As a child and young person I really only had one career in mind: actor. And bless my parents, they never really tried to discourage me. Well, my mom did say to me well into my 40s, “I don’t know why you didn’t become a lawyer, you would have been so good…” They didn’t discourage and I was fortunate to have access to lessons, classes and camps that paved the way for the career I had. So while I had a smooth and supportive path into the arts, that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a very bumpy ride for the 25 years I worked as an actor, singer, dancer and writer.
That’s the big challenge – a love or desire for the arts or creativity doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the cut and thrust of trying to make it in crowded and competitive fields, where often there is very little money. Therefore, when my friends’ children show an aptitude or interest in the arts, I always hesitate slightly. Sometimes the parents ask me my opinion and sometimes they don’t. In the past I have bitten my tongue, but here’s some of my thoughts of what I would say if asked.
When a child expresses a desire to pursue a career in the arts, it can be both exciting and daunting for parents. The arts encompass a wide range of disciplines, from visual arts and music to theatre and dance. While the prospect of a creative career can be appealing, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some key considerations for parents to keep in mind when their kids want to go into the arts.
Doing Work You Love
One of the primary benefits of a career in the arts is the high level of job satisfaction it can offer. Many artists find immense joy and fulfilment in their work, as it allows them to express themselves creatively and connect with others on a deep emotional level. This sense of purpose and passion can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life (note the key word here is can).
However, it’s important to acknowledge the risks and challenges associated with a career in the arts. One of the most significant concerns is financial stability. Unlike more traditional career paths, the arts can be unpredictable in terms of income. Many artists face periods of financial uncertainty, especially in the early stages of their careers (and frequently at other times as well). In a field where you are only ever as good as your last work, it can be very up and down.
Few artists truly climb the ladder, getting larger paycheques and greater opportunities. For many it’s an endless financial circling of the drain. It’s crucial for parents to help their children understand the importance of financial planning and budgeting to navigate these challenges.
Action: All young people should develop their financial literacy, but this is critical for those going into the arts or a creative field. I have worked alongside some very savvy artists who were great with money and have bought homes and built rich and satisfying lives on creative wages, but this takes skill and an ability to be thrifty and save. It’s possible to earn good money in the arts, but it tends to be sporadic. Learning to save and budget is essential to make it last.
Being Self-Employed
One friend did tell me her 16 year old daughter wanted to go into acting and what advice would I give?
I told her to have lots of conversations with her about people in their community who were self-employed, whether creatives or not. What did their days and weeks look like? Did they do more than one thing? Where do they live? Do they work at other jobs? Do they run a business as well as being an artist? Are they married or in a relationship and if so, what does their partner do?
Understanding that the arts are highly subsidised by the artists themselves (through other work) and their families is an important reality. That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with this. Lots of couples have unequal incomes and they contribute in different ways towards common goals. And having a portfolio career, or range of jobs, doesn’t negate or undermine any creative work you do.
It would be helpful for a young person to understand that unless they are really lucky they are probably going to be juggling 3-4 jobs at a time and working a lot more hours than people who are in full-time career occupations. And there is often no paid sick time or paid holiday (or automatic health care if you live somewhere where the State doesn’t provide this). It’s important to understand that, especially if you have been raised in a home where these things are taken for granted.
Action: It’s important to understand truly what being ‘self-employed’ means, and that can start by really getting to know other self-employed people in your community, whether creatives or not, to understand the challenges and opportunities of self-employment.
Competition
Another consideration is the competitive nature of the arts. Success in the arts often requires not only talent but also perseverance, resilience, and a strong work ethic. Parents can play a supportive role by encouraging their children to develop these qualities and by helping them build a strong portfolio or body of work that showcases their skills and creativity. That said, having trained many artists and creatives at the university level, there is no direct correlation between success in the arts as a youth/teen and success as an adult. Helping your child develop a broad range of experiences and skills: sports, academics, reading, as well as the arts may serve them better long term than a full-on immersion in the arts from a young age. This is not true for activities like classical musical or classical dance, where a grounding from a young age can be critical and difficult to overcome if not there. But for most other art forms I don’t think an extensive exposure while growing up really makes a difference. So don’t fret if your child decides at 17 they want to be an actor and they’ve never done any acting before. The skills required can be taught in 3-4 years.
