You can totally use acting skills in the real world. (And we’re not talking about The Real World program, which was anything but.)
But if you’re a young actor, or the parent of one, you might believe that studying acting is a dead-end road.
We’re here to tell you that’s just not true.
When Does One Apply Acting Skills in the Real World?
Um, like, all the time.
In fact, the skills learned and required for good acting are so versatile and transferable, you may wonder why acting isn’t required for every student in every school. Seriously. Hear us out.
Even in an arts academy middle school and high school, it’s understood that not every acting student is going to make it big. Many might not even make it small. But the skills attained go a long way toward impressing employers in a wide variety of fields.
Because actors learn how to regularly audition, they know how to be at the top of their game in an interview. They’ve also learned to accept disappointment when they don’t get a role. So in reality, they’ve got some serious interviewing chops that other more academically-oriented students simply don’t.
What’s more, acting teaches students to become the following:
1. Innovators
Increasingly, employers are seeking candidates with vision who aren’t afraid to share it.
Acting students are repeatedly encouraged to take things as far as they can to explore the full range of emotion in a scene. They have to determine the proper actions from their own unique interpretation. When given accolades for taking an idea and turning it right on its head, they learn the importance of being innovative.
With so much training in regarding things differently and studying situations and characters from every angle, they are among the most inventive candidates in today’s workforce.
2. Team Members
While not all jobs require employees to be part of a team, many do. And even those that don’t still require a certain level of teamwork and cooperation.
Young folks trained as actors learn quickly that they must be able to act their scenes with fellow actors – regardless of how they feel about them. That means being able to overlook personal relationships for the sake of the production. For example, the audience should have no clue that the actor’s love interest on stage is actually her nemesis in the halls. 
In addition, every production is a finely choreographed dance of a wide range of people from the director to the stage hand to the set designer. Actors must learn how to work together professionally in this very intimate and emotional setting.
This echoes life in the office or other work settings.
3. Public Speakers
With social media and YouTube ruling the world, there is an increased demand for voices that will rise above the din.
Acting is the ultimate form of public speaking. And students who are studying to be professional actors know just how to be the center of attention. They crave being in front of a crowd. Plus, because they’ve had to learn lines, they tend to have advanced memorization skills.
This puts them in a unique advantage for being able to get their point across both on the stage, and in a large conference room or Zoom meeting.
4. Communicators
Most actors have flair. They’re human chameleons – able to shift from one character to another in a seemingly effortless way. (It is, of course, not effortless. And that’s the beauty of it.) In the process, they learn multiple ways of communicating across these various roles. And most of them get it down to a science and do it with ease.
We don’t mean to imply that every person exploring acting is a born extrovert though. While the field is dominated by the more socially outgoing, there are known introverts in the business as well. ‘Shy’ kids in high school who decide to take up acting often experience an amazing transformation. They at long last find their voice and learn to communicate effectively and with confidence.
Another great skill set to have in real-world applications.
5. Salespeople
When you think about it, what is acting but trying to sell one’s character to the audience? Successful actors know how to peddle their goods (themselves) in every single audition, rehearsal, and show.
So it makes perfect sense that many of them thrive in sales-driven jobs. After all, if they can make an audience buy their character, selling a mere product or idea is child’s play.
6. Improvisors
It’s been said that ‘into every life, a little rain must fall.’ The shorter version of this is ‘sh*t happens.’ Fortunately, actors know this all too well. With so many pieces coming together to create a production, it’s not unusual that there are going to be snags and snafus.
In the acting world it’s been said that ‘the show must go on.’ Production can’t just stop when something goes off-script. Actors have to learn to trust their instincts, improvise, and go with the flow.
This is an invaluable skill to have in the job market and in one’s personal life because BOTH require the ability to make decisions quickly and think outside the box.
Acting Skills Are Real World Skills
Studying acting is far from a waste of time. Students who don’t become regular professional performers can skillfully use their acting skills in the real world to land an amazing job.
So if you or your child is interested in studying acting in an arts-integrated environment, don’t hesitate to contact us.
You’ll get the opportunity to take a tour of our school which offers both a middle school and high school curriculum focusing on learning academics through the arts.
Then prepare for possibility!