is it possible to make a good living acting? i really love it and i need to start deciding what i want to do with my life. my family says that i should do something else and act on the side, but i dont know what the other thing would be!!!!!!!!!!! i like to bake and i like working with children, but i dont really know if i want to do either of those things for the rest of my life as my job. help would be appreciated!!!!!!!!
2007-07-22 12:02:31 · 8 answers · asked by Tigger_Grrrl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
thanks for your support! i have heard ppl say that i'm good but i dont know if they were just saying that to be nice.
2007-07-22 12:17:10 · update #1
Most everybody I know (including me) who are professional actors need another job to make ends meet. You say you like working with children? So do I. I went to college and studied elementary education and now I am a preschool teacher. It allows me the evenings for rehearsals when I'm in a show and I have summers off to go out and do professional gigs or do my other artistic endeavors. Plus, I earn vacation time so I can go to wherever for an out of town audition if I need to. The school where I work is good about letting me go away when and if I need to for professional gigs. I have decided that, although I love acting, I doubt that I could, or would want, to do that and only that. I know that for many people it's the end all, be all job and that's fine, but for me, I would rather be at school with the kids. I love that job too, and I know I'm good enough at it to stay there until I retire. Acting will always be there but, for me, only as a money making hobby. I wish anybody who wants to do it for a living the very best and I love to see my friends succeed at it. If you decide to act for a living, it's always a good idea (and I think others would agree) to have something else to be good at in case acting doesn't work out. It's been known to happen to SOME people (sarcastic remark).....Besides, what you do at your day job will eventually help you out in your acting career. I wish you the best....
Ron
p.s. If people say you are a good actor then it's probably because they really think so. It has been my experiencee that people will voluntarily compliment you on a performance. If they think you stink they will not say anything...just to be nice....In most cases that's true...
2007-07-22 12:27:54 · answer #1 · answered by ndn_ronhoward 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The problem with acting as a career is that it entails a lot more than just acting. Like marketing yourself to agents and casting directors. You have a bunch of pretty good answers here. The only way you can become an actor is when that is all you can do. If you are trained as a teacher or something else you will do that instead of being an actor. Sad, but true. It is possible, it just is not probable. If you are extraordinarily beautiful or talented it would help.
2007-07-23 11:48:45 · answer #2 · answered by Theatre Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ndn_ronhoward is a damn genius! Everything he said is right on. You can do a ton of different jobs. You need to pick something that will allow you a degree of flexibility so you can still act. You said you like kids. Substitute teaching is a great actor's job and it pays pretty well in NY and LA. And you don't have to do anything for the rest of your life. Most people change careers several times. What I say to any young kid starting out in life is this. Get a degree. It gives you many more and better options. If you want to be a successful actor you need to be in it for the long haul. If you have a fallback career you won't care much if you don't make anything acting. Then you can do it for the rest of your life.
Luck.
2007-07-22 22:58:55 · answer #3 · answered by Big R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even if you aren't "famous," you can still make a living with acting. It's just most likely not going to be a very comfortable living. I think you should go to college and get a degree in a job involving baking or working with children, and if you're not making enough money or decide you don't want to act anymore, you'll have a solid job to fall back on. But definitely pursue acting. You only have one life, use it to go for your dreams! Best of luck to you!
2007-07-22 15:29:10 · answer #4 · answered by RENThead 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most cases, actors are barely surviving.
It is possible to be a Rich Actor, it is just not very likely.
Learn A Trade. Act For Fun, Not for Money.
2007-07-22 19:03:02 · answer #5 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acting sounds like a great living! Go w/ your dreams and it certainly rakes in the cash if you're any good. I hope that answers your question.
~Kailes
2007-07-22 12:08:30 · answer #6 · answered by Kailes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acting will fetch you good money if you try your skills in Bollywood (INDIA) and hollywood (US). Plus you need good contacts to excel in this industry. Film industries in other countries will not fetch you good money
2007-07-23 18:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by neil r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For Acting, I would recommend
http://www.hollywoodnorth.com
2007-07-23 03:49:39 · answer #8 · answered by Lance F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