Friday, April 6, 2007

Finding the Right Career in the Entertainment Industry

There are many people who think they may enjoy a career in the entertainment industry. However, most do not actually realize how many different jobs are available in this industry. A career in entertainment can be very exciting, and you do not have to be an actor to have a successful career in this industry. When you are considering careers, you want to pick the one best suited to you, so it is important that you understand the various career options that the entertainment industry has to offer so you can make the right choice.

Entertainment Careers ( actor, producer, director, musician, singer, dancers, choreographers)

Within the entertainment industry there are many great careers to choose from and there are opportunities for people with a variety of talents. One of the most obvious choices in this field is to be an actor. Whether you act on stage or in the movies, you have the opportunity to portray various characters, and although it can be quite a demanding career, it is usually a great deal of fun as well. Some careers that are behind the scenes of all movies include the producers and the directors. If you enjoy directing and putting things together, a career as a director may be ideal for you. This allows you to orchestrate a movie and bring everything together to make it a success.

Another great career in this field is a career as a musician. Musicians have a variety of opportunities, from teaching music in schools, to playing in symphonies, to being backup musicians for popular singers. If you have a great voice, you may want to consider a career as a singer. While many do not realize it, a career in singing is actually hard work, but it gives you the opportunity to travel and entertain people all over the world.

There are many great opportunities for dancers and choreographers as well. A career in dancing may lead you to a position on Broadway, in a ballet troupe, or even a career as a dance instructor. Choreographers have great careers as well and end up working with dancer on Broadway and even dancers in movies as well. A new emerging opportunity for choreographers is in the music video industry, with many new vocal artists doing music videos.

Required Education

The education that is required for careers in the entertainment industry is dependent on many things. Some jobs require that you have a post-secondary training, while others are solely based on talent alone. Many people who have a career in this field start out with a bachelor's degree in some area of the entertainment field, and some even go on to get their master's degree in fine arts. There are some actors who go to an acting school and dancers often attend an arts university such as Juilliard. On the other hand, there are many successful people in this field who have no education beyond a high school diploma.

Salary Outlook

The salary amounts in this field are extremely varied as well, ranging from quite low, to very high. An actor that is just starting out may only make between $7.00 and $30.00 an hour, which is relatively low. Famous actors in Hollywood often make millions for every movie that they act in, but this is far from the norm in the entertainment business. Actors and dancers on Broadway can usually expect to make about $1000 to $1400 a week, but those in other off Broadway theaters usually only make between $400 and $800 each week, and sometimes even less. Some of the higher paid professionals in this industry are the producers. Their salaries are dependent on where they work, but most can expect to earn between $40,000 and $90,000 each year.

Companies to Consider

The entertainment is a great industry to work in, but it can be hard to get into this field and to find a job that pays the bills and offers great benefits. When you are considering this kind of a career, it is helpful to look around to find companies that do offer competitive salaries and benefits. Some great companies to consider within the United States include E. Networks, World of Wonder, and Universal Music Group. If you are looking for entertainment jobs in Canada, you may want to consider companies like Sony BMG Music Canada, National Film Board of Canada, or the National Arts Center in Canada.

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