Pursuing a career in the performing arts is very challenging. I think at the very least, everyone can agree that a career in theatre, acting, dance, or any other performance field is really risky, and there is always a chance of not 'making it'. However, this is not the most challenging part of the performing arts, and I really don't think people give those in this field the true benefit of the doubt.
IT'S HARD! The odds are constantly against you, yet these people get up every day and keep trying. So, this article is in honor of all those people that are daring enough to follow their dreams! Here are five reasons why the performing arts is more challenging than people think, and why people should give it the praise it deserves!
1. There's Always Someone Better.
Unless you're Sutton Foster, Lindsay Mendez, Jeremy Jordan, or a few others, there's no way you're the best. There will always be someone that can sing higher, belt stronger, dance better, act more convincingly. It's literally IMPOSSIBLE to be the BEST, which means that no matter how hard you try, someone will be better.
But guess what! That doesn't stop people. When you love something this much, you push and work until someday you might just be good enough. I can't think of many other careers that people keep trying even when the industry is pushing them down.
2. You have to be excellent. At everything.
Broadway thirty years ago and Broadway now are totally different ball parks. If you listen to any cast recording from the 1970's-1990's, the vocalists are mediocre, with the rare exception. The dancing was often pretty basic, with a few musicals that pushed the boundaries. Now? You're expected to be able to act, sing, and dance better than every other person that looks like you, and you're even expected to be the perfect height or weight for whatever the director is 'envisioning'-which brings me to my next point...
3. You have to look the part.
It doesn't matter if you go into an audition and you act, sing, and dance, better than everyone else there. If you're not the perfect "look" (right height, weight, skin tone, etc.) you don't get the part. Sometimes it even comes down to fitting into the costume-if its between you and someone else, and the other person fits into the costume the show already has, then they get the part.
This can be incredibly crushing to a person's confidence, especially if the director says you're not pretty/handsome enough, or not thin enough. But these performers keep striving and pushing past the negativity.
4. Theatre is constantly changing.
As stated above, theatre now and theatre then are completely different. The business is always changing, and as a performer, you can never settle in and be comfortable. You always have to be training for what new Broadway phenomenon is going to occur. Did you think that 20 years ago people were expecting a rap musical? No! But when Hamilton came, the performers had to be able to adapt (and again, be good at virtually anything).
There's no such thing as running out of things to learn. Learn every style of dance, every style of singing, all methods of acting, because you never know what the Theatre World will throw at you next.
5. You have to have superhuman vocal chords.
The music written for modern musical theatre is not written for humans. They expect vocalists to belt notes that only God Himself can get out. Riffs, range, everything. Basses and Altos have very little room in the musical theatre world these days. Training to make your voice do the seemingly impossible is exactly what's expected.
Musical Theatre and all other performing art careers are HARD and people need to give these performers credit where credit is due!
