I want to pursue professional acting, but it's a financial risk! Any advice?

kingslayer

Hi, guys. I have been undecided about my future for a while now. I am 25 (26 in August) and I don't feel like I've achieved anything good in my life at all. I left school at 16 with poor GCSE results and started work in a workshop putting together garden furniture/pet products. I left that job after a year as I wanted to go back to college. I went back to college and studied Sport Studies BTEC diploma, which has been absolutely no use to me as It would have required me to have gone on to university to make any use of it.

Anyway, I left college at 20, almost 21, and it's just been a bit downhill since then. I suffered from anxiety/panic attacks and depression, which certainly knocked me back and I was unemployed for a few years on/off.

I really have been so undecided about my future that it's frustrating me now. I get stressed out because I'm moving at snail's pace as I have no idea what to do. I took part in amateur dramatics almost a year ago after my anxiety got better and I really enjoyed it, but then I got severe depression again and things got bleak again.

I have been considering getting back into amateur drama and applying for drama school. It is something I think about a lot and it is a passion of mine, but the problem is, I am almost 26 and there is no guarantee that I would even pass the audition stage of drama school, so getting in will be extremely tough and I'll be competing against very good competition indeed.

The other issue with drama school is, the financial aspect. I would most likely have to attend a drama school in London, as that's where the majority of them are located. It would cost a lot of money to rent, then on top of that, once I've graduated the chances of finding acting work is tough, so I would need a back up job.

I am struggling to decide whether to pursue acting with all my might, or pursue a different career. The thing with me is, i just don't think I'm cut out for academic study. I would like to go to university, but I worry that i would struggle. I have planned to go back to college in september to resit my GCSE exams in maths and english, but I'm still not sure about going to university. I have a degree in mind (radiography), but it's whether or not the colleges would accept me on their course.

Anyway, some advice would be great.

mountainofdebt

Please think very careful about this and then think even more carefully.

I suppose the main question you have to ask yourself is are you any good?

Remember the number of people who make the big time (or even make it as a full time profession)is tiny compared to the number of people who start out

Sharon87

Looks like you need some focus in your career life. You're considering drama school, have a BTEC in sports studies and thinking of doing Radiography at uni.

You just need to decide what career you want. I know it's hard to do, but you need to pick one thing and make an attempt at it.

For acting have you tried extras agencies? That's one way to make contacts and some money.

If you do go down the acting route do you think you'll be handle constantly looking for work? I work in media and have to look for work every few months or so. If you get depressed and anxiety attacks will looking for work all the time set it off again?

My advice is sit down long and hard and think about what kind of life you'd like to lead, is it a stable job using skills, or is it constantly moving around doing acting work.

atolaas

Look into auditioning for talent agencies and see how that goes. Whilst acting maybe an attractive career...its only that if those in the know will hire you! Have you found out what quals you need to attend a radiography course? You mention resitting your Maths & English GCSEs...do you have a science GCSE? If not...you'll need to do that too.

Have you thought about continuing with sports studies at uni? There might be the opportunity to go into teaching if that appeals to you.

Good luck to you and please let us know what you decide...I'd be interested to know :T

melysion

As someone who spent far too long pursuing "sensible" career optiond before finally deciding to go with my "pipe dream" career (most people would consider acting a pipe dream career) I'd say - if you have an absolutely burning desire to become an actor, go for it. But only if you know its absolutely what yo want to do and that nothing else well do. Its an unstable career. Many people make a living out of it, but few people become Tom Cruise. You might have to settle for some temp jobs every now and then during quiet periods.

But go for it if that is what you really desire and ignore the naysayers. I took notice of them for far too long. Dont make the same mistake.

kingslayer

Sharon87 wrote: »

Looks like you need some focus in your career life. You're considering drama school, have a BTEC in sports studies and thinking of doing Radiography at uni.

You just need to decide what career you want. I know it's hard to do, but you need to pick one thing and make an attempt at it.

For acting have you tried extras agencies? That's one way to make contacts and some money.

If you do go down the acting route do you think you'll be handle constantly looking for work? I work in media and have to look for work every few months or so. If you get depressed and anxiety attacks will looking for work all the time set it off again?

My advice is sit down long and hard and think about what kind of life you'd like to lead, is it a stable job using skills, or is it constantly moving around doing acting work.

To be honest with you, sports studies wasn't my first choice when I chose to go to college, but at the open day, I was told that the course i initially wanted to go on was full, so i was asked if I had another course interest in mind, which led me to choosing sport studies. Initially, i was looking to go on to a health course.

