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Disclaimer: Ignore any blocks of reality when considering this. This is simply a following dreams post and I just want to know which one I should attempt to follow. I am 18 Y/O and have been considering what I want to do. There are two different fields in which I am interested in pursuing. One is attempting to act on SNL (Second City in Los Angeles or Chicago), and the other would be NAVY E.O.D. (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) or another job involving explosives. I have done very well in school in Math, Science, and Drama. I believe that if I go fully through with a particular idea that I can achieve it. The only problem is that they are both very appealing to me and I cannot very well follow both. Both have high enough wages for that to not matter to me. Fame is not necessarily something that I care about, it's simply bringing joy to peoples lives. Here are all the bonuses that I can think of in either choice: Acting Pros: Good Pay Fun I bring joy I could work with those that brought me happiness Acting Cons: No privacy if I make it I would have to live in either LA or Chicago E.O.D. Pros: Save lives Good Pay Work for my country, while not directly shooting people Battle of wits with each bomb I defuse E.O.D. Cons: Could fail to save my own life I wouldn't have a home for as long as I was enlisted Military isn't the most trustworthy in the bunch Any help is appreciated!
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Oct 19, 2014 10:29
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| # ? Apr 20, 2024 03:28 |
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Well to start with, get your head out of the clouds. It sounds harsh, but every other 18 year old thinks they can make it if they just try hard enough. I'll say it now, you won't make it as an actor, I'm just playing the percentages on it. Everyone wants to be a famous actor/comedian, and only a fraction of a percent ever make it. If it was those two choices, and only those two choices, I'd go with the NAVY since you'll get alot of useful and transferable skills. EDIT: Also, strike out those "good pay" lines, because that good pay doesn't come until the very end of the 10-15 line in either of those careers so you should think about how you're going to live until then. Rudager fucked around with this message at 10:52 on Oct 19, 2014 |
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Oct 19, 2014 10:49
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Is there a C option? Acting is a horrible idea. There are so many things that can go wrong with planning a military career before you even join. Assuming you're 100% medically qualified and able to get a TS security clearance, you have to make it through all the training without injury, survive initial qual, on the job training, and finally be operationally certified. The slightest hiccup in any of those puts an immediate squash on everything, and you have the potential to be reassigned "based on the needs of the Navy." Finally, you run the risk of being assigned something that has absolutely nothing to do with your job for all four years, you will get nada for experience, and no one in the big blue Navy will care. You must be comfortable with being nothing but a line number on a spreadsheet. I recommend coming up with a list of 4-5 jobs you'd want in the military, and base your decision on that. The ONE IDEA (r) concept in the military rarely works out. Also as for money, junior enlisted is alright for an 18 year old, but don't expect to be throwing stripper parties. xaarman fucked around with this message at 16:10 on Oct 19, 2014 |
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Oct 19, 2014 16:05
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Lower enlisted active duty military is a not a job as much as it a lifestyle. You wake up and eat breath and sleep all things military. My experience is US Army combat arms so you probably wouldn't have as much fun as I did, but for a single 18 year old that wants to have some fun for a few years, it can be a good time. Then after you do your time, you go to college and get your acting degree. All sorts of comedians served in the military so try it out. It is not a joke and it is not for everyone, but it is a hell of a time.
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Oct 19, 2014 16:22
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Seconding the fact that neither of these jobs is going to pay well for a long time. If you don't mind being broke, why not combine your interests? Training videos, nonfiction audio books, shows on channels like Discovery--it's probably not as fun as comedy but there's a whole relevant market out there. Maybe someday you could even be the next Bill Nye or Mythbusters or something, you never know. But you really should have a solid plan for a day job if you're going to pursue acting in any capacity... you're going to need one.
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Oct 19, 2014 16:44
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I got to be buddies with a few EOD guys at a place I worked several years ago. I'm civilian so I have no idea how hard it is to make it through everything, but they were doing very well in the private sector, mainly because we kept sending them back to Iraq and Afghanistan to do field support. So yes, if you can make it, it could eventually be a good gig. You could also get killed or blown up or whatever. The thing is that everyone's advice will be colored by their own experience. We can't tell you exactly what to do or not to do. But based on only what you posted, I would say try acting first, provided you have a solid plan in place so that you aren't going into debt to support the dream. That probably means crashing on someone's couch and doing some cruddy job in between auditions. Give it like five years and if it doesn't work out, who cares? Maybe you'll find you enjoy working behind the camera, or if not, you can always fall back to the military.
