What is your backup plan? I DONT NEED ONE THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

As an actor we get upset when ask by random people, “what are you going to do with your life when you can’t do theatre anymore”, or "what can you do with a theatre degree?" I AM AN ACTOR, GOSH DARNIT, THATS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO! If I learned anything from my teachers at Circle in the Square Theatre school, if you have a back up plan that means you will fail at acting and use that back up plan. Yes I feel that we should always be able to do more than one thing but never depend on that as a way to escape from doing what we love.  

Even my father, when I was looking for acting schools, suggested I major in Computer Engineering because that is something I can depend on. Well after my slight disappointment that my dad didn't think I was good enough to succeed I made it clear to him that this is my life and that is that. He finally came around, and I realized it wasn’t about my talent just that he wanted to make sure I was going to have stable life.

The road you choose to take very well may have many twists and turns let alone potholes and construction (insert any metaphor you desire), but think of these distractions as stepping stones. I am the last to say this because I still don’t believe it for myself with some of the past choices I have made career wise. But I have to remember that I choose to do each and everything and I can choose what comes next. 

I have experience and or training in 7 different other aspects of entertainment from back to front of house. If acting doesn’t work out what can I do? Theatre management? Teach? Choreograph? Voice lessons? Who knows but that isn’t the point because it WILL work out. If you have the drive and passion, don’t let anyone get in the way.

Food for Thought...

V