Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Oy! I need help, guys.

I've been accepted into an incredible acting conservatory in New York City.  I have all of my financial aid figured out and every thing.  All I have to do is fax one piece of paper and it's all said and done!

But I just can't push myself to do it and I don't know why. It's my dream coming true and yet I'm hesitant.

Its not because of my boyfriend because he can come with.  I think it's a tiny bit homesickness, because my mom is incredible.  But I could cope.  I think it's spending $80,000 and not knowing if I'll have decent acting jobs afterward. That's a LOT of money.

Also, I'm actually a bit wary of living in New York City.  It's a big place for this little ole' Texas boy.

Advice?  I have to turn in my enrollment agreement by Friday if I go.

Sometimes you have to do what you truly "want" to do, even if that means spending an outragious sum of money.

If what you truly want is to be an actor, then you should have the will required to pursue jobs even if it's hard, and thus will find work.

Its a lot of debt to take on given what the situation is for actors.  If you're what other people consider very good (your own opinion is worthless as you can't cast yourself) then it might be worth it.  What kind of roles do you think your going to do, considering its all typecasting?  And, in the end, who you know in that biz is just as important as what you know.

And truly, if you intend to transition at some point, will that affect your potential of being cast?  The number of available roles for a 6' man probably outnumber those for a 5' man.  It's an unfortunate way to have to think about things, but better to visit them now than when you're 80k in the hole.

This probably isn't the most responsible advice I've ever given, but I say if you want to be an actor, go for it.  If it's something you love, you'll find a way to make a living at it.  Besides, going to a general college and getting a degree doesn't mean you'll get a job either.  You should do what you want!  It's better to take a risk than to regret not doing it.  The homesickness will go away too, so don't let that stop you either.

Quote from: Jaimey on June 06, 2009, 02:32:04 AM
This probably isn't the most responsible advice I've ever given, but I say if you want to be an actor, go for it.  If it's something you love, you'll find a way to make a living at it.  Besides, going to a general college and getting a degree doesn't mean you'll get a job either.  You should do what you want!

Find someone with an art degree who is now working at starbucks and ask them if they'd still choose that major.

I went to a school with a big time theater arts program.  It won all sort of awards and all that.  Highly rated.  Of all the tech people I worked with, ALL of them went out in the world and got jobs doing something vaguely techie and sort of involving theater in some way.  One even ended up being the sound producer for NPR.  A few went to movies and TV, me, I went into rock shows. Most of us went into the union at some point, as that was stressed and our tech teacher made sure we got jobs in college doing union work to get us on our way.  BUT, of all the people who studied acting, not a one of them made a living at it.

Think of a major series like Law and Order or Sex in the City. There are (were) like maybe 7 people on that show who make a living, albeit a good one, doing that show as actors.  There are probably 40-50 who have steady work on the tech/set/production crews.  Figure the odds for yourself.

Quote from: Mister on June 06, 2009, 02:33:58 AM
Find someone with an art degree who is now working at starbucks and ask them if they'd still choose that major.

I majored in a science and ended up at a bookstore.  Same difference.  Do what makes you happy, Brady.

Most real science tends to require advanced degrees to do anything real.  A BA in physics is not worth much, a PhD only worth a bit more.  Acting is not like that.  But its something where you have to crave rejection, have very good interpersonal skills, and some talent.

Quote from: Jaimey on June 06, 2009, 03:01:12 AM
I majored in a science and ended up at a bookstore.  Same difference.  Do what makes you happy, Brady.

You could go to Brady's potential alma mater and become the next Bill Nye.

Quote from: tekla on June 06, 2009, 03:03:16 AM
Most real science tends to require advanced degrees to do anything real.  A BA in physics is not worth much, a PhD only worth a bit more.  Acting is not like that.  But its something where you have to crave rejection, have very good interpersonal skills, and some talent.

and a good deal of luck thrown in as well.

And three more things, Connections, connections, and connections.  Not what you know, but who you know - and who knows you.

Quote from: Mister on June 06, 2009, 03:05:38 AM
You could go to Brady's potential alma mater and become the next Bill Nye.

What a reference...I'd totally forgotten about him...

Brady's potential alma mater

Cornell?  Hardly incredible acting conservatory in New York City.  For one thing, its in Ithaca.

Quote from: tekla on June 06, 2009, 03:17:00 AM
Brady's potential alma mater

Cornell?  Hardly incredible acting conservatory in New York City.  For one thing, its in Ithaca.

OK.. bird eating spider and bill nye's educational background....  you're quick with teh google.