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Oct 19, 2014 17:00
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Lol at thinking either of those paths have high wages. You have rose-colored visions of both of your career paths, so stop that. You will never be happy doing something if you think that the other job you could have been doing is glamorous and easy and well-paying. That said, try acting since military is a good fallback. If you try military and it doesn't work out, there's no loving way you can fall back to an acting career.
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Oct 19, 2014 18:06
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moana posted:If you try military and it doesn't work out, there's no loving way you can fall back to an acting career. Worked for Drew Carey
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Oct 19, 2014 19:00
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Have you considered finding a synthesis between your two dreams, OP? For example, you could use your acting skills to play the role of an EOD operative, much like Jeremy Renner in the award-winning film The Hurt Locker e: Another possibility would be to become a specialist in disposing of bombs planted on the set of comedy shows Kellsterik fucked around with this message at 20:13 on Oct 19, 2014 |
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Oct 19, 2014 20:10
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moana posted:Lol at thinking either of those paths have high wages. You have rose-colored visions of both of your career paths, so stop that. You will never be happy doing something if you think that the other job you could have been doing is glamorous and easy and well-paying. That said, try acting since military is a good fallback. If you try military and it doesn't work out, there's no loving way you can fall back to an acting career. The other catch with the military is you have to pass all the classes and do well in training in order to get placement in a specialized job. If you fuckup they own your rear end until the contract is over and send you into the dreaded "unassigned" bucket.
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Oct 19, 2014 20:34
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Just FYI, "Good pay" doesn't mean $250,000 a year or more. Good pay in my mind is about $50,000 a year, or just enough to live comfortably. I know that the chances are slim that's why I said it's a deal job. But I have to at least try to follow my dreams, and this thread will help me decide what I will aim more towards. I think Rhythmic Crotch has a good idea and to use EOD as more of a fallback. I understand that a lot of you have no idea why I would want to go into EOD, but it's more knowing that I am preserving the way of life for others rather than making sure I have food on my table. Also in the end, this is not what YOU think people should do, but rather in my shoes with my skills and ambitions, what you would do. Thanks for all the info so far however!
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Oct 20, 2014 00:50
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What's wrong with ACME theater, groundlings, or any of the numerous improv groups out there not in chicago or LA? Aren't there a ton of places to get started in New York, and places you wouldn't even think of like Minnesota? You're 18 especially if you have parental help there's no better way to get started in improv than to just dedicate 100% of your focus to an improv group for at least 5-7 years, get really good at it and then figure out a way to monetize it. Then when you probably can't hack it you can go military. I say probably because the odds are wildly against you, but who knows, you may make it. It's worth trying.
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Oct 20, 2014 00:56
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Veskit posted:What's wrong with ACME theater, groundlings, or any of the numerous improv groups out there not in chicago or LA? Aren't there a ton of places to get started in New York, and places you wouldn't even think of like Minnesota? You're 18 especially if you have parental help there's no better way to get started in improv than to just dedicate 100% of your focus to an improv group for at least 5-7 years, get really good at it and then figure out a way to monetize it. Then when you probably can't hack it you can go military. I say probably because the odds are wildly against you, but who knows, you may make it. It's worth trying. The reason that I am choosing Second city over other ones is that this particular improv group is where SNL chooses most of it's cast. It isn't that I am opposed to the others, it's just that is the one that has the highest chance from everything that I have heard.
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Oct 20, 2014 01:15
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PoorHobo posted:The reason that I am choosing Second city over other ones is that this particular improv group is where SNL chooses most of it's cast. It isn't that I am opposed to the others, it's just that is the one that has the highest chance from everything that I have heard. There is no way to get into SNL other than to be a really good stand up, really good at improv, or have Lorne Michaels love you. I've never heard a single SNL cast member say "You should go through second city specifically". You're being naive, and in reality it takes talent, the will to do whatever it takes to continue practicing, and luck. If you're already trying to play the odds other than focus on what it takes you'll never make it and should stop. There is no way to game it so stop trying. At least start by reading/listening to Bossypants if you aren't going to trust me.
