help..careers?

Question

in a few months, im going to be going into highschool, i have NO idea at all what i want my career to be. is that bad? my parents are mad cuz i dont know and i only have 4 years till college. I think i want to do something with acting or modeling but that is not a consistent career. All of my friends think i should do that and even my relatives and me but my parents say that i wont get a job in those careers because you get like one job booking a month. and that wont be enough to keep me in a house and food. but those seem like the only fun jobs that interest me.

Answer 1

honey, i know people that are out of college that do not know what they want to be. I'm 29 and have no idea what i want to do for a career. as for the modeling, i hate to break it to you, but if you were going to be a model, you'd be in the business by now. acting, you can go that route, but it takes a lot of hard work and you have to get into the right school. tell your parents to chill. it's better to take your time and find out what you really want to do, then waste your time and their money by going to college for 10 years because you have to change majors every 2 years.

Answer 2

Your parents are rushing things too much, being unsure at your age is ok. Peope that are forced to figure it out too early often end up doing something they don't want to b/c they want to make the choice fast. Think about it, you don't have to apply for college for a while still--think--What will make you happy in the end?

Answer 3

Models enhance and promote the sale of consumer goods, new fashion designs and other business products and services.

Working Conditions
Models work in a wide variety of settings and their hours of work vary considerably. Local fashion shows may be held in tea rooms, shopping malls or banquet rooms, or on outdoor stages. Photo sessions may be in studios or on location (sometimes outside). Commercials are usually shot in studios but may be shot on location. Some commercials take up to five days to shoot.

Modelling is an extremely competitive field. Models must be ready to take calls on short notice so daily personal grooming and wardrobe organization are essential. Work tends to be seasonal, busiest in the fall and spring. Local modelling tends to be more lenient so models may work longer than in international modelling.


Personal Characteristics
Modelling is open to men, women and children of all ages. Although appearance is important, the desired look is constantly changing. The basic requirement is that models meet minimum height requirements and are well-proportioned. Specific age and physical requirements vary depending on the market and type of modelling. International models must be within a specified height range (generally five feet eight inches to five feet eleven inches for women, five feet eleven inches to six feet two inches for men) and fit sizes set by designers (generally size two to four for women, 40 Regular to 42 Tall for men). Female plus size models in the international market usually wear size 10 to 12 and must fit designer sample sizes.


Educational Requirements
Most successful models have not had formal training in modelling. They have been discovered by modelling agents who provide advice and promote their services.

Modelling agencies are always scouting, looking for new talent. Prospective models may submit photographs or attend agency open calls to obtain free assessments of their potential.

Before contacting modelling agencies, prospective models should learn as much as possible about each agency and how the agency recruits models. Agencies generally expect models to pay for promotional expenses such as photographs, composite cards, website promotion and courier costs. Agencies may prefer to use their own photographers for test shots.

There are no minimum education requirements but employers generally prefer to hire high school graduates and encourage young people to finish high school. Courses in visual arts, drama, physical education, cosmetology and financial management are recommended. At the very least, models must be able to read contracts and keep track of their bookings and expense receipts.

A number of modelling agencies offer training programs for prospective models. Before signing up for a program, aspiring models should check the reputation of the agency and the content of the training program.


Employment and Advancement
Models are self-employed. They usually pay a commission for each job their agency books for them. Commission rates vary from market to market. Models may have many agents internationally but only one agent per market.

In smaller centres, modelling is a part-time occupation for most models. They are often students as well. In larger markets, models may be busy full time. The most work is in print modelling for catalogues, newspapers, magazines, brochures and lifestyle materials. Very few models make it to the international modelling scene in New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo or Europe.


Salary
Pay rates for models vary considerably depending on the market and the type of modelling. In smaller centres, models may start out by doing free shows for local charities or working in exchange for products or goods. In Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, established models may earn from $900 to $3,000 per day (2005 estimate). Well established models in international markets earn more. Income earned abroad is taxed by the country in which it is earned.


+++Actors perform roles in dramatic productions on stage, television, radio and in the movies. They also perform in television and radio commercials, and work in media narration and voice-overs.

Working Conditions
Actors often work long, irregular hours. Rehearsals may be held on holidays and weekends. Most actors in stage productions perform six evenings and one or two matinees on weekends. Their normal day off is Monday.

It is common for actors to travel to other cities to perform in plays or work on films. They may be away from home for a few weeks or several months. Working on location may involve working in a wide variety of environments (for example, in noisy factories, underground or in a severe storm).

Educational Requirements section revised SEPTEMBER 2006
Actors must have performance experience. They often start their careers by appearing in amateur theatre and school productions or working with community theatre groups.

In a talent-based occupation such as acting, related education does not guarantee success. However, versatility is a definite asset. Acting, singing, movement and dance skills increase an actor's potential for success in this highly competitive field.

Many actors benefit from skills training in negotiation and business management as well. Since most actors are self-employed independent contractors, they operate as small businesses and often negotiate their own contracts.


Salary
An actor's life is rarely financially rewarding. Minimum wages are set by unions and maximum wages are negotiated by actors or agents. However, many actors accept non-equity work or work in co-operative productions. Some actors generate their own work by producing fringe festival productions.

Many actors must supplement their income between performances by taking part-time jobs that often are unrelated to acting. Some actors also work as directors, acting or voice coaches, or college drama teachers.