Student Blog: Behind the Curtain: Why Versatility is Beneficial for Actors
Aspiring actors spend so much time working on their skills for their “stage”, whether that’s an actual stage, a camera, or a microphone for the voice actors!
Aspiring actors spend so much time working on their skills for their “stage”, whether that’s an actual stage, a camera, or a microphone for the voice actors! They spend countless hours training in the art of perfecting and performing their craft for others through things like classes and being in productions that will help them grow.
Although these aspects are essential for actors to improve in their craft, I also wanted to talk about the array of experiences behind the curtain that can benefit actors. I am a huge supporter of versatility in the industry because I feel that there are so many skills it can give people to enhance their potential, both on and off the stage.
My Experiences
I’ve never been a person to stick to just one thing. I personally find things more enjoyable when it feels new to me. This has led to putting myself out there with multiple kinds of opportunities, many of which I feel have taught me valuable lessons. I’m incredibly grateful that throughout the last few years, especially through my time as a student at Berklee College of Music, I’ve been able to gain these experiences and share them.
At school, I currently work on the Concert Services staff with the Boston Conservatory. This job requires the execution of concert logistics such as setup/teardown and assisting with various events, including recitals/showcases, competitions, and club events. Through hands-on experience, I have learned how to adapt to different events, work on a team, oversee venue operations, control a lighting board, and so much more.
I am also involved with two wonderful student clubs at Berklee, both in different positions. I am the Social Media Manager for the Berklee Musical Theater Club and the Assistant Executive Director for the Berklee Motion Picture Orchestra, which is a student-run full symphony orchestra with over 70 members. Being involved in student-run organizations has given me a glimpse into administrative duties, including marketing, budgeting, venue booking, organization, assisting with auditions, and so much more.
Studying more than one thing in my college curriculum has also greatly benefited me. I think that’s a part of why I’ve been able to truly tune into my intuition and discover what I like and want to pursue in my career. As someone who has been a performer my whole life, getting to experience other parts of the industry has been very insightful to me as I am learning that there is more to the performing world than just the people in the spotlight.
What I've Learned
So why are these experiences so important to me? I think that being versatile has given me many skills that I couldn’t have learned on the stage.
First of all, learning about operations behind the curtain will make it easier to work with other people. Even as a performer, being able to understand how different groups of people other than the performers, such as creatives, orchestra members, administrators, teachers, agents, and casting directors (just to name a few), have made it easier for me to communicate with those people and talk more in their “language”. Knowing their perspective and how they operate through your hands-on experiences can make you easier to work with in multiple aspects of the industry, which could make you more reliable to work with more people.
Additionally, building the skillset of a well-rounded artist could open you up to more opportunities. Being able to put yourself out there for more things because you have multiple skills could make it easier for you to find chances to utilize your skills in various settings. There are countless jobs out there, especially for performers, that ask employees to fulfill other duties, and already having the experience in that could make you look more hireable. I had the chance to work two internships last summer, and I think that the things that made me qualified for them were my skills in other parts of the industry, such as teaching and event operations. I’m incredibly grateful for those opportunities and the fact that I was chosen because of my range of experiences offstage.
I also will never take for granted the unexpected connections I’ve made in the acting industry from skills I’ve built outside of acting. I have met so many great people through non-acting opportunities. For instance, at Berklee, everyone is enrolled with a “Principal Instrument,” which is the instrument used to audition for the school. As someone who enrolled through playing the flute, just getting into the school through that was a great step into the theater-related connections I’ve gotten. I also play the flute for various recording sessions, including student compositions and arrangements in many settings (including theater!) Being open to interacting and connecting with those people has given me so many insights and connections that I will cherish forever
How to Build Your Skills
So what is the next step to getting involved and becoming more versatile off the stage?
The biggest thing: APPLY FOR ANYTHING that sounds interesting to you! Even if you have absolutely no experience, you never know what opportunities will come your way. There is a first time for everything!!
If you’re a student, find a student club or two to get involved in and truly commit to them! And if there’s something you’re interested in and there's no club for it, start a club! Also, look into applying for on-campus jobs! Especially as a student, these can provide great learning opportunities if you want to try something new.
If you’re an artistic person, find ways to use that! If you like another art form, for instance, if you play an instrument, make sure to let people know that.
Avoiding Spreading Yourself Too Thin
On the contrary, there is the issue of spreading yourself too thin and taking the focus away from the thing you want to pursue, so I want to give my two biggest tips for that. I could write another article on this, so contact me if you’re interested in hearing more!
One of my biggest pieces of advice for this is to follow your intuition. It’s okay to try something and figure out that you don’t like it. If this happens, don’t be afraid to back out of something you know you don’t want to commit to. I am a believer of doing everything with love, so if you feel that you can’t give something the love and attention it needs, it’s okay to say no.
My second tip is to find a system of managing and organizing your schedule that works for you. This looks different for everyone, but for me personally, I personally RELY on my Google Calendar for absolutely everything. As a visual learner, being able to see when I have free time and commitments is highly beneficial. I also love using Notion to organize my tasks and deadlines, because of how customizable it is. I recommend doing some research and trying different things to see what works for you, because I know everyone runs differently!
Last Remarks
All in all, just don’t be afraid to try something new, because you never know what will come from it. I like to think of them as “side quests” in a way. Just remember that you are capable of amazing things, so just go for it, even if you don’t feel like you’re qualified. Someone may see something in you, and that could unlock a side of you that you never knew you had. You got this!!
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