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Oct 20, 2014 01:42
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Only a tiny amount of people can make a living from acting. If you want financial stability pick another career.
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Oct 20, 2014 02:23
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Veskit posted:There is no way to get into SNL other than to be a really good stand up, really good at improv, or have Lorne Michaels love you. I've never heard a single SNL cast member say "You should go through second city specifically". You're being naive, and in reality it takes talent, the will to do whatever it takes to continue practicing, and luck. Thanks for providing some great advice, it's what I hoped for in posting in this forum. I'll be sure to read Bossypants and see what I think afterwards. I do have the will to practice all the time and make the right connections, but my problem is that is all I will be doing, hence the asking which one. I can't very well go 100% into both. Thanks again for everyone in the thread helping out!
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Oct 20, 2014 05:44
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PoorHobo posted:Battle of wits with each bomb I defuse Lol @ this
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Oct 20, 2014 16:23
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I think you should find a way to combine your two passions. Maybe defuse bombs onstage with increasingly outlandish limitations to yourself or weird hazards around you.
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Oct 20, 2014 16:27
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PoorHobo posted:Disclaimer: Ignore any blocks of reality when considering this. This thread sounds better-suited to E/N than BFC. PoorHobo posted:it's simply bringing joy to peoples lives. Do you mean the goat herders you save from IEDs? That sounds a lot more worthwhile than acting, IMO. Do that one. etalian posted:If you fuckup they own your rear end until the contract is over and send you into the dreaded "unassigned" bucket. My father-in-law was conned into attempting the nuclear engineering track in the Navy. He washed out and spent the rest of his contract doing the worst poo poo no one ever wanted to do. So, don't do that.
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Oct 20, 2014 17:59
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posh spaz posted:My father-in-law was conned into attempting the nuclear engineering track in the Navy. He washed out and spent the rest of his contract doing the worst poo poo no one ever wanted to do. So, don't do that. This is completely different, the OP has done very well in Math and Science in high school, which totally means something other than that you have a pulse. The sky's the limit for him my friend, he can be a nuke or an EOD or an actor as long as he just dedicates himself 100%!!!
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Oct 20, 2014 19:44
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Xyven posted:This is completely different, the OP has done very well in Math and Science in high school, which totally means something other than that you have a pulse. The sky's the limit for him my friend, he can be a nuke or an EOD or an actor as long as he just dedicates himself 100%!!! Because high school math is 100% predictive of nuclear engineering capability?
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Oct 20, 2014 19:53
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posh spaz posted:Because high school math is 100% predictive of nuclear engineering capability? I think he was being sarcastic.
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Oct 20, 2014 19:59
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Nail Rat posted:I think he was being sarcastic. Sorry. Poe's law.
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Oct 20, 2014 20:06
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posh spaz posted:Sorry. Poe's law. I think "my friend" "you have a pulse" and the three exclamation marks were giveaways, but point taken.
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Oct 20, 2014 20:09
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I think it would be helpful if you post some comedy stuff you've done, like youtube sketches with friends or standup at open mic night or at least ideas you have for sketches or standup premises.
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Oct 20, 2014 20:41
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PoorHobo posted:Acting Pros: I can't speak to what EOD wages are, but as to acting I can say there is a 99% certainty you will not make it as a "successful" actor with multiple gigs, and of the 100+ "successful" actors I personally know, I can count on maybe two hands how many are able to survive just on acting. Almost all of them have day jobs in unrelated fields, and a precious lucky few will have day jobs in entertainment, writing, directing, editing and producing. It is a loving brutal field. There are reasons to want be an actor, but making a living is not one of them. Steve Yun fucked around with this message at 21:07 on Oct 20, 2014 |
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Oct 20, 2014 21:05
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One of the coolest dudes I met studied a technical major straight out of highschool, failed out, joined the navy, came out an adult several years later, went back to school for computer science with the benefits he got from serving (plus, his wife worked), graduated at the top of our class (straight A's all the way through, then a B in his senior year ruined his 4.0) and then got a solid job straight of school. Maybe study something technical even though you don't like it, just because you want to get payed, save the military as a fallback in case you fail out with a bunch of student loan debt, then save computer science as a fallback to your fallback once you're more mature and disciplined. 