I also had to study for an extra year, as I didn't have the GCSE results to go straight onto a BTEC course, so I had to pass the foundation course first, which i did. I spent 3 years (including foundation year) at college and it feels like it was all for absolutely nothing. At the time, i was young and just wanted to go back to college, but it seems like it was all a waste.

I understand what you're saying. I am really trying to get over my depression, but my anxiety is a little more difficult at times. I am not on medication at the moment because I really want to get over these issues without having to rely on pills. It just doesn't help my mental state when I'm so undecided about my future, which stresses me out at times.

Sometimes i wish i could just go live in the mountains for a few weeks to get away from it all haha. Trying to figure out a future career/job is very stressful! Or is it just me? :undecided

tomterm8

I'm not sure why your BTEC in sports studies can't be useful for you... have you considered something like becoming a personal trainer? At the very least it will have given you some transferable skills like h problem-solving ability, communication skills, teamwork and good time management.

I think there is a burning desire test... to be honest, with something like acting, if you're asking whether you should do it the answer is NO. Always no. But if you have a burning desire you'll ignore the answer and might even make a very good career out of it.

But if you're undecided... if there just isn't a burning desire and you could take it or leave it the answer is NO.

That's my advice. Yes, it is a financial risk.

Sncjw

Even radiology can be a financial risk because you would need at lease a decent grade in physics a levels and other science a a levels. The if you get a place on the degree course you will need to pay for living costs and also you do placements during your time and most likely have to do assignments on top of this. Bursary isn't much these days so it's tough on lil wage. Your placements will probably be full time and you don't get paid for this. The bursary is effectivly your wage. It is hard but people can do it but it would mean least 5 years of study for you to get the right a a Levels and also to do the degree.

tomtontom

melysion wrote: »

As someone who spent far too long pursuing "sensible" career optiond before finally deciding to go with my "pipe dream" career (most people would consider acting a pipe dream career) I'd say - if you have an absolutely burning desire to become an actor, go for it. But only if you know its absolutely what yo want to do and that nothing else well do. Its an unstable career. Many people make a living out of it, but few people become Tom Cruise. You might have to settle for some temp jobs every now and then during quiet periods.

But go for it if that is what you really desire and ignore the naysayers. I took notice of them for far too long. Dont make the same mistake.

And in the real world ...

The OP will spend many tens of thousands of pounds and end up on Jobseekers.

Sorry OP, this is not a route I would recommend you take. Very few people succeed in acting, those that do tend to start young - look at any tv actor and chances are you'll see Italia Conti, Sylvia Young etc on their cv. I wish you well, but do think you need to be realistic in your chances.

melysion

tomtontom wrote: »

And in the real world ...

The OP will spend many tens of thousands of pounds and end up on Jobseekers.

Sorry OP, this is not a route I would recommend you take. Very few people succeed in acting, those that do tend to start young - look at any tv actor and chances are you'll see Italia Conti, Sylvia Young etc on their cv. I wish you well, but do think you need to be realistic in your chances.

Acting is the real world for many people. I happen to know a few of them. None famous but they do make money as actors and are not claiming job seekers allowance.

I'm not saying that acting is for you - only you can answer that truthfully. But, if you DO have a burning desire to do a certain thing - whatever that is (and regardless of the naysayers) then go for it.

Your first step, of course, is to decide what you DO want to to and pursue it. And 25 is hardly old - plenty of time to build a good, solid career for yourself.

morganedge

You sound a bit like me, lol.
Maybe our shared history of anxiety/depression has shaped our lives in similar paths, somewhat.
It's not easy when you are completely clueless as to what you want to do or where your skills/strengths (if any) lie.

I also took a college course (IT) after my GCSEs that I wasn't particularly interested in when I was younger which was probably a waste of time.
It was 'do a college course or get a job'. Didn't have a clue what job to go for, so did a GNVQ in IT to just keep parents etc off my back.
I've just been doing warehouse/factory jobs since then, but have been unemployed for a good few months now, living off savings.

I also like you're idea about living in the mountains (although not for only 'a few weeks'!). I don't want to top myself, but I don't really want to live in the world that I know any more. I feel like i'm not 'meant' for it.

I'd say that getting into acting through extras work / classes etc would be good, but alongside a job/career with the hope that maybe it can one day become your career. Don't think it's wise to jump in with both feet, really.

The radiography thing; I could be wrong, but I guess that would require good GCSEs including science, and then A-levels, and then a university degree? That's like 5 years+ of study? I guess you'd need to be extremely dedicated/passionate, whereas it sounds like your true passion lies in acting(?)

Are you working at the moment?