I won't say patty is wrong, cause she isn't... 95% of the time, an MFA in acting isnt worth a spit. I will however say that there are some other things to consider if you are looking at getting an MFA, and what it CAN be worth for an actor. We all know and are well aware of the fact that this business is truely about who you know. and if i thought that was true before, its becoem even more apparent as i start looking at summer jobs, and have professors, collegues and old friends saying, hey, i got someone you should talk to, i know of a position you would be perfect for, i just heard about... And that is what grad school is. no matter what you want to believe about the merits or non-merits of coastal, one thing that DID NOT happen there was job placement and networking. The degree itself that an actor may recieve from graduate school can be of little to no use. that piece of paper wont get you anywhere. however, the people that you meet, the jobs that you get while in grad school, that lead to something else, that leads to something else... that CAN get you somewhere. The other thing you have to consider is, the experience you gain and the resume fillers that you gain. what actor doesnt want to get another 30 chances in 3 years to be on stage? and just because its academic, (depending on the school you go to) doesnt mean its worthless on your resume.you go to grad school to study. as an actor, you may train with famous people who's name on your resume alone will get you somewhere. or you may work with someone who knows the guy who is dating the producers son. And no matter how good you are, who can't do with more training? more feedback? more guidance? I dont think you can say that the degree is worthless. the experience and net working you gain is priceless, its just the saying "oh I have an MFA in acting" that isnt all that important. And, you can teach college. say it with me kids "STABILITY." I guess what i am trying to say is, i know a lot of talented actors who are in grad school, because they didnt meet the right people, they wanted more experience and they wanted more training. and possibly to teach. it was right for them. so if that is what you want... there you go. Also.... on another note... *AHEM* allow me to step up on my soap box and pull it a little closer. YOU SHOULD NOT PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL. I repeat. YOU SHOULD NOT PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL. in the world of theatre, anyone who asks you to pay for grad school is a. trying to sucker you, b. a really shitty school, or c. yale. Theatre graduate school is like... the hellmouth. it is always there, consumes all of your time, and wont let you have a life outside of it. Literally. most theatre grad schools for both actors and technicians require students to have NO outside job. Why? because you sell your soul to them, for 2-3 years, and you work on all of the shows, teach classes, and do your school work, thus taking up all of your time, leaving none for anything but drinking, drinking, fucking, drinking, and more work. In return, you pay little to no tuition, and they give you a monthly paycheck that is enough to pay your rent, bills, and fund your new hobby of alcoholism. Who wants to sign up? seriously though, this is not just for smart kids, or those with good GPA's or anything like that. its reality. i dont know anyone who paid for their MFA. dont be a dweeb. dont pay, sell your soul instead.
:) contrary to popular belief, you can survive without your soul. I'm doing just fine. (i really do like it here, but sometimes its rough, and its better to joke about the hardest 3 years of your life than it is to whine or cry about it. oh, and in 3 weeks, i will be 50% done with grad school. oh yeah baby.) if you have any questions, need info dave, let me know. I miss you guys, damnit. off to find time for that drinking and fucking.
yeah, i definitely wont go anywhere that wont pay for most if not all of it. im really thinking about this...its gonna take some prayer and fasting and thought but i think this is what i really want...i mean, ive wanted to teach college since i started at coastal, and hell, if acting comes at night after class, so be it. but yeah, we'll see...both of you please keep me in your thoughts and prayers so that i can do this thing with wisdom...and if i have any questions, rest assured that youll be the first one i ask tiff!!!
while I agree with almost all of what you said there is one thing... I'm not trying to nitpick I promise just wanted to say this :)
I think it depends on what you were planning to do as to whether networking was in place @ Coastal. One professor there introduced me to someone who I have a standing job offer with to teach once i get certified...and that offer has been standing since SCTA was at CCU... And there are two professors there who are thought of highly at my grad school, and because i was taught by them, I'm thought highly of and have had doors opened for me just because I was one of their students...
So while it's not a high level of connections there is one there that could possibly lead to a higher level by association.
