I major in Theatre. And while I'll be the first to admit that it's not exactly the most mainstream major for getting a job in the professional world, and yes, it comes with a very unique set of challenges and barriers that you may not get with a different major, I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. However, there are plenty of misconceptions about being (or studying to be) an actor which create stereotype that isn't exactly accurate. In reality, there are certain things about being an actor, some I have natural ability with and some I have learned, that translate to skills that go far beyond simply standing on a stage or in front of a camera. I'll share with you these things I think actors are especially talented with that you may not have thought about.

1. Communication/word knowledge

Training to be an actor requires countless hours of voice and speech work. A good actor exercises their voice daily. Constant work with articulation muscles makes it so that an actor's voice is heard clearly and widely. Furthermore, knowing a character, memorizing lines, and learning a play all mean that an actor is always encountering new words. A good actor does this voluntarily, and doesn't wait for a script to be in his hands before wanting to educate himself in language and dialect. What this means in a practical sense is that actors are experienced in a) knowing what they want to say and b) knowing how to say it. This is a skill becoming more and more rare as our language is being "dumbed down".

2. Being a "people person"

To be an actor is to be a people person. Very rarely does someone find any success in the world of acting without being able to work well with others. Every single step of the process, from auditioning all the way through a performance, requires that an actor be able to not simply function, but excel in the presence and scrutiny those around them. We must have the ability to charm a director enough to be cast, the openness to collaborate, and the vulnerability to have our work constantly critiqued. Are not all of these the qualities that make someone inviting to talk to? Typically, actors are more comfortable in social situations, and this is why. Our job is the be comfortable in front of an entire building full of people, so a social gathering isn't quite as threatening to one of us as it may be to someone else.

3. Teamwork

I've already alluded to it so far, but this easily the most important thing I've learned throughout my time on the stage. The hot-headed diva stereotype that has stuck itself to the image of an actor could not be further from the truth of what good actors are. Yes, obviously there's definite examples of celebrities who are notoriously pampered, but that's a different universe. They live in their own fantasy land. Here, on planet earth, actors who are difficult to work with are tossed to the side without a second thought. I've seen it happen. A production is a team effort. That's part of the reason why I love theatre. It's the ultimate artistic collaboration. With that being said, an operation that works like a well-oiled machine cannot survive with a weak link. Actors must be able to go above and beyond at a moments notice for anyone involved in a production. Nobody is above anybody else in a production, and anybody who's attitude says otherwise should be involved in that effort.

4. Listening

Actors are good communicators. We tend to know what we want to say more than other people. But the other side of being a good communicator is the know when to shut up. The process of rehearsal is such that you have to be ready to shut the hell up and listen to what a director or stage manager has to say. There is a certain respect that has to be defined between the performers and those running the show which is based on the performer knowing when it's time to surrender the spotlight and listen up. Furthermore, the essence of acting is allowing yourself to listen to, and be affected by what your partner has to say-- just like in real life. Compelling acting occurs when the actors are engaged with each other, listening to one another, and genuinely focused on each other. This translates incredibly well in the real world, as this form of intensified listening often becomes habitual in our everyday lives.

5. Deadlines

The three words every actor dreads: off book date. The day by which nobody is allowed to have a script in their hand and must recite their lines by memory. This is just one example of how the world of show business is filled with strict deadlines that must be adhered to. Remember how I said that a production is a well-oiled machine? Yeah, it doesn't get that way with relaxed schedules. In stark contrast, a production is basically a race against the clock as soon as it begins. Each piece of the puzzle that is a stage production must be methodically solved quickly so that one can move on to the next piece. Deadlines are astronomically important, and it becomes ingrained into an actor's mind that when the director gives a date, that date has been edged in stone.

6. Critical Thinking

This is one of my favorite skills I have developed as an actor. When an actor is cast, it is imperative for them to immerse themselves in the world of the script. We do extensive analysis and research into every aspect of the world in which we are about to enter. We must ask ourselves questions that aren't always easy to answer. Why is it important that we see the world through Tom's eyes in Tennessee William's "Glass Menagerie"? Why is setting important in John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt" and what affect does it have on the action of the play? These kinds of questions aren't answered in a one word, lacking response, and those who elect to attempt that route always look like idiots. To do a play justice, to perform your part to the best of your ability requires that you know the world inside and out. And that kind of in-depth knowledge doesn't come without asking a lot of questions that really make you think.

7. Psychology

I touched on this point slightly when I discussed critical thinking, but it was important for me to keep these two points separate. While critical thinking is a result of an extensive knowledge of the play as a whole, an actor's understanding of the human condition comes from his intimate, personal and unique harmony with his character. Especially for a method actor (like me), delving into the mind of your character is essential. I would argue that this is the most important aspect in crafting a performance, in fact. An actor must be able to not just identify, but also explain what a character wants, why they want it, and how they plan on getting it. In order to be able to do this, an actor must spend an extended amount of time inside the mind of his character. And as actors land more roles and work with more characters, each with a unique psyche, we start to develop an understanding (however rudimentary it may be) of the human mind. Actors may understand, more than other people, why people do what they do, or what may be going on in someone's mind. Spending so much time in the mind of others makes you all the more observant in the real world.

8. Cultural awareness

This is one of the coolest things about having a profession where you represent different aspects of humanity. When I performed Lazar Wolf from "Fiddler on the Roof", I remember all of the education we went through about Jewish culture. We didn't simply throw on a traditional prayer shawl because that's what the costume designer said to do. We knew what it meant to us to wear that shawl. When performing a show like that, you have to do it in such a way that shows respect to that culture. My favorite performance to date has been when I played an 83 year old man with dementia. This performance humbled me to no end when I faced the reality of what it means to live with that kind of handicap. It made me so much more respectful of those who have to deal with things like that. And that's just one of the many beautiful things I find in my job. It offers me the opportunity to become immersed in all different kinds of cultures and situations, and those who are more aware of the world around them make better citizens of the earth.

So there ya have it. To all those like me, trying to make their way in the world as an actor, I hope you'll show this to the next person who asks you about the practicality of your craft. And to those of you who question why we do what we do, or what benefits we receive, I hope this answers your question.