Preparing for a career in Theatre is in some ways just as challenging as having a career in it. Despite the adversities theatre majors face, we find it just as rewarding as it is challenging. Here are some positives and negatives to being a Theatre major!
1.You NEVER have enough time.
Being a theatre major means you’re always busy. Because saying you have a degree in theatre carries little to no weight in the actual business, you’re constantly working on ways in which you can improve what does carry weight- your work, your attitude, and presentation of yourself. The more you can grasp in your time at school, the better off you’ll be. With that mentality, there is little to no time to waste.
2. Every second is worth it.
Every accomplishment made in the process of your hard work is unbelievably fulfilling and worth the time and effort. The constant activity pushes you to learn more about yourself and your work ethic. Not to mention, you learn some awesome time management skills.
3. You’re constantly being told what you’re doing wrong.
The learning process in theatre is not in any way simple, and absolutely nothing is sugar coated. Everything you do wrong will be told to you flat out, regardless of your feelings- which can be overwhelming at times. You are constantly a work in process- for the rest of your life. At times, this makes you question yourself, and feel inadequate. There will be days where you feel like you’re on top of the world, and days where you question your ability
4. You develop a thick skin.
Eventually you learn to take all critique with appreciation rather than offense. You no longer blame yourself for making mistakes, but forgive yourself and move forward. You become diligent at finding a way to work on something until you get it right, and when you do- it’s the best feeling in the world.
5. There’s a lot of emotional and physical stress that goes into your work.
While performing, your energy is the most important thing. When delivering a monologue, dancing, or performing a song, your body handles a tremendous amount of physical and mental pressure- and it can be exhausting. It takes stamina to place yourself in an emotional state where you can be vulnerable enough to create real moments while performing, yet technical enough to give the performance tactics and direction. Physically, you always have to be surging with life and energy- even if you’re standing completely still. With this amount of stress, you also have to remember to do as much as you can to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy since your body is your most important instrument.
6. You learn empathy and compassion.
With the amount of physical and mental work it requires to become another character comes a tremendous amount of empathy. Putting yourself in another person’s shoes gives you an understanding of why they behave the way they do. This makes you more perceptive and sensitive of human beings in the real world.
7. You get told that this major isn’t as “hard” or “as much work” as other majors
Many people think that being in a theatre major isn’t as much work as other majors because it doesn’t exactly follow the same curriculum as they do. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Being in theatre requires just as much time, energy, and studying as anything. Many people only see the performance- and misjudge theatre for something that is solely fun and gratification. They don’t see the hours of preparation, hard thought, and struggle that make that performance happen. Theatre majors work for their future career just as hard as anyone else- only differently.
8. You feel an overwhelming sense of family and community.
The people are one of the best aspects of a major and career in theatre. They are lively, open-minded, good-hearted, empathetic, energetic, and inspiring. The people you meet within this major become a life-long support system and family. They not only fill your days with perpetual positivity, love, and laughter- but build you up as a person at any opportunity they get.
