My name is Mike and Im 20, I want to be an actor and Im not sure if I should go to NY or go back to college??

Question

Everyone keeps telling me to go to school, but I feel that moving to NY and getting an agent down there could work......Im not sure??.....I have been out of High School for 2 years and havent done any acting, just working and wasting money and nuthin.....I just have this feeling about Manhattan, Im just kinda nervous bout the whole thing.........

Answer 1

either do it full steam ahead or forget it. you do thing half a*ssed then you'll look back on it and kick yourself in the nuts for not doing what you wanted. I'm sure you can still get a part time or full time job there while still trying to make it. it's possible. I say go for it. if you're just wasting time here then what's the point? you'll sit back and bi*tch about how you never got to do what you wanted. not sure how much you make but can't be that great. dump it, head out and don't look back. you're young still. stil can do what you want without sacrificing your future.

Answer 2

Hi Mike
I have talked to a lot of kids and friends about this. (I have been heavy into acting . singing and magic since I was able to walk) I have seen a lot of successes and a lot of rock bottom falls and would hate to see you go the second route.
First you gotta look at the options the guys going to New York are mostly trained actor/ singer / dancers and hey they can't find work or if they do its mostly on gigs out of town( cruise ships etc.) at any given ime ther are about 30 plays going with casts of 1 to apx 30 people even at its best that is only about 500 jobs for 10.000 people looking for the jobs your best bet is always to get the fall back education but barring that get to a your next nearest biggest city get agents ( and be aware that agents do not get you work they only supply what someone coming in the door wants IE: a 6'4'' blond haired blue eyed scottish 22 year old so if your not that the agent wont put you up for it no matter how good you are) I personally have been very lucky and it is luck I went to Europe as a singer the day after HS. and then went to Seattle to be a big star when that didn't happen I went to the docks and did street magic then touring shows then I was Copperfields right hand guy for 6 years went on top movies and TV and my own magic shows ( I just came back from 2 weeks in Hawaii doing a show) Bottom line it's a great life but a unforgiving one with lots of vipers along the way. I wish you all the luck dude BTW my fall back was the magic and ultimatly it's what I ended up doing the most. PS learn to save your money I am very tight because you never know when the next job will be I have made enough now not to worry if it all goes away tomarrow and thats a big load off my mind. Good Luck ....Mike K

Answer 3

Don't expect to move to New York and get an agent. It's almost an Impossible Dream.

Stay in school, and be sure it is an excellent school, with excellent acting teachers. The school you attend is very important to many New York Agents.

Be sure you have a lot of theater on your resume, with leading roles!

Stop having a "feeling" about Manhattan, unless you want to work right away as a, bus boy or waiter, at a restaurant!

Answer 4

Go to NYC to a school called the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. My niece did and she is currently performing in summer stock in New Lebanon, NY. You have to start somewhere, and this way you can get yourself out there and in the place where the action is. There is also Roosevelt in Chicago for a more academic atmosphere. Niagara University is also noted for theater as is the University of Buffalo. People there have connections, but the theater life is tough, really tough, unless you are the star, and then only after a while do you make enough money for a decent life. You have to really want it, deep and full commitment.

Answer 5

Hi Mike;

First off... if you're nervous and uncertain about it, you need to wait!!! While you're waiting, go back to school!!!

There's probably a million people in NY right now which had the same thing happen to them... Wanted to go do blah blah blah...

That's a very rough and cut throat business! Where you are now, you have a very good chance to make something of yourself! Start with the baby steps first! Go to school and take acting lessons on the side if that's your interest.... But wait awhile before jumping into something which has the potential to chew you up, spit you out into the gutter then kick the living tar out of you as you try to get back up!!!

Go to school!!!

Answer 6

Ok it's really hard to get an agent...a good agent without professional experience and without having joined the union. I definitely tell you to go to college. Get a degree, and while you're there perform as much as possible. Maybe you should go to college in NYC? Five Towns College offers training and is relatively cheap.

Answer 7

I don't see where the two are mutually exclusive. Go to NY get an agent AND enroll in school. Take classes and go on auditions.
Good luck to you! I wish I had done it when I was younger.

Answer 8

you will be a very small fish in a very large pond there, why dont you compromise and go to ny and take a couple of classes while trying out for parts in off broadway and getting an agent. etc.and likely working as a waiter in between.

Answer 9

I say do both. There are plenty of colleges in NY. NYU is one of the best school in the country. You can pursue your acting dreams, work on your degree and work a job. *they don't call it the city that never sleeps for nothing*

Answer 10

hey as an actor myself i understand the pull of NY, but dude get some education behind your name. not only will it give you experience which agents and casting directors are looking for it will allow you to see if this is really what you want to do.