How much of a risk is it to pursue acting professionally/full time?

[HandsomeWhiteWalker]

It is something I've recently been considering. I just turned 25 and for a few years i've wanted to pursue acting, but due various issues (including confidence issues) i decided against it and now i regret not pursuing it. I just cannot think of anything else i want to do when I think of my future and now i am more determined and confident to pursue it, i'm planning to just go for it. I wish I would have auditioned for drama school, as now if i wanted to go to drama school I would have other things to take into consideration, i.e. financial aspect, working outside of training, my age etc.

Sorry, this is a random and very much life advice based thread, and I thought this would be an ideal place to get some helpful advice so i wanted to hear people's thoughts. I currently work in marketing/sales and it pays the bills, but the thought of doing this for the rest of my life is not something i particularly gives me a buzz. When i think of acting as a career, it makes me sit up and feel excited for the future.

I will be honest, i don't have much experience apart from some brief amateur dramatic training. I am looking into workshops at various drama schools in the summer, and even residentials for a few weeks. Once i have adequate experience i am going to sign up to casting websites and try hard to find work (whether unpaid or paid) with the aim to get enough professional credits to gain access to the spotlight casting site. I would also like to audition for drama shool, although i understand how tough it is to get accepted so i would go with an open mind and enjoy the experience more than anything.

Anyway, i'm not sure exactly why i'm asking this, but has anyone been in a similar position? I know i would need to fully commit to pursuing acting because it isn't something to be taken lightly, and i also understand that it's an extremely tough & competitive industry to break into and become a "success" (success being an actor who actually gets paid enough to live on solely through acting work alone!).

Thanks, guys.

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Very risky unless you currently have carrer options that make you financially independent and gives you lots of free time to audition and participate in various remuneration free acting jobs to build a reputation.

[Xray the Enforcer]

Mr. X and I have a friend who is a successful (by your definition) actor. The bulk of his income comes from Law&Order residuals and nationally broadcast commercials. (It's funny and disconcerting to have the TV on in the background and hear your friend's voice suddenly coming out of it.) Getting work is difficult, demoralizing, often frustrating, very competitive, and makes insane demands on your time, which means having a salaried day job during that process is all but impossible. I also have a lot of friends who are actors, but have to work other jobs to make ends meet. The happiest of that group are those who have outside interests and turn those into flexible-hours jobs that will allow them time to audition (one is a massage therapist, another is a finish carpenter, and a third is...I think a yoga instructor).

So, if you want to do it, go ahead. I am a big fan of taking risks when one is young and has no family obligations. But please realize the odds are greatly stacked against you, and that most people who try to make a successful career out of acting do not achieve those goals.

[Arataniello]

There is a documentary on TV at the moment (Showtime) titled something like "That gal who was in that thing", which involves interviews with eight character actors/actresses.

They discuss many of the questions you are probably thinking about at the moment - you should check it out if you can.

[Theda Baratheon]

It's insane how much I relate to you, OP.

I'll be 21 in April and am graduating University in a few months. For three years (on and off) I wish I'd at least AUDITIONED for Drama School. I took Drama and Theatre studies in College and got some of the best grades in the county for Drama. There was a small period of time where I was actually really, really good. And if you know me you'd know how rarely I ever think positive things about myself, but I had potential, every single drama teacher I ever came into contact with saw it.

Now...I feel like it's gone. After years of depression and anxiety I just can't bring myself to even think I could have a future in acting anymore. It was the only thing I ever felt good at, the only thing I excelled at. I'm not particularly smart, though I'm not completely stupid either. I still make up characters in my head all the time and when I'm alone I act them out, write my own ''dramatic monologues'' all the time, randomly start crying on demand to see if I still can. I haven't been in a theatre company in three years.

I might be v different from you in that depression has become a massive part of my life, but one of the few times in my life I've really felt ALIVE and PROUD of myself have been on the stage.

I'm hoping to get back into ameteur dramatics after Uni's over and I have time again because I love theatre, I love acting, I love the stage, but I'm not lucky enough, attractive enough or have the right sort of connections to ever make it a realistic full time job for me. It makes me feel very sad very often but *shrug* I just don't feel like there's anything more to do. It's just not going to happen for me so I feel sick for not trying but I also don't know if I can handle the risk of dropping everything to try to pursue it full time.

I really, really wish you the very best though mate. Good luck.

[Leofric]

There is a documentary on TV at the moment (Showtime) titled something like "That gal who was in that thing", which involves interviews with eight character actors/actresses.

They discuss many of the questions you are probably thinking about at the moment - you should check it out if you can.

This was a follow up showing the female point of view to an earlier documentary called "That Guy That was in That Thing" that had the same premise, interviewing a bunch of male character actors who we all recognize, but rarely know their names. Both of these shows were very interesting.

[Fauxdor]

It's certainly risky, however, the industry is in constant flux. So you some of the biggest challenges that actors,directors, writers, etc. faced a few years ago aren't as much of an issue now.

You'll benefit from an agent as always but it's easier to find work on your own these days. The biggest in right now is an independently run production. Specifically a web series. Team up with people you know that can write and direct. Make short/medium length videos and share them everywhere (in appropriate forums, sites, etc.). Facebook is good but you don't want to over do it and piss off your friends.

Don't discount online producti the foron and distributors. Sites like Netflix and Amazon pick indy shows up, and then you've got a pretty good foot in the door.