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Oct 20, 2014 22:04
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Regardless of how dumb it is, there's no better time than to follow a dream than now and it sucks having people actively encourage you away from something like that. You've done the best you can when you give them all relevant information, and let them run along on their merry little way into a dumb direction until it doesn't work.
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Oct 20, 2014 22:09
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Veskit posted:Regardless of how dumb it is, there's no better time than to follow a dream than now and it sucks having people actively encourage you away from something like that. You've done the best you can when you give them all relevant information, and let them run along on their merry little way into a dumb direction until it doesn't work. That's true. The worst that will happen is the OP will try to be an actor, work as a barista, get tired of being poor, and go to school for something real. Hopefully, they won't have a ton of student debt from the acting thing.
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Oct 20, 2014 22:14
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Veskit posted:Regardless of how dumb it is, there's no better time than to follow a dream than now and it sucks having people actively encourage you away from something like that. You've done the best you can when you give them all relevant information, and let them run along on their merry little way into a dumb direction until it doesn't work. Like I said, there are reasons for wanting to be an actor, but quote:good pay
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Oct 20, 2014 22:29
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Steve Yun posted:Like I said, there are reasons for wanting to be an actor, but If it motivates him to becoming an actor (which he could use every and ALL motivation to) let him believe he's going to be a millionaire actor. gently caress it why not. As long as he has a cutoff date of this isn't working for me who cares why if it's his dream.
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Oct 20, 2014 22:50
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Follow your dreams OP
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Oct 20, 2014 23:22
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Veskit posted:Regardless of how dumb it is, there's no better time than to follow a dream than now and it sucks having people actively encourage you away from something like that. You've done the best you can when you give them all relevant information, and let them run along on their merry little way into a dumb direction until it doesn't work. Life is not a fairy tail, hope for the best but plan for the worst.
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Oct 20, 2014 23:23
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Veskit posted:If it motivates him to becoming an actor (which he could use every and ALL motivation to) let him believe he's going to be a millionaire actor. gently caress it why not.
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Oct 20, 2014 23:26
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I laughed like crazy at the Acting Pros= Good pay Most creative type occupations where acting, music or even graphic design are pretty hard to get by as a sole occupation.
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Oct 20, 2014 23:47
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moana posted:Because he specifically said pay wasn't a motivator. Also he posted in BFC, if he wants a forum blowjob about his dreams he can go post in E/N. Fine, I'll put my "BFC" take on a dreams then. I don't see the harm is having a pie in the sky dream of what you want to do with your life. I think it's ok to have a dream even when it's far fetched that it's even possible as long as you are willing to put in the effort needed, and at least have a backup plan for if/when things fail. Since becoming a great actor is a possibility, even though it's a long shot I could see puting it up there as a motivating factor for wanting to become an actor, even if it's a long shot. Good criticism is managing expectations, and going through what is required to accomplish a dream. OP is probably not going to make 50k a year acting, but clearly that's just what is needed to get by. Op should really understand how much friggin work it takes to do it. A backup plan for acting should be making sure you're working before you're acting, and not trying to find a troop or acting gig before you start even having income. College is also a good option where you can study something on the side as a "just in case" while also practicing acting and seeing if you can make something of yourself through acting. It worked well for George Takei. A forums blowjob would be telling OP that they will succeed if they put their mind to it. I'm trying to say that it's possible to achieve, but be proactive in having a backup, and understand what it takes to succeed.
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Oct 21, 2014 00:04
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Please post YouTubes of your acting and detonating bombs
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Oct 21, 2014 00:14
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moana posted:Because he specifically said pay wasn't a motivator. Also he posted in BFC, if he wants a forum blowjob about his dreams he can go post in E/N. I would like a forum blowjob, please.
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Oct 21, 2014 00:17
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Puppy Galaxy posted:I would like a forum blowjob, please. Then go post in E/N about your brain problems (And your penis problems)
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Oct 21, 2014 00:18
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| # ? Apr 20, 2024 03:28 |
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Even if you do somehow make it into EOD it's a poo poo job. The bit where you get to set off counter-charges and see some cool explosions is outweighed by the fact you'll be spending most of every day doing incredibly dull, fiddly electrical engineering that might kill you at any second while wearing a metal and kevlar sofa that apparently always smell like stale sweat whatever you do. Become an electrician, it's similar but you can wear what you like, get paid better and not die.
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Oct 21, 2014 08:54
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