How do i become an actress when i have no experience and my mom wants me to be something else?

Question

All i can really do is sing! i'm good at singing. but i cant dance! i'm shy but i'm pretty good at acting. my mom wants me to become a doctor but i want to be an actress but i have no experience! if i become an actress she might get mad so what do i do? i want to make her happy but i want to be happy too! any advice??

Answer 1

OMG thats like the exact me! i want to be an actress or singer but i cant dance and my parents want me to be a doctor

Answer 2

OK, here's my idea... You don't tell her you want to be an actor; you take theatre in school and maybe some singing and dance on the side and tell her the extra curricular activities will look great on your college applications! Tell her you have to be a well-rounded applicant and someone who can be not only a good student but also an outgoing, socializing extrovert (unlike some serious students) will be much more of an asset to many college communities. Then when you're selecting your school for their pre-med or biology program, make sure the school also has a theatre program :-)

As the years go on, you just tell her that you need to take acting, dancing & singing as part of keeping up your extra-curricular commitments and if your singing is that good you could earn scholarships into a musical theatre program or even a choral program. Of course you could earn scholarships for an academic program as well, but you're just trying to cover all of your bases, right mom? She would want you to be as prepared as you can be for college, right? :-)

You can also tell your mom that studying theatre will help you to have a better bedside manner with your future patients. Learning to use comedic timing to make patients more comfortable, or to mask your feeling when the diagnosis could be grave but you're not sure yet... that kind of thing. Use your budding acting skills to win your mother over to your way of thinking. Just remember that you will ruin it if you ever blurt out that you want to be an actor... you have to play this well all the way through college :-) Then when you're an adult you do what you really want to do (actually you'll be doing it all along). Remember though that many people change their minds about their career path once they've been in college a year or two so don't tell her anything final until you've actually made up your mind. Play it smart and keep her happy at least for now.

Good luck!

Answer 3

When your mother gave birth to you, she had an obligation to raise you and care for you. Fulfilling these responsibilities does not earn her the right to dictate what your life will be, other than hoping you turn out to be a good person.

So while you're still growing up and under her care, she has authority over your activities. That may not please you, but "them's the rules." But if she won't pay for your college education unless it's pre-med, you'll just have to deal with that -- so, make sure your grades are top-notch NOW so you can quality for some college scholarships. Alternatively, do what I did -- learn some good clerical skills so you can support yourself and put yourself through either college or private lessons.

It's admirable that you want to make your mother happy, but you simply can't do that forever. You eventually have to forge your own life.

Answer 4

Ugh, do not waste your skills on Disney. Thats what i wanted at 11, yet i'm 13 and that i pass to do some thing significant. Disney Celebs are constantly dissed. there is not any way you will possibly be widespread on Disney except: Your somewhat incredibly/good-looking. Your a singer. you have your individual coach. everybody in Disney is heading over to slutville. i admire Miley..yet she is unlikely in the suited course. purely wait and do some thing else. in case you certainly have skills you will boost issues. Disney is shallow now...you purely would desire to have seems. in case you relatively prefer a newborn community, pass to Nickelodean. *EDIT* i'd get a minimum of 18, (thats what i'm doing) because of the fact if your a newborn celebrity then you relatively are old information with the help of the time your 20. & With Disney and Nick, you isn't taken heavily for different jobs, human beings will purely see you as some kiddie celebrity.

Answer 5

My mother also wants me to be a doctor. I am auditioning for TV Shows and Macys Ads and Fashion Shows and she isnt thrilled about it but she helps me A LOT. She started to care when I just ASKED HER FOR HELP with my auditions and headshots and things. Just ask her for help and tell her how you feel and that you dont want to be a doctor. And about the "no experience" thing, just go to your community theatre or school plays and start out small (like an extra in a movie). Having been in a movie, even if you were an extra, is really good on your resume.

HTH

Answer 6

Go with what your mother says. To many peoople try to become actors just because the want to do it. It's hard. Even harder for people without experience. You don't nessicarily have to be a doctor. But find another thing that you like to do. Become a teacher or a vet.

Answer 7

Hi,

what do you think would really make your mom start to take you seriously and support you?

Does she know what actors do? REALLY? Does she know what it's like being an actor? Does she know what you really have to go through to become an actor?

Do YOU know the answers to those questions? Do you know what it's like and what the issues actors face, what it's like to work on set, what your chances are of just getting work, how hard you'll have to work, how much you will have to invest of your time and energy to study, to do mailings, to write cover letters, to submit yourself for auditions, to prepare for auditions, prepare your monologues, bone up on your cold reading skills, take specialization classes, travel, etc.
Do you know what the average earnings are of an actor these days? Do you know how many days on the average an actor works.
Do you know what it takes to become an actor and do you have what it takes?

Have a look at the following links:

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com to see some of the issues actors face while trying to get work.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/working_as_an_actor.html to see what it can be like day to day looking for work.

http://www.actingcareerstartup.com/a_working_actor.html to see what it was like for me once on the set of an independent film.

That’s just a start. I strongly encourage you to talk to other actors, both working and struggling as well. It will help you in your education.

That's a lot of questions I know and I asked them on purpose.

Why?

Because if you can start to answer all those questions, maybe you will be more convincing. I know you're young, but you have to get started sometime. Some teenagers have someone who is an adult and who supports them in their goals. You don't so you can either keep butting heads with your mom or being afraid to approach the subject, or you can start to find out for yourself.
In other words, the more information you have, the more informed you are about what you say you want, the more you can talk about it intelligently and demonstrate that you know what you are talking about, the greater your chances of being able to convince her to support you. If she has just as much information as you do, then you are on an equal playing field. She's your mom, bigger and older and she wins! At least until you’re out of the house or until she no longer foots your bills!

Is that the way you want it? No? Then get a move on and start doing your homework! :-)

Does doing your homework mean that you will get what you want in the end? Not necessarily. Your mother is certainly taking into consideration your best interests. But even if you don't get her to support you, you will know a lot more than you do now about the profession you say you want to pursue.

Go to the site: http://www.actingcareerstartup.com and download a free e-booklet titled: What It Takes To Become An Actor. All you have to do is sign in and you can download it for free. It will help you understand more and get you started off in the right direction.

Good luck!

Tony
http://www.actingcareerstartup.com

Answer 8

so what if your mom doesnt want you to be an actress. its not her desicion. your the one who has to live your life so you should choose what you do in it. you should take acting lessons and audition for community plays. if your parents wont pay for them, use your own money. thats what I do.
like the first answer said, as long as you are a good person, she shouldnt care what you do.

Answer 9

Listen to your mom. Acting is a very difficult career and most actors don't make a living at it and have other jobs.

Answer 10

Less than 1% of the people who try acting ever get ONE paying job.