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.