The Acting profession is increasingly competitive and work even for those who are trained is sporadic. Self belief, perseverance and confidence are vital but you do need to be realistic. For example, actors work professionally an average of 11.3 weeks of the year. Except for those at the top of the profession performers earn comparatively low salaries and most have to undertake temporary periods of alternative employment between engagements.
If you are at school and are desperate to act or want to get into Stage Management/ Technical Theatre you should be aware that the advice of the industry is to stay within mainstream education before applying to drama school. Drama Schools only take students from the age of 18 and often have academic entry requirements and because of the precarious nature of a career in drama, students are advised to take full advantage of their general education and obtain as high a standard of academic qualifications as possible. Maturity is also essential and it is not unusual for schools to suggest younger applicants re-audition after a gap year.
For those who do aspire to an acting career it is not all bad news. Despite the gloomy statistics the personal rewards involved can be immense - how many people can claim they are making a living doing something they really want to do?
If you are determined to succeed it makes sense to have as many advantages as possible and Vocational training on a course accredited by NCDT is one of the greatest advantages of all. Over 1,500 students enter training on NCDT accredited courses each year. If you are thinking seriously about a career in performance, you should consider attending professional training at a drama school.
Training will give you the opportunity to showcase to the right people (agents, casting directors, theatre and television companies), so vital to securing that all-important first job. It is also important to realise that actors, stage managers and theatre technicians need professional skills and most will have up to three years of professional vocational training to acquire the skills needed to do their jobs and maintain a life-long career. A report carried out by the Institute of Manpower Studies on behalf of the Arts Council of England found that 86% of actors working in the profession had received formal professional training.
If you are thinking of training in Stage Management a recent study showed an almost 100% employment rate for graduates from NCDT Stage Management and Technical Theatre accredited courses.
Graduates of accredited courses, who are legally entitled to work in the UK, also qualify for full Equity membership on completion of their course.
It is important to make a distinction between vocational training courses and the vast number of performing arts courses on offer at UK universities. The Higher Education Funding Council for England funds over 2,100 degree courses with Drama or Theatre in the title. These courses may appear to have a connection with the industry, but most do not. University courses are generally more academic and do not aim to train people as actors. For more information on University drama courses contact the Standing Conference of University Drama Departments http://art.ntu.ac.uk/scudd.
A one-year course accredited by NCDT may be a suitable choice for those who have already completed a drama or theatre studies degree.