So you’ve taken the leap. You’ve decided to follow your dream and do what you are meant to be doing in this world. You’ve made the brave, bold choice of pursuing a career as a professional actor. Well done, you! It takes courage to act on your dreams (no pun intended), and you’ve done it.
Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have parents who support your career choice wholeheartedly. Maybe your parents are also artists. Or maybe they are comfortable with you taking big risks to pursue your passion. Perhaps, if you are super fortunate, they are supporting you financially. If so, this is absolutely wonderful. Be grateful!
Chances are, if you are reading this post, your parents aren’t so excited about your career choice. They could be fearful that you won’t “make it” and that the odds are against you. They could be nervous about your ability to support yourself financially while pursuing such a tenuous profession. And what about finding a husband/wife and getting that pension/house and having those babies and all of those other things that are supposed to make you happy?
Here’s the thing: You may never be able to fully convince your parents that acting is the right career choice for you. They could warm up to your choice as years pass and you continue to display your dedication, but they may never be absolutely in love with your chosen life path. This is totally OK. There are some things that you can do, however, to make it easier to relate to your parents—and to give yourself a peace of mind—as you pursue your dream:
1. Allow your parents to have their own opinions. Understand that your parents were raised in a different generation than you and had access to a different range of opportunities, ideas, and career possibilities than you have. Understand that they are doing the best that they can—that they feel they are protecting you, and speaking to your best interests when they warn you about your career choice.
Rather than pushing back, or trying to “prove” your parents wrong, acknowledge and honor your parents’ opinions and perspectives as their own. Once you stop resisting their resistance, you will feel a lot more at ease.
2. Stay true to yourself and your dreams. The worst thing that you can do is adopt your parents’ fears as your own. Stay in touch with your dreams and your reasons for pursuing this career path. Why have you chosen to become an actor? Reflect on this regularly. Know why you are doing what you are doing and allow that reason to motivate you each and every day.
3. Be responsible. One of the best ways to ease tensions with parents and family is to demonstrate your ability to live independently and support yourself financially. Most likely, your parents want you to be able to support yourself financially, and they want you to be happy. So create a financially abundant and happy life for yourself! If acting doesn’t yet pay your bills, find flexible work that interests you. Take up hobbies and build a supportive community of friends for yourself. Once your parents see you living independently and fulfilled, chances are they will express fewer fears and worries.
4. Work hard. This profession requires a lifetime of hard work and dedication. Be committed to your career, to developing yourself creatively, professionally, and personally, and do something to move your career forward every single day. Eventually, this hard work will pay off and you will find yourself so immersed in fulfilling work that you love that your parents’ opinions won’t really matter anymore.
Also, guess who will likely be the first people to celebrate your big career successes? Your parents.
5. Have fun. The whole reason that you decided to act is because it’s so much fun, right?! Don’t forget this. Have fun pursuing your dream! Your joy is contagious. Who knows, perhaps you will even inspire your parents to take up some hobbies or pursue some passions and dreams of their own.
Inspired by this post? Check out our film audition listings!
The views expressed in this article are solely that of the individual(s) providing them,
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Backstage or its staff.
