Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/musical theatre-job opportunities

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Expert: - 5/14/2008


Question
What is the percentage of job opportunities for an international student planning to attend and major in musical theater to land jobs.  Will the cost of college even out the job opportunities and pay?  He is going to attend Arizonia State University. He has no scholarships and therefore, is paying full college cost of around 30,000 yearly right now.  He has attended high school two years in the states and has wonderful voice and musical training while living in Croatia.  He is interested in the LA area possibly NYC.Any good advice for him and his parents?p6sye  thankYou

Answer
Hi Sheryl,

These are tough questions because there are many unknowns.
Like any job, there are opportunities in the right places and the right times. NY would be better than LA. Chicago would be better than LA. There is more theater in those two places.

As to percentages, well, it depends on talent, look and ability. If he has those, he might do well, but if he has a serious accent, maybe not. Also, he will be competing against others and we don't know how their talent stacks up against him. See the unknowns? Each audition brings any given number of actors to try out. Many actors start in off-Broadway venues before they go to bigger places.

It sounds like he has a good plan, he just needs to start doing it, and if he could minor in business or any other fallback, that would help out just in case.

Best,

Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Taylor Sheppard

Expertise

I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.

Experience

I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.

Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).

Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.

Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).

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