professional theater and being involved in school plays or community theater productions are worlds apart, and just reading about professional theater doesn't really prepare you to know if it's the right fit for you.

As your parents are willing to pay for it, and therefore there is not great financial hurdle to continuing, please PLEASE get that degree. I considered dropping out. I switched schools and my graduation was delayed a year. I thought I would be in the world of professional theater, and wondered why I was wasting my time. I did not end up pursuing a career in the theater. (And I'm fine with that.) I cannot tell you how much having a degree has helped me.

If you want out sooner, you could consider mini and summer semesters to cram more in a shorter space of time. But please, please stick it out and graduate. It's worth it.

"
I agree with you. There is, for sure, a difference when it comes to money. But for some people, that factor is not that important.
But I believe that if there is a possibility to get a degree, then it's for sure worth it. Besides, the university is a good place to get other experiences, meet people who share the same passion, and make some important connections.
I decided to become a student because, for me, it was and still is very important to have a diploma. Yes, it's hard to combine studies and acting, but it's possible. I know and use different educational resources and sites, like this one service https://assignmentbro.com/us/do-my-assignments, which is my main helper when I have to write a paper but can't do it due to different reasons. And somehow, I manage to succeed with everything, and my uno helps me a lot with other skills, like problem-solving and improving communicational skills, which are very important now.

Updated On: 10/30/23 at 05:43 PM