Now back to competition. Study competition with them. Look at how many years an athlete competes locally and at lower levels before they get into the Olympics. Dig with them to understand how many years did their favourite band tour playing bars and parties before they broke through?
We tend to fixate on the ‘overnight success’ stories and pay less heed to the ones who graft for decades. Make sure your budding young artist studies both of these trajectories.
Action: I’ve often observed that kids who come in first in everything in their small communities don’t always have the perseverance when dropped into a larger market where they don’t immediately rise to the top. I tell my students it took 10 years from when I moved to the UK to be in a show in the West End – many of them expect it to happen in one. Are they willing to do the hard work to really go after the goals they want? How can you help them to see the value of hard work, perseverance and developing a steely determination?
Should they Study a Creative Subject at University?
After what I’ve said above, it might be surprising that I say yes they should. I say this for a couple of reasons.
First, they will probably spend 40-plus years working (and many predict this will get longer with ageing populations and longer life). Given that, why not have 3-4 years to immerse themself in something they love? Whether they do that for a career later in life is not really the point. They will have many memories of engaging seriously and in depth with an art form, but more importantly, if they don’t choose to make a career in the arts, or don’t manage to break through, the arts can provide many valuable skills that are transferable to other fields. Creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities are highly sought after in many industries.
Even if a child ultimately decides to pursue a different career path, the skills they develop through their artistic endeavors can serve them well in various professional contexts.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought significant changes to many industries, including the arts. While AI can replicate certain aspects of creative output, true creativity remains a uniquely human trait. AI can generate music, art, and even literature, but it lacks the ability to infuse these creations with genuine emotion, personal experiences, and the nuanced understanding of human culture that artists bring to their work. This distinction underscores the irreplaceable value of human creativity in the arts. We have to be aware of developments with AI, which is going to make many of our current jobs disappear; but creative occupations are low on the list of areas that will be heavily impacted by AI. This is partly because AI cannot bring people together and make things happen (put on a show, hang an art show, design a fashion collection). The skills being developed in a creative degree are of exceptional value in the future of work!
On the flip side, the arts are often undervalued in society, leading to misconceptions about their worth and viability as a career. Parents and their children may encounter scepticism from others who question the practicality of an arts career. It’s important to address these concerns by highlighting the diverse opportunities available within the arts. The breadth of opportunities is vast: from creative roles, teaching and arts administration, to work in the broader creative industries including advertising and media.
Moreover, the arts can foster a sense of community and belonging. Participating in artistic activities often involves collaboration and teamwork, which can help children build strong social connections and develop interpersonal skills. This sense of community can be particularly beneficial for children who may feel isolated or struggle to find their place in more conventional settings. Whether they go on to have a career in the arts or not, this is invaluable and will lay a solid foundation for whatever they turn to next.
Action: It is now estimated a young person will have at least 5-9 different careers over their lifetime, so just because they study a creative degree doesn’t mean they are stuck for life! Rather than look at degree titles, drill down into skills developed in that training. Sit with your budding artist and brainstorm all the different things that could be done with those skills. You’ll be surprised at how widely they can be applied. In most cases, they are learning more skills, and varied skills, in their creative degree than if they studied something ‘safer.’ Lifelong learning, upskilling, entrepreneurship, freelance work – there are so many tools and pathways that can help them take their creative skills and find another way to use them should a creative career not materialise or satisfy. Encourage creative thinking about career paths!
In Final Balance
While a career in the arts can be incredibly rewarding, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Parents should support their children’s artistic aspirations by helping them understand the realities of the industry, encouraging them to develop financial management and self-employment skills, and fostering positive, creative, and realistic outlooks.
By doing so, they can help their children navigate the complexities of a creative career and find fulfillment in their chosen path whether ultimately, it’s in the arts or not.
It’s a cliché, but the Norman Vincent Peale quote “Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars” holds true.
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