As the only person here that I know of who actually makes a living in some form of show biz and who has worked around this for years I thought my advice was pretty spot on. But if its not clear enough VM I'll try one more time.
$80K in loans = at least a $400 per month payment for like almost forever, to be able to pay $400 a month you have to be bringing about $600 a month. Will being an actor give you that extra $600 a month, (beyond rent, food, car payments and everything else?) month in and month out? For most people an extra $400 a month would be a godsend that would have them living in almost luxury, but your going to be sending it to the bank, will that pay off? What's the going rate for someone who is not a star? Not much. If you are not in some major Broadway show (i.e. if you are not in an Equity Show - the live actor's union - which you have to get into, and its not easy) but doing some off-Broadway, or off-off Broadway, or dinner theater will you make enough money to live on it (forget the loans) and the answer is no. You will have to have a day job and your life will be pretty low end.
Now, if he were talking about going to a major uni, and like he was saying a year ago, majoring in some finance deal, with a minor in acting - or a dual major, I'd approve. But he's not. He's talking about going to a conservatory, and that will train you to do two things, A) Act, and B) work at Starbucks maybe.
Lets get to a few other not so fine points while we're at it. If you don't want to live in NYC, and I mean in the city proper, or in LA, forget it. 99.9999% of all paying acting jobs originate in those two places, and its a bad choice if you don't want to live there in the same sense that you can't be Joe Surfer living in Kansas there Dorothy. Back to the money deal, they are - each for some pretty unique reasons - two of the most expensive places to live in the country. And if your not making enough acting your going to be doing a big pile of crap jobs because you need to keep your days free to audition. Of course, there's always porn, which is why so much porn gets made in LA and NYC right?
His relationship - Fogetaboutit, as they say in NYC. The reason that actors make such good copy in tabloid newspapers is their history of relationships is about as stable as gas next to a fire. Between the low pay, the constant rejection, the forced closeness relationships don't last. Is the BF willing to live in some small dingy studio apt in NY (cost, about a $1000 per month) for four years, and then keep on doing it? It gets old fast. To live and thrive in NYC you really, really, have to want to be there.
Or, Brady gets a highly coveted yellow card show. That's a touring Broadway deal. Money is OK, but you won't be home for a year, or two. What will boyfriend do with all that extra time? Will he wait for years? Alone? Worth thinking about. Like I said, there is a reason that relationships don't last in this biz.
If that's not supportive, well, he's not talking about changing his hairstyle, or trying out a new hobby - he's talking about taking out a huge amount in loans that have to be paid even if he never steps in front of a camera or on a stage in his life. And before you make that kind of investment, it would be prudent to try to calculate the potential payback and the other associated costs.
But what would I know? Other than what I'd tell people who want to join a band, that on any three band night I'm going to make more than the entire first band (opener), more than anyone in the second band (support act) and not even close to what the headliner will make. Still, one only of three bands makes that. What are the odds that its going to be your band?
