Education for Performance Careers? Yes or No?

This subject has been one that I have been personally dealing with for ages now. Do we as performers need training in our craft to succeed? Short answers yes. Long answer...well that has to do with what type of training. We all know there are those diamond in the roughs (who we secretly wish will fall and sprain an ankle...or not) who just are simply and amazingly a talent without any thought at 8:00 in the morning. Then there are those who are talented but need to hone their craft. Or the final ones that have talent but it is hidden deeeeeeeeeep within and just needs the push to come out. But no matter which of these three examples, some type of training is necessary.

There has been discussions over many years the benefits to a masters program in theatre or music on whether is it beneficial to a performance career. There is no doubt that is it a necessity if you plan on a future in the university educational system as the terminal degrees are mostly required to teach. As for the price it costs to get a master's degree theses days, do those who do not intend to teach need to get a masters before jumping into their careers? From my research I feel the answer is dependent on the person. Do they still need more training? Are they just about there but need that last push? Do they shine in one talent but not the other?

The only person that can really answer this question is the actor themselves. In my humble opinion I feel that a BFA is a necessity at the least to round of your training in all aspects of singing, acting and dancing to make you the triple threat that is needed these days to compete with the competition. But if you don't intend to go onto teach then maybe a masters isn't something you feel will help you. We as actors have to remember that we shape out own future, no one else. I have had the hardest time staying true to that motto, and I have plenty more where it came from. The simple fact is that no matter what the world throws at you in your career as an actor or singer, you and only you can figure out how to swing the bat to hit the home run. So take a breath, prep the swing, and hit your future out of the park.
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