And you never let me forget that 5% either, now do ya, Tiff? Congrats on the halfway mark!! Back to Dave: Okay, so grad school has its pros as well as its cons. Pros: more training, the ability to fall back on teaching later, and conenctions. Cons: Getting in, living while you're there (for those who don't get a free ride plus housing plus stipend), 3 whole years of your life, and no guarantees... of anything. So, i guess what it comes down to is what you really want. If you want to teach during the day and act in the evenings, find a school that'll let you take time off every now and again for bigger gigs, then i'd say Grad school is a good idea. If you just want to get out there and starve, er, i mean... act, then the master's would be delaying the inevitable. I think the former is what you've been leaning towards all along. Also, if you have your masters, but you stay involved in the business, you'll have one up on every other acting teacher out there. I know a liberal arts college can't possibly cover ALL the bases, especially when it comes to the business of acting. (This is a kick i'm on lately) That's bcs. most teachers aren't actively involved in the business enough to know what to teach their students. But times change, and every actor i've talked to (and i talk to every one i meet) wishes they'd gotten more business training in school. Many of the more proactive ones are thinking of going back to their schools and giving talks or asking teachers to change their program to include business. So, you'd have a good angle. I recommend the book "How to be a working actor" by Henry & Rogers. It's impossible to get up here (it's always sold out) but the Barnes & Noble in MB should have it. Brilliant book. Really brought me mostly up to speed in a hurry. Good luck on your decision-making!
yeah, i think ive had the teaching bug the whole time and honestly i believe id enjoy it on the college level. at any rate, i have a lot of thinking to do, but the thought of going back to school excites me like i havent been excited since i was a little girl
I guess what i am trying to say is, i know a lot of talented actors who are in grad school, because they didnt meet the right people, they wanted more experience and they wanted more training. and possibly to teach. it was right for them. so if that is what you want... there you go.
Also.... on another note... *AHEM* allow me to step up on my soap box and pull it a little closer.
YOU SHOULD NOT PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL. I repeat. YOU SHOULD NOT PAY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL.
in the world of theatre, anyone who asks you to pay for grad school is a. trying to sucker you, b. a really shitty school, or c. yale.
Theatre graduate school is like... the hellmouth. it is always there, consumes all of your time, and wont let you have a life outside of it. Literally. most theatre grad schools for both actors and technicians require students to have NO outside job. Why? because you sell your soul to them, for 2-3 years, and you work on all of the shows, teach classes, and do your school work, thus taking up all of your time, leaving none for anything but drinking, drinking, fucking, drinking, and more work. In return, you pay little to no tuition, and they give you a monthly paycheck that is enough to pay your rent, bills, and fund your new hobby of alcoholism.
Who wants to sign up?
seriously though, this is not just for smart kids, or those with good GPA's or anything like that. its reality. i dont know anyone who paid for their MFA.
dont be a dweeb. dont pay, sell your soul instead.
:) contrary to popular belief, you can survive without your soul. I'm doing just fine. (i really do like it here, but sometimes its rough, and its better to joke about the hardest 3 years of your life than it is to whine or cry about it. oh, and in 3 weeks, i will be 50% done with grad school. oh yeah baby.)
if you have any questions, need info dave, let me know. I miss you guys, damnit. off to find time for that drinking and fucking.
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I think it depends on what you were planning to do as to whether networking was in place @ Coastal. One professor there introduced me to someone who I have a standing job offer with to teach once i get certified...and that offer has been standing since SCTA was at CCU... And there are two professors there who are thought of highly at my grad school, and because i was taught by them, I'm thought highly of and have had doors opened for me just because I was one of their students...
So while it's not a high level of connections there is one there that could possibly lead to a higher level by association.
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Congrats on the halfway mark!!
Back to Dave: Okay, so grad school has its pros as well as its cons. Pros: more training, the ability to fall back on teaching later, and conenctions.
Cons: Getting in, living while you're there (for those who don't get a free ride plus housing plus stipend), 3 whole years of your life, and no guarantees... of anything.
So, i guess what it comes down to is what you really want. If you want to teach during the day and act in the evenings, find a school that'll let you take time off every now and again for bigger gigs, then i'd say Grad school is a good idea. If you just want to get out there and starve, er, i mean... act, then the master's would be delaying the inevitable. I think the former is what you've been leaning towards all along.
Also, if you have your masters, but you stay involved in the business, you'll have one up on every other acting teacher out there. I know a liberal arts college can't possibly cover ALL the bases, especially when it comes to the business of acting. (This is a kick i'm on lately) That's bcs. most teachers aren't actively involved in the business enough to know what to teach their students. But times change, and every actor i've talked to (and i talk to every one i meet) wishes they'd gotten more business training in school. Many of the more proactive ones are thinking of going back to their schools and giving talks or asking teachers to change their program to include business. So, you'd have a good angle. I recommend the book "How to be a working actor" by Henry & Rogers. It's impossible to get up here (it's always sold out) but the Barnes & Noble in MB should have it. Brilliant book. Really brought me mostly up to speed in a hurry. Good luck on your decision-making!
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