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Performing Arts
"I don't use backing tapes when I am singing and dancing on stage. I can do cartwheels and sing.” (Beyonce Knowles)
 This often seems like one of the ‘glamour’ career areas – but it does also require a lot of hard work and dedication.
Wages can be quite low – but if you do make it, the sky’s the limit! Remember though, many performers have to put up with a lot of rejection, frustration and poverty in their efforts to establish themselves:
- actors need to be talented and skilled
- dancers – from classical ballet to jazz and modern dance – have to put in long hours of training and practice
- musicians usually specialise in classical or popular music – they may be performers, composers or conductors.
There are other areas of work, which do not involve actually performing:
- arts administrators arrange and promote events and performances
- community artists work with members of the local community, involving them in drama, music and dance
- some music technologists make and repair instruments, others work with electronics, creating sound effects for music production, film or broadcasting
- theatre technicians and stage managers organise things backstage so that the performances go smoothly.
There is great competition for most of these jobs. One of the most important skills is networking - to a large extent your success depends on your ability to make contact with people in the world of performing arts. Luck can play a big part.
As an actor, dancer or musician you may get only short term contracts. Between contracts you might have to do other work, perhaps teaching or tutoring, or unrelated casual work.
- dancers often have a fairly short career – many retire about 35
- many actors, even experienced ones, may spend a lot of time ‘resting’
- most qualified stage managers do find work without too much difficulty
- there are some full time jobs for musicians, but mostly in classical music
- in popular music most bands depend on getting individual gigs
- a lot of work in sound technology is freelance.
The chances of getting a permanent job are better in arts administration, but entry is very competitive. There are opportunities in community arts – again often on short term contracts. Some young performers start by working in this area.
To be a performer you must be prepared to put in long hours. You need a lot of stamina and you must be dedicated and persistent.
The Scottish Arts Council's website at www.scottisharts.org.uk/ has information on getting into the arts - and specifically dance, music, drama and theatre. Look for the '16 24 explore' menu option.
We often hear of performers becoming famous without having any training or qualifications. But this is really very rare:
- 86% of actors have formal training
- dancers usually start training at a very young age
- almost all classical musicians have qualifications
- a large proportion of popular musicians are trained to a high level.
You can take qualifications in performing arts at all levels, from 1 year National Certificates (NC) or National Qualifications (NQ), through Higher National Certificates (HNC) and Higher National Diplomas (HND) to degree and post-graduate courses. You can also train through private teaching, which can lead to qualifications such as those from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the Royal Academy of Dance.
The jobs in this career area have been divided into 6 sectors:
- Arts administration
- Community arts
- Dance
- Drama and theatre technology
- Music
- Music technology.
Sources
Equity website (http://www.equity.org.uk/)
Conference of Drama Schools website (http://www.drama.ac.uk/)
Incorporated Society of Musicians website (http://www.ism.org/)
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