Spiders yes, Bill Nye, no, I wrote about him once upon a time.  Went to Sidwell Friends School in DC, where the Obama girls go to school and where Al Gore, and lots of others went also.  So he comes from MAJOR money.  Then he went to Cornell, and then to work for Boeing as an ME.  He holds a couple of patents too.  Very smart guy.  I think he might be in Cornell now teaching, or he was back when I booked him to lecture at the uni were I was.

Quote from: tekla on June 06, 2009, 03:24:30 AM
Spiders yes, Bill Nye, no, I wrote about him once upon a time.  Went to Sidwell Friends School in DC, where the Obama girls go to school and where Al Gore, and lots of others went also.  So he comes from MAJOR money.  Then he went to Cornell, and then to work for Boeing as an ME.  He holds a couple of patents too.  Very smart guy.  I think he might be in Cornell now teaching, or he was back when I booked him to lecture at the uni were I was.

But who reigns supreme as science tv host- Bill Nye or Mr. Wizard?

I work on TV shows from time to time when I have to.  But other than movies on HBO/AMC and some sports I never watch it.  My mind is not dirty so I don't let no one wash my brain.

Like Nichole says "I have a sewer line to take crap out of my house, why have some other device to feed it back in."

I don't own one anymore.  I used to watch it back in the 80's.  Come to think of it, I remember making a very big mess creating a vinegar/baking soda volcano after seeing it on that show...   whoops.

Its great for some people, bread and circuses and all.

Once a year or so I'll find myself housesitting or dogsitting or up all night in a hotel.  I'll watch all the crap without blinking for a couple hours and I'm set for another year or so.  I keep up with a few shows on the web. 

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?

Quote from: Mister on June 06, 2009, 02:33:58 AM
Find someone with an art degree who is now working at starbucks and ask them if they'd still choose that major.

Ask someone who does have an art degree and makes a good living from it. We're not all starving artists.

I do have to admit that $80K is alot of money going into a questionable and highly competitive field. Think about it hard.

Well this place will definitely get me connections, that's the most awesome part about it.

No, the place offers you the opportunity to make connections, you have to make them on your own.  And everyone else there is trying to do the same thing.  Are you extremely outgoing?  Are you good at giving other people what they want, at flattering them, finding their needs an fulfilling them?  Are you willing to do anything short of killing someone to get that role, to have that meeting with that agent, to get the call to that audition - and to keep that up.  People have short memories, and in show biz, they are very, very short.  So you have to keep up with all those connections, they are more likely to recommended someone they remember from last week than from last year.

Are you the very social person, the one who holds the parties, the dinners and all that?

Remember all those other people there want that recommendation, that connection, that meeting and the person is going to recommend one, perhaps two, how do you get to the top of that heap?

I think you've adequately warned Brady of the hardships in his future.  Perhaps now we should sit back and let Brady make his own decision instead of trying to make him do what we think he should.

Best of luck to you, dear!

In my opinion you've answered yourself in your own sig.

"No day but today"
truly words to live by. 

Before I make big decisions I always have to think to myself which choice I would regretmore in the future(because as important as it is to forget regret, regret is inevitable.)  If you stay in Texas and go about your life you'll always have wondered what could have happened.  You'll always say "well I had a chance once, but I didn't want to risk it"  If you go, try, and fail I doubt that you'd regret the experience. 

True that, but I worry when I see very young people take on a huge debt load, particularly in a field where the odd of paying it back, are, at best, a crap shoot.   That's why a dual major deal in college seems a better way to go.  At least there would be something there that could conceivably be able to be bused to make a living for as long as it takes to make it - a day job that will pay the bills, including paying off that loan, because people who give you $80K are not going to forget about it.

Quote from: tekla on June 07, 2009, 09:15:54 PM
True that, but I worry when I see very young people take on a huge debt load, particularly in a field where the odd of paying it back, are, at best, a crap shoot.   That's why a dual major deal in college seems a better way to go.  At least there would be something there that could conceivably be able to be bused to make a living for as long as it takes to make it - a day job that will pay the bills, including paying off that loan, because people who give you $80K are not going to forget about it.

truth, as a theatre major myself (tech not acting) I am also majoring in biology so I have more options later on.  If this is your only shot at higher education I'd attend a regular university or find some other way to have a good back up plan before jumping in.

If you really want to do real theater tech, find a way into the union now, at least start making some connections, getting on overhire lists and all that - in the end, not being in is a huge roadblock.

Quote from: tekla on June 07, 2009, 09:37:59 PM
If you really want to do real theater tech, find a way into the union now..... not being in is a huge roadblock.

He speaks the truth.  After moving to CA and realizing how locked up the union has things out here, I went back into my intended career path.