Need some advice

[Call_me_jorge]

I'm hoping to go into theatre management as a career and I was having a few difficulties about college.

So I got into MMC for theatre management, but I was wondering if it would be better to do two years at a community college first or if I should go straight there. I would be 100 percent honest, that my family could not afford MMC. Though, would it be better to go there right away for the career I want to go into? Should I even go to college and just try to find jobs in the theatre management world(does anyone have an opening, lol?). I'm just worried in two years time if I apply to MMC again they won't accept me. 

Thanks for any advice in advance. 

[haterobics]

I don't know about MMC, so I'm not advocating for them in general.

But if you know and have a specialty you want to pursue, and you got into a place where you can get into it, seems like that is the way to go. No one has the money to go to schools, typically. You're just going to go into debt, but there is much bigger potential debt if you don't pursue your dreams and end up in some bad boring corporate job but school is paid off...

Is your family going to be able to afford MMC in two years? I'm not seeing what is changing in that short timeframe that makes delaying viable.

[BroadwayConcierge]

If you know what your career/professional trajectory is, I say go for it. And I'd advise anybody not to spend more time in school than absolutely necessary for what they want their career to be. 

[Anakela]

haterobics said: "

Is your family going to be able to afford MMC in two years? I'm not seeing what is changing in that short timeframe that makes delaying viable.

"

A lot of people go to a community college for the first two years, to get required classes completed for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer those two years worth of credits to do their last two years at the more expensive school/university they want to actually graduate from. Since the OP mentioned community college I'm assuming that was the plan for the two years - affording 2 years cc + 2 years MMC versus affording 4 years MMC.

Another thing to look into, besides if MMC would accept you again in two years if you did the first two years at a cc, is what changes there would be in any MMC financial aid between being a new MCC first-year student and a transfer MCC junior. So not only having to be accepted again (how do deferments work? is that an option?) but getting a better or worse financial aid package.

[CapnHook]

Here's an answer from a theatre professional:

First, when you say Theatre Management, do you know what that means? Do you have an exact idea of the precise career you have in mind, or just an impression? (It's fine to not know and just have an impression, but this will help you answer your 'is college right for me' question.)

Assuming you intend on a career in New York's commercial theatre industry, then by Theatre Management do you *mean* Theatre Management? That would be the areas of Operations in the theater owners (Nederlander, Shubert, Jujamcyn, etc.). Or do you mean House Management? OR, do you mean a career not working for the THEATRES, but for the SHOWS? If you're wanting to work on shows and not the theatre building, then you would want General Management or Company Management.

Assuming you intend on a career in regional/not-for-profit industry, then Theatre Management can be a number of things. Executive Director, General Manager, Managing Director, House Manager, Venue Operations Manager, Production Manager, etc. Each theatre tends to assign different titles and split responsibilities/roles differently, but the gist is about the same for each of these.

Second, back to your college question.

If you think the career you want is in New York City's commercial theatre industry, then my advice is to skip college and seek out internships. Plan to be on an internship level for at least two years. The money you would spend on college tuition and books could instead be spent on NYC housing and living expenses so that you can get real-world experience. Most college programs do not teach how to do the jobs that exist in this industry simply because this is one tiny island of theatre compared to the rest of the country. What we do here is very specific. They likely won't go in-depth into union rules and standard practice. They teach something more broad that is applicable to the not-for-profit regional theatre world. Employers here want to see that you have a working knowledge and experience in NYC. In many cases, the work experience you have regionally only means so much when being considered for a job here.

If you think that the career you want IS in the regional theatre/NFP world, then college programs aren't necessarily a bad idea. You should do summer internships at regional theatres each summer and DON'T go back to the same theatre. Work at different ones if you can.

Student loans are ridiculous. Avoid them if you can.

And all this being said, if you feel like a college experience is worth it to you purely for the PERSONAL GROWTH reasons (being on your own for the first time in a safer environment, having a community and making friends, etc.) then let that factor weigh in to your decision, too. That's also important. While it may not help your career, it CAN make you a better person and be a place to "grow up" and experience things in a safe environment.

My two cents.

[haterobics]

Anakela said: "A lot of people go to a community college for the first two years, to get required classes completed for a fraction of the cost, and then transfer those two years worth of credits to do their last two years at the more expensive school/university they want to actually graduate from. Since the OP mentioned community college I'm assuming that was the plan for the two years - affording 2 years cc + 2 years MMC versus affording 4 years MMC."

