An actress may also be required to sing, dance, play instruments or other entertainment-related skills. The tasks and required skills of an actress may vary significantly depending on employer needs. Other performances do not have an audience and the feedback from these performances is not instant. The workplace is highly varied, and actors need to be flexible with regard to where they work and the type of environment they work in. Those prepared to work in all kinds of different situations and who are able to adapt to their different environments will be more successful in finding their niche.
Hours are spent in rehearsals before opening night to ensure that the lines are delivered correctly, and for the actors to learn their cues to enter and exit the stage and where to move around during a scene. They also might need to be able to dance and sing. While earning a degree may help you develop your craft and prepare you for a career as a working actor, there is more than one way to become successful in this role, and that’s part of what makes it so difficult. It’s a competitive field, where people face a lot of rejection, low paying work, and irregular scheduling. Education—in any form—pays off here, as even beginner actors are expected to know the industry basics, from auditioning to being in front of a camera.
