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Change of career - seeking advice

Thu, 21 June 2001, 03:02 pm
Simon4 posts in thread
Hi

I've just quit my job as a business executive after climbing up the corporate ladder for the past 10 years. Why? Because I want to work in the entertainment industry, preferably in the performing arts field. I'd like to learn how to act, and I'm wondering what the best strategy is to achieve this. I live in Sydney, but am pretty mobile.

Does anyone have some good advice for me?

Thanks.

SIMON

Don't give up your...

Mon, 25 June 2001, 10:39 pm
... day job!

oh. bit late for that, eh?

:-)

*pulls out soapbox*

I like Peter Brooks' advice to a young director: "work finds work". I think it has application across the artform, regardless of experience and training.

Some people may tell you not to get involved with this or that company, not to do amateur or unpaid shows, avoid co-ops or self-devised work... but i believe Brooks' maxim holds true regardless.

Performance is transitory; you are only as good as what you are doing NOW. If you are not doing anything right now then you are no good.

The only reason to be in the profession is not because you want to, but because you can't do anything else. If that's truly the case, then you will always be "working" because that is your life and raison d'etre.

This advice won't help you much when in the unhappy situation of choosing between opportunities, but when those are few and far between it should spur you to create a few openings of your own.

If you find yourself doing nothing, then maybe you don't need to do IT enough. (sheesh! now you've got me doing IT, Joe)

*proffers soapbox to next opinionated, pontificating soul*

Cheers
Grant

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