I've been in love with theatre for many years now. It's been about 14 years, actually! And so I get annoyed when I hear that I need to get a degree in another field, or double-major so I can have a "backup plan." When I was trying to decide if I wanted to pursue theatre, I read countless articles to prove that such a degree would give me real-life skills to use in numerous jobs. I've compiled a list of my favorites, and the ones I think are most important or most overlooked.
1. Public Speaking Skills
I feel like this is one of the more important skills, since most jobs involve some form of interaction and/or communication with other human beings. Theatre teaches confidence which translates into stronger and clearer speech, fewer stutters and "um"s, and better breath control. You will appear more knowledgeable if your tone of voice is clear and powerful.
2. Problem-Solving Skills
Sometimes set pieces fall over, or a scene partner misses their cue, or someone forgets an important prop. We need to know how to think on our feet and work together to come up with a solution to keep the show going. Mistakes happen all the time in "the real world," and it takes quick thinking and creativity to remedy them!
3. Commitment
When you have been cast in a show, the director chose you for the role over everyone else who showed up. You need to prove to them that you were the right choice by attending all necessary rehearsals as well as doing extra work when you can. Sometimes you may have previous commitments that hold a higher priority, and you may honor those as long as your director has known about these dates since auditions. It is incredibly rude and unprofessional to avoid mentioning a prior engagement until the last minute, making your fellow actors bear the weight of your unexpected absence in rehearsal. Don't be embarrassed by having a life outside of the theatre, but do let your director know when they can count on your presence.
4. Work Ethic
If you build a set piece with a balcony but neglect to put in any support beams, you will maim or seriously injure any actor using that piece. If you're constructing a dress or a pair of pants and sew in a zipper hurriedly without making sure it's secure enough to withstand use, you're going to have an actor with a wardrobe malfunction. We learn to work efficiently and thoroughly in a timely fashion, but ultimately, we learn that the priority is ensuring the safety and modesty of others. I was in a show that ended up being postponed because our building wasn't up to code, which was frustrating but it was the better alternative to putting the actors' and audience members' lives in danger. We are trained in all areas of the theatre so we can help out anywhere necessary.
5. Working With Others
We learn to be a part of a team, to evenly distribute work so everyone is putting in their time and making the show as good as it can be. Scene partners have to trust each other in case a line is dropped or someone falls, and that trust can only be built through time spent together running lines or even time spent outside of rehearsals getting to know each other.
6. Working Alone
A lot of line memorization happens during scene work in rehearsals, but it is so helpful to take some time outside of rehearsals and read over your lines by yourself. You can go at your own speed, and you will be more prepared the next time you're in rehearsal with your fellow actors.
7. Time Management Skills
A lot of this is built through working alone. Theatre majors in college have to balance Gen Ed courses, as well as memorizing monologues and scenes for theatre courses and physically demanding rehearsals. Balancing classes is made easier due to class scheduling but you also need to factor in time for eating, sleeping, and you should always find a little chunk of empty time to decompress and de-stress. I call this mental health time, and I tend to spend mine reading, knitting, playing guitar or doing some kind of craft. It's extremely beneficial to take a little bit of time and do something that makes you happy and relaxed before diving into your homework or preparing for your next audition.
8. Being a "Self Starter"
Actors need to be in charge of themselves. Directors are in charge of delegating duties to everyone, so a good actor must be able to take charge and commit to their work without having to ask for much help. Some duties can be split between groups of people (see "Working With Others") but some things an actor must know to do without being told. Examples of this would be putting in time to practice lines or choreography, or asking the director, technical director, or costume designer if there is anything that they need assistance with. Directors take note of who goes above and beyond and will be more likely to involve that person in future productions.
9. Respect
This is a big one, let's break it down.
Respect for rules: Although it may feel like it at times, your rehearsal and performance spaces are not your home. You must always abide by rules set by building owners and managers. This is good training for living in apartments or rented homes as well as living with roommates, as you learn how to exist in a space without taking over or disturbing the property of others.
Respect for others: theatre attracts a wide variety of artists and there are going to be some people that you find difficult to work with. I don't mean to suggest this is anyone's fault, as theatre is full of strong personalities and it is very easy for such personality types to clash. Actors need to understand and respect each other and be able to work together despite staggering differences. You do not need to like each and every person you encounter, but people who are nice and respectful to others are the ones who get jobs since they are pleasant to be around and easy to work with.
10. Resilience
Theatre is full of disappointments. Every role you don't earn brings along its own heartbreak, but you learn how to let yourself mourn but then get up, brush yourself off, and try again the next time around. Life also deals out its fair share of such disappointments, but I've noticed that theatre people are more inclined to roll with the punches and keep working harder.
11. Working Under Pressure
Theatre is extremely stressful, and everyone deals with stress differently. We learn how to work through the stress and get our jobs done, saving any emotional meltdown until after rehearsal time. We learn how to keep our bodies and minds healthy, as they are our instruments. We learn not to take on more than we can handle, but also to help out as much as possible.
12. Marketing
Actors need to be able to walk into an audition and explain why they are the best choice for a role over everyone else the director will see, and that takes a lot of marketing. I've personally struggled with self-esteem all my life, so I have had to teach myself that it is okay to acknowledge when I am good at something and to own that strength. I have to give every audition everything I've got in order to show the director why I deserve the role. If an actor can sell themselves, they could sell anything.
Theatre majors, and other Fine Arts majors for that matter, put in just as much time and effort as other students and gain just as many applicable life skills. Please try to remember that, by judging someone by their major, you are essentially belittling them into believing that their life's passion isn't worthwhile. Let students discover themselves and pursue their dreams.
