BWW Blog: 'You're Majoring in What?'

When making the decision to major in musical theatre (or any artistic area) in college, the range of responses from friends, family, and even people you may not know very well can range in terms of support. I was blessed to have parents and a family who strongly supported my career choice and I know they have my back and believe in me; I do not Take That for granted, because I know many people may not even go into the theatre with the support of their parents. I have, however, experienced plenty of skepticism from other well-meaning folks (the optimist in me likes to believe they are all well-meaning) who often offer unwanted advice, doubtful comments, or even outright criticism. This can be really demoralizing as a young artist, so today I wanted to share some advice on how to respond in these awkward situations and still feel proud of your major.

Tip #1: Always stay cordial in your response if you're not looking for a debate, as this can be pretty emotionally taxing. If someone presents you with negativity or criticism, do not feed into it by arguing with them or being rude back. Just keep a polite smile on your face and think of it as acting practice; smile and nod, then you can time-step all over their doubt and negativity when you win your first Tony.

Tip #2: Remind them that you're going into a career where there is work all over the country. Many people may question why you're pursuing a life that can only happen in New York, and an easy response is that it can happen anywhere. Regional professional theaters are not exclusive to a certain area of the country and while Broadway is a very specific area in New York City, professional acting work is not exclusive to that area.

Tip #3: If the money doubts come up (which they always seem to do), one of the ways I always tackled them was "I love my work and get to do what I am passionate about every day. I personally would rather do that than work at a steady job where I feel unfulfilled."

Tip #4: Doctors treat physical problems, psychiatrists treat mental problems, and actors treat emotional problems. We are studying and portraying humanity in all its messy glory and have the honor of teaching empathy, offering support to those who feel alone, and cheering up those who are sad. Bringing up the value of arts in society can sometimes open people's eyes to an aspect of theatre they do not often consider.

Tip #5: Would you offer career advice to an engineer? A veterinarian? The answer is probably no because you know absolutely nothing substantial about those career paths. Remember this when people try and offer you advice when they have no experience working in theatre or the arts in general. "What's your backup plan?" is perhaps the most infuriating thing you can be asked as a young artist, and while yes, it is idealistic to imagine that you'll graduate from school and only ever do live theatre for the rest of your life, theatre is just as viable a career path as anything else. There is no shame in working a jobs outside of the arts if necessary (or if you just decide that you want to), but do not let other people who have no experience in your field instill doubt in yourself.

And remember: you are so enough! You are going into theatre and the arts because you love it and if you haven't heard it enough recently, I am so happy for you and proud of you for your commitment to a challenging career. You are awesome.

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