Ever since you could remember, you would get lost in your favorite television shows, dreaming that one day you, too, would get your chance at stardom. As you have grown older, you have probably noticed that there are several others with the same aspirations as you, so to survive in the world of performing arts, you must always continue to develop your craft and place your heart into your work. Here is how you can turn your passion for the arts into a profitable career.
Make A Name for Yourself
Creative individuals are in high demand, and the competition is fierce. So, in order to be considered for paid gigs or earn a position within an agency, you must create a name for yourself. This would include building a portfolio and getting a few performances and projects under your belt to both prove that you have experience in your field and that you are dedicated to what you do.
Unfortunately, when you get started in performing arts, you will probably not get paid much, if any at all. The money usually comes after you have gained credibility. Before making a decent living, you should consider taking on volunteer projects and unpaid gigs. This will give you on-the-job experience, fill your resume, and allow you to display your talents while networking with important people in the industry. Making the right connections are an integral part of the journey as many of your money-making opportunities will present themselves through referrals and first impressions.
Become Educated on Your Craft
Uta Hagen’s “Respect for Acting” led her to fulfill her purpose as a drama teacher even after attaining lead roles on Broadway, and establishing a career as a thriving actress. She understood that there was much more to be learned about her craft than what she could pick up as an observer of the triumphs of others and decided to share her wisdom with those who aspired to attain success as well.
While most creatives are born with their gifts, there is always room to grow and become better at what you do. While being a self-regulated learner has its undeniable advantages, you would be doing yourself a disservice not to explore ways to advance your talent. Also, many agencies and business professionals require their hired talent to have some sort of degree or technical background.
Once you have attained a performative arts degree of your choice at the bachelor level, you have widened your scope as to what lies behind the scenes, and you have made your quest to find work significantly easier. Not to mention, performative arts are constantly changing at a rapid speed. There have been advancements in the way theatre is carried out as well as the roles of actors, dancers, and singers. To keep up with the times, it is wise to seek out current education.
Performing arts is not for the weak-spirited or the easily deterred. To make it in this restless industry, you must be resilient and always on the prowl, searching for ways to create new opportunities for yourself. Your success will become less about whether you have the talent or not and more about how you can wage it.