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

kingslayer

When I've researched on forums, people say it's very difficult to become a professional/paid actor without 3 years at drama school. I do not know how true this is, but it seems to be the general consensus. This basically means there is no other route to enter paid acting, therefore I'd need to apply for drama school. I don't want the fame or fortune particularly, but it would be nice to earn a living from acting.

After what I've read on here regarding radiography, it's making me feel less optimistic about that now. If I need a good chunk of experience in the NHS before they would consider me, it doesn't sound too promising to be honest.

I'm very confused about all this. On the one hand i hear that you can get into paid acting without drama school; then i hear others say it's highly unlikely to get professional acting work without drama school; then i hear that prospective radiography students need a good level of experience in the NHS before they will be considered for the degree etc. I really don't know who to listen to.

Bantex_2

Just bear in mind that the vast majority that do a 3 year drama course, will never make a living form acting either.

pmd123

kingslayer wrote: »

When I've researched on forums, people say it's very difficult to become a professional/paid actor without 3 years at drama school. I do not know how true this is, but it seems to be the general consensus. This basically means there is no other route to enter paid acting, therefore I'd need to apply for drama school. I don't want the fame or fortune particularly, but it would be nice to earn a living from acting.

After what I've read on here regarding radiography, it's making me feel less optimistic about that now. If I need a good chunk of experience in the NHS before they would consider me, it doesn't sound too promising to be honest.

I'm very confused about all this. On the one hand i hear that you can get into paid acting without drama school; then i hear others say it's highly unlikely to get professional acting work without drama school; then i hear that prospective radiography students need a good level of experience in the NHS before they will be considered for the degree etc. I really don't know who to listen to.

Are you able to make an appointment with a careers advisor? they may be able to point you in the right route to what you want to do. For example, if you want to be a radiographer, why not apply for jobs as an imaging support worker, gain some NHS experience while doing A'levels at evening class, when in position, you may be able to get financial support from the NHS to do your degree.

If acting is what you want, there may be routes into this (extras, local theatre productions etc.) which do not involve the expense of 3 years at stage school.

It sounds from this thread that you are not really certain what you want to do, so I'd be looking to get some further advice on this before jumping in to anything.

BillJones

kingslayer wrote: »

When I've researched on forums, people say it's very difficult to become a professional/paid actor without 3 years at drama school. I do not know how true this is

If you don't know how true it is, why not find out?

PlutoinCapricorn

"Mr. Cohen has in no uncertain terms assembled a tome of infinite wisdom concerning the professional acting world. He does not jump up and down like a cheerleader yelling "you can DO it!" nor does he tell you to give up on the whole nasty business. What he does do is tell you the hard truth about the nasty business, how nasty it is, what's real, and what there is to give hope. The advice is clear and unambiguous, such that no one will have a problem knowing what is the right direction for them after reading. Every actor, aspiring and seasoned, should keep this book by his or her side and read it often."

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acting-Professionally-Facts-About-Careers/dp/0230217249

paddyrg

kingslayer wrote: »

When I've researched on forums, people say it's very difficult to become a professional/paid actor without 3 years at drama school.

It's nigh on impossible to make a living acting with or without 3 years at drama school. It's massively oversubscribed. I once posted a job on CCP for various roles including a role that would fit you age wise. We were paying just £60/day. I got 10-20 applications for most of the other roles, but the mid-20's female role I closed the advert early at over 200 applications in a day and a half. The competition is fierce. Unless you're going to do another job to finance thespian dreams, and do the acting out of love as opposed to financial reasons, you're going to starve quickly. Spend a day in Stratford-upon-Avon and not all the restaurants are staffed by 'between jobs' actors.

THIS is why you get more from wealthier families who can support their young until they marry. They may also (not exaggerating here) be able to offer extras like investment, their own wardrobe, or even use of their own car in a shoot - to a production that offers £60/day those are real plusses.

My current production is paying a lot more above the line. There are some almost-names joyfully confirming this week. In the casting process, how much attention so you think we paid to the drama school they attended? The reality is we want them to do a job and more importantly to be recognisable, which means instead of spending thousands on school, they could have doesn't that money subsidising getting experience on set, getting out there, getting known.

Just a view from the other side. There are many great reasons to go to drama school, it'll be fun, you'll meet people, but it really is not a prerequisite to working as an actress as long as you can act.

kingslayer

Thanks for the replies. I have been reading through them all, but I'm still no clearer of what to do. I am thinking I might just forgo drama school and try get into college to study for something else. I can still attend amateur drama classes and one to one training courses. I don't want to give up on becoming a paid actor, though. I was also thinking about something behind the scenes. I have thought directing before too. I don't know, I just a fascination with theatre/t.v./film and would like to be involved somehow if it wasn't acting.

I'm still very confused. I am almost 26 and i still don't know what to do with my life. It really does make me feel quite hopeless. I see people my age who know what they want to do or their in well paid jobs, whereas I'm still trying to figure out something.

Like someone above said, i think i might have to go to a careers advisor.

Here are a list of things i'm interested in:

- acting
- directing
- theatre/t.v/film/
- health studies
- science
- philanthropy
- nature/wildlife
- agriculture
- fitness
- music
- cultures
- travelling

I am sure there are a few more I've missed out. You can understand why i'm so confused. All of these things are of interest to me.

Acting/directing; working in theatre/t.v/film; health & science studies; nature; agriculture and philanthropy are probably my biggest interests.

tomtontom

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/tools/skillshealthcheck/Pages/default.aspx#

Have a work through the quizzes on the above site, they'll help you narrow down your options and give practical suggestions.

kingslayer

tomtontom wrote: »

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/tools/skillshealthcheck/Pages/default.aspx#

Have a work through the quizzes on the above site, they'll help you narrow down your options and give practical suggestions.

I actually completed the skills health check, but the jobs suggested to me were "medical technology, nursing and social services" which i wasn't expecting.

Sncjw

why wernt you expecting that when you stated above you like science and health studies. if your interested in radiology why not apply for radiography assistant as band 2 you only need gcse. you dont nescarlly need nhs experience to do the job. it is useful to have care experience. if you look at person spec they usally put health care or care experience as desrible