In that case, I would not recommend it even more strongly. Like it or not, what you are really doing in college and such is making a lot of the connections that will carry you throughout your career. It is why when you see someone open a show on Broadway, a lot of the red carpet people are their same-aged peers who went to the same school. Giving up two years of those connections don't seem worth it in the long run to me. Even now, most of my freelance jobs come from people I worked with in the past.

To reduce college to where you took your 101-level courses seems like the education is equal to the networking, whereas I think the networking is far, far more important. Especially if the goal is to go into a small, insular profession like theater.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Go to college. While yes, a career is the ultimate goal, you'll learn so much about yourself and the world, and you'll grow in college. Most people have loans, so you won't be alone. Make the most of college. Apply for internships (and hopefully get them). Network. Make friends. Fall in love. Make mistakes.

To quote Avenue Q, "I wish I could go back to college."

[javero]

CapnHook wrote: "Student loans are ridiculous. Avoid them if you can."

I agree and would like to add to that.  Note: I'm not going to pull any punches.

College, like any other venture, must be funded somehow.  For some individuals, it is the single most expensive investment in their lives.  So, I encourage you to make a pragmatic decision taking into account the financial support your parents are capable and/or willing to provide, as well as any scholarships you've been awarded to date.  You should also factor in the costs of meals, housing, text books, lab fees, and transportation.  Hope is not going to cover those expenses.

[haterobics]

Is that a NY State school?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-york-set-to-offer-free-tuition-at-4-year-colleges/ar-BBzD53p

[Call_me_jorge]

It's a private school, sadly.

[Call_me_jorge]

Plus my family aren't New Yorkers earning less than 125,000 dollars

[AC126748]

It's really a personal decision, but going to a community college can be an economical way to knock out required gen ed courses for a fraction of the cost--provided that your eventual 4-year university will transfer the credits.

[UncleCharlie]

A few thoughts...

If you wanted to go into the performing arts, you might get away without having a college degree if you have a high level of natural talent. If you want to go into the business management side of things, having a college degree will be a lot more important. It might have been different 30 or 40 years ago, but these days most companies when looking to fill a management track position look for someone with at least a college degree. Also keep in mind, you're not applying for jobs in a vacuum. There will be other applicants, many of them and I could be wrong but my guess would be most of them will have college degrees. You will be at a distinct disadvantage. In a pile of resumes full of degreed people, you won't stand a chance especially if those folks have practical college internships related to their coursework.

ahhrealmonsters offered some excellent advice. College is a growth and life experience you will definitely benefit from. Also, many, many people go into college knowing what they want to do and come out of it focused on doing something entirely different because they learn about other careers and/or find out what they thought they wanted to do isn't nearly as exciting or interesting as they dreamed it would be. That was my own experience as well.

There are scholarships, grants and loans available if your parents don't have the money to pay for all of the costs. If combined with what your parents can afford to pay for with savings, if it still doesn't give you enough to afford the school you want, then the decision has been pretty much made for you. 2 years of Community College and then a transfer has been a successful route for many people and it can be for you.

Lastly, and I would offer this advice to anyone, put everything you have into getting into the field you want to get into, but always have a backup plan. Always have something else you can do to make a living if you can't make one in your chosen field. It doesn't mean you don't believe in or have faith in yourself, it's just being pragmatic.

[dramamama611]

First step: see if the program even ACCEPTS transfers....some do not.   

[UncleCharlie]

So Jorge... thoughts on the advice people have given you?

[Alex Kulak2]

I'll give you the same advice my high school drama teacher gave me when I asked him if I should pursue a career in theatre:

If you want to do anything else, do that instead.

[haterobics]

Sounds like he is just paraphrasing David Mamet: "Those with something to fall back on invariably fall back on it.  They intended to all along.  That is why they provided themselves with it . . . One could say, '"I am a fool, for I have not provided myself with an alternative"; one could also say, "I see nothing else worth my time," which is, I think, a rather strengthening attitude.    Those of you with nothing to fall back on, you will find, are home."

[Call_me_jorge]

UncleCharlie said: "So Jorge... thoughts on the advice people have given you?

 

"

I've had a ton. This probably made more confused than I was before. 

Alex, I'm actually starting to think that.