To discourage DD for a career in performing arts

[Masteringlife]

DD said she wants to go to a performing Sixth form; wants to be an actress, doesn’t want the normal office job of sitting in an office in front of a laptop all day.

I am in two minds whether to support or discourage it. It is a very competitive world and quite difficult to make a living. Perhaps encourage it as a hobby with another career on the side.

She is not ver academic and prefer creative activities and freedom.

Would be grateful for advice

Thanks. Good advice. I will support her and let her find out for herself. I will encourage her to get good GSES so she has options

Have you looked into getting her into a stage school, my son went to Stagecoach for a few years they cover all aspects of acting, as well as the support side, so lighting makeup, etc, and he has a couple of LAMDA qualifications as well, his was on a Saturday morning.
It might serve to give her an insight into which aspects she not only likes but can actually do.

She attends Saturday theatre school.

My son started singing aged 12 ( 28 years ago) he sang in school concerts and spent many hours in the music room after school. He learn to play instruments and learnt to read music too... When he was 16 he was awarded a 3 year scholarship to the local prestigious performing arts college where he learnt singing, street, modern tap and ballet and followed HIS dreams not mine although I encouraged him whichever way I could, aged 18 he was a ringmaster in a circus where he learnt to stilt walk and juggle, he also lectures on pyrotechnics and is a sound and light technician, has met many celebrities and worked as a stage manager... When covid was on he drove for Tescos delivering groceries. Work is hard in performing arts and being on tour is not the 'glitz and glamour' it's portrayed to be so back up skills when work is low is a great thing to have.

What an amazing life he is leading Salsmum!

She’s 13.

Quick update on this thread.

DD15 got a place in the Brit School and currently in year 10. She loves the creative aspects of the school but find the academic aspect hard. Still want to pursue a career in acting but screen acting rather than theatre. Not sure if she will continue at the Brit past year 11 so she is looking at other options.

She also said she needs to get an agent. Not sure how to do that.

Surely the school can help with getting an agent?

Just support her. It is good she has a dream.

It is not an easy route and money will be tight and things often precarious, but if it is what she wants to do she will weather these things.

The performing arts 6th form will put her right on the realities.

Give her your backing. If you don't she will do something else under duress and with a poor spirit, which is totally pointless.

The specialist Brit School will almost certainly be able to assess her abilities and advise her on her best course.

I don’t think this is the case but will ask them

Are you sure?

I know a few kids that have gone to schools such as Italia conti, even the weekend ones like PQA.

they usually have in house agents to get the students jobs. Many agents attend end of year shows and recruit students from there.

agents and PA school usually have good working relationships, as it’s kind of the aim to have the students working. If students can’t get agents easily they’re not going to work in the field and the school would be pretty useless.

I was always very much of the stated opinion, that it was their life, their choice, and of course I wanted them to be happy - however they needed to choose a way of life that would support them in their preferred standard of living - whether that was finding a job that was their passion that could do so - or a job that could support their passion as a hobby.

So at that point I was all about keeping options open - making sure they didn't narrow choices down to the point where they might regret it later. (And explore options - sport, art, academics, countries, cultures, languages, hobbies - this is the time for it!)

I would also make sure she knows she will need a back up. A friend used to run an employment agency for out of work actors - and visited drama schools to tell the students during induction that they would need agencies like hers.
i knew one actress who was a trained nursery school teacher/nanny, another taught swimming, even getting trained as a Barista could be a good idea.
I would point out the negatives of a career (she will have to overcome a lot more than parental disapproval) but also encourage her to seek out opportunities.

Could she try for National Theatre summer school? ... my GS is doing this in July. It will give her an idea of her real talent with others to compare with. And she would have to get through the audition first which needs both native talent and proper preparation... it would be a test of what she can/is willing to do.
Missed the boat for this year though I think.
Also he has a drama scholarship at a good private school.

My view is that being able to "perform" is invaluable in practically every job. I'd encourage her to follow her passion, whilst trying to keep her grounded about the realities of that industry, but she may as well study something she enjoys, when it will help in anything she ends up doing.

Agents will be more interested when she is 16 as she will be outside licensing rules then. So no harm in waiting a few months

If she wants to do it I’d actively encourage her. Also, performing is AI-proof whereas office just aren’t

These days a degree is a degree - unless it is for a vocational course. Will she be attendinng a performing arts sixth form? Getting into an acting BA is extremely competitive and she may get the best prep for the auditions from a performing arts school - especially if she does the BTEC in drama.

@Masteringlife I let my DD do performing arts sixth form, but my criteria was I will support you if you have a back up plan.
She completed sixth form with triple D the equivalent of 3 A at A-level got accepted on to the Italia Conti degree program graduated with a 2:1 in musical theatre.
In between professional contracts she teachs - primary afterschool dance, Lamda singing, musical theatre and acting, stagecoach singing and dance and singing at Conti associates.
I let her follow her dream and she is using her degree both to perform, but in between times to pay the bills.
From DD’s experience unless you are some incredibly rare casting type most agents don’t take 16 year olds are there are many adults who can play down to their casting type (13-19 is a bit of a no man’s land work wise).

Your daughter’s focus should be honing her craft getting good technique so she can take direction well.

Thank you. This is useful.

I need to discuss this with DD. I really not sure she still knows the reality of this career.

I don’t want to be negative but someone needs to explain it.

Does your DD do many acting/performing jobs? Or is it mainly teaching?

Where did she do her sixth form?

That is true. I don’t want to discourage it but I think she needs a backup plan. Lots of transferrable skills in acting.

If she's exceptionally talented then yes. Otherwise no. I used to say I wanted to be a dancer/actress at that age but I was average at both so my parents ultimately told me no basically. I understand why now.

I think she has talent and skill for it; otherwise she wouldn’t have got into the Brit School.

Not sure if she has the determination to go to auditions all the time and the though skin to accept rejections; but she is young and may develop it. I think she needs a career/back up plan on the side though.