When you have a gift for the arts, it can be hard to find a foothold in the “real world.” Practical, well-meaning people will advise you that you need to set your sights on a more realistic dream. Maybe even your parents are cautioning you to come up with a backup plan in case your dreams of stardom don’t quite pan out the way you expect them to.
It’s a well-known fact that only the best of the best make it on Broadway, but if you don’t try, then you’ll never know how you stack up against the rest of your peers. The best thing you can do is start making preparations for your career early on. Continue reading for some ways that students can get some valuable experience and a headstart in the big leagues.
Go to Art School
No matter what profession you go into, you’ll probably need some training to master your craft. The same is true for theater performers. The actors, singers, and writers that have influenced you the most likely attended an art school to fine-tune their skills and learn classical techniques.
Is it really necessary to attend an art school to make it on Broadway? Well, no, not necessarily. There have been stage and screen actors, opera singers, and visual artists who’ve attended regular universities—or no college at all—and made it big. The same is true of some of the world’s most celebrated ballet dancers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. The question is, are you willing to take the chance that you’re that once in a generation talent who’s born prepared for the big stage?
Even Robert DeNiro attended an art school. It’s more than just the thing to do. It’s similar to going to business school before opening your own business. Even if you have a great business idea, you still need to learn how to market it, hire the right people, and do your taxes. Going to art school will provide you with the fundamental tools to become more proficient at your passion and increase your chances of success.
One of the drawbacks of attending art school is that you may have to give up eating to cover your tuition. Why do you think everyone’s so thin in Hollywood? Okay, maybe that’s a little over the top, but there’s no denying that post-secondary education is expensive, and art school is one of the chart-topping programs. If you’re already in art school or studying art at a regular university, then here’s a link for a scholarship contest: https://www.todaytix.com/insider/nyc/posts/education-student-scholarship. Every little bit helps!
Get Into a Summer Internship Program
Going to school is fantastic, but nothing is quite as good as getting hands-on experience. That’s the opportunity that summer internships give students with Broadway aspirations.
Some people are hesitant to take internships because they view it as working for free. It’s important to know that many internships pay a stipend even if they don’t pay a real wage. The goal isn’t to make a living—it’s an opportunity to learn how to make a living.
Not only do internships give you a chance to see firsthand what it’s like to work on a Broadway project, but they’re also an opportunity to connect. In the performance arts, who you know may take you just as far as what you can do. You’ll get to work and build relationships with people who have already made a name for themselves in the industry and possibly make one for yourself.
Put Together Your Own Production
One of the best ways to get some valuable experience is to put on a production of your own. Even if writing and directing aren’t your strong suits, they’re skills that you can develop.
Putting on a show allows you to create the ideal role for yourself as well as showing off your writing and other production skills. You probably won’t start on Broadway, but there have been plenty of greats that got their start in their own Off-Broadway productions.
If you’re a student looking to make it on Broadway, then it’s never too early to start planning for your future. Now, break a leg!
Content Provided by Scholarship Media
