Expert: Phil Nemy - 8/16/2007

Question
Hi my name is Carlos, I live in California, I'm 14 and I have had a big question on my mind for the past year now. Should I try to become a stage performer or shold I follow being a civil engineer? I'm really split down the middle because I have down a couple school plays, nothing that big, and a bunch of people I know say I should really get into it, BUT on the other hand my parents tell me that I have a good head on my shoulders and that i would be perfect for engineering and designing.
So I guess what I really want to know is if, from your experience, acting is truly fulfilling and what the odds are of me doing better as an actor than I would as something like engineering?
Thank you for the help and sorry you had to read all this.
I appreciate what you are doing for confused people like me!

Answer
Carlos,

Thanks for writing. Only you would be able to determine if an acting career for you would be truly fulfilling. No one else can tel you that for you.

What I can tell you is that the odds are against you of you ever being able to support yourself and your family strictly from an acting career. Most "professional actors" in Southern California earn annually only about $8,000 from acting work. That's below the poverty level. You read about film and TV starts being paid millions, and that's true. But there are only a couple hundred stars - the rest are starving actors.

I would never dare to tell you not to follow your dreams or pursue your passions, but if you want hard facts, then the reality is that you have a much better chance of making a comfortable living as a civil engineer than you ever would as a struggling actor.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil