Confused...Acting?

Question

So Im confused with two jobs I really want to do. Unfortunately I know I can only do one. Its between acting or studying to become a surgeon. Ive always wanted to be an actress but I know its hard to find jobs in acting now. If I do take acting what qualifications will I need? Im in acting school and I may be getting an agent but will this just land me jobs as an extra?

Answer 1

If you want to become an actor then by all means go ahead! Thing is 95% of actors are out of a job. Make sure you have a back up plan.

Like teaching!!! You can still do what you love but you can teach it at a High school or performing arts center. Also that means you have the summer to work on community theater (directing or acting) and help younger kids with summer camps.

You can have a job and do what you love.

Answer 2

Look, you have to do some soulsearching and figure out what you LOVE. Honestly, the sensible, "smart" thing would be to continue on to med school, and then pursue acting while your raking in the bucks... But if your'e young, one of your greatest assets as an actor is your youth, and the time you have to gain training and experience. Yes, it is hard to find acting jobs... The big celebrites are just a few out of millions who are actually really successful.

Another question you need to ask yourself during all this is how do YOU measure success, not how people here, or your family do. Is it making money? Having Love? Having a family? Having a wealth of high quality work behind you? What?.. Ultimately, you have to do what makes you happy, and only you can decide what that is.

Most actors have day jobs, that's the reality... Do you want your day job to be waiting tables or surgery? And honestly, having an agent doesn't guarantee you work- You may only get one audition a year with an even semi-proactive agent. You still have to put yourself out there, find the auditions, go to them prepared. The competition is BRUTAL. Not to mention the fact that you have to be incerdibly resiliant, being rejected constantly... There's alot to think about.

But on the plus, alot of people are starting to create their own projects, there's hundereds of millions of people out there waiting for something good to watch, so think about learning every aspect of the entertainment industrial from writing to directing to production. Develop these skills in yourself, and even if you do nothing with them, they'll make you a better, more professional actor.
I wish you the best of luck with this decision, and remember that this is a GOOD thing, some people can't even find a place to sleep at night... This is an important decision as you know, and everything in life involves risk, ESPECIALLY being an actor. If you like living dangerously, go for it!

Answer 3

OKay, well I'm an aspiring actress. And I just got my big break. I got invited to an Acting Expo in Dallas Texas. At this expoo there will be agetns from new york and LA and Milan and Paris etc. Firsst what I did was do a bunch of plays. goi to any auditions you can and then i went to an audition for expo in april and i got it. only 350 people world wode get invited to go to the expo. but you should go to college first so if acting doesnt work out for you then you have a degree so you an be something else and get a job for you to fall back on. i am going to have miss a week of school to go this expo. But everyone is telling me, all the agents i meet and the people who invited me to expo say ed. is the most important thing incase acting doesnt work out. So i would get and agent while you are in college and if you end up haveing to travel a lot get tutors. I might have to do tht. Well I hope this help!

Answer 4

Uh, are you kidding here? No offense, but most people who really want to become surgeons and who are qualified to get into med school are so set on that path that nothing will deter them, acting included! You say you are in acting school now. If you want to be a surgeon, what in the world are you doing in acting school? To be honest, the two professions are so juxtaposed, this is a nearly impossible question to answer. Of course, your chancces of making it as an actress are very small. Most people, even with an agent, end up as extras or waiting tables and hoping for that big chance that never comes. Ultimately, I guess you have to make the final decision as to what you want to do. And, I hope you realize that just getting into med school is also very difficult. Staying in even more so, and doing your residency, brutal.

Answer 5

There are some parallels between an actor and a medical student. For instance, if you consider yourself middleclass. Be prepared to take a punch in the wallet. Either way both careers are expenesive to pursue. Medical school can easily set you back 10,000 plus a year. Depending on the type of surgeon you want to become. However medical school last for several years, and there is at least some gurantee for career stability since medical doctors are always in high demand regardless of the economy. Sure chances are you will only recieve 200,000 a year, but at least it will equal stability for you. In addition you have an education to fall back on, unlike acting which really doesn't guarantee you an insurance, or stability.
Acting school is not as expensive, but be prepared to face many a criticism when pursuing acting. You face a slew of heavy competition for one role, and that role is never guranteed until the director has his or her final say which means they might not like a physical aspect or personailty trait about you specifically. So be prepared for a lot of rejection the first time out.Plus the risk of becoming yesterdays news is extremely high.So you must stay on top of your game. A casting coach might like the deal, but the director might not have it. Plus if you act in any major studio, you have to join the Screen Actors Guild, who has guidlelines for negoitaing actors salaries, how long they work, and how they're treated. Chances are if its a major studio like paramount for instance, they are apart of SAG. All major studios must be apart of SAG in order to get a high profile actor such as Forest Whitaker. Think of it as a really expensive union to join. That pays out life insurance, medical, dental, and basically gives you the hookup with any judge lest you commit a serious crime. IE Matt Broderick when he committed vehicular manslaughter and got off for it.

I would honestly study to become a surgeon first, get myself established then pursue an acting career. Always establish some sort of financial footing before plunging into something.

Answer 6

Study to become a surgeon. You can always pursue acting as a hobby or part-time career later. Can't do it the other way around.

Answer 7

The neat thing about doing extra work is it can lead to bigger and
better things.

My advice would be to pursue acting. It's a lot more fun then
being a doctor.

Take any acting job that comes along as long as it does not
conflict with your own moral code.

Answer 8

you never know till u go for it.x

Answer 9

Follow your heart, thats what i do.