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I would definitely say that if you have the money then you should double major in business and theatre or at least do a minor in either. I know someone that has a degree in theatre and he went and got his certificate in teaching and now he teaches. You could do that and that would be fine, just make sure that you have a back up plan because you do not want to have a degree and then have to explain it to an employer. The other thing that I could think of is to teach on the college level. Have you considered that?
I have considered teaching, maybe being an acting coach for other actors.
To be an acting coach, likely you'd need a lot of acting experience? Don't know if college begins to be the right place to get that experience.
I have known several people who really wanted to work in acting. One worked as a mental health assistant while working in community theater, and when he inherited money (and had health insurance through same-sex spouse) was able to do community theater full time. Another got sick of pounding the pavement in NYC and started being a sales rep for "giftware."
Another worked as a mental health assistant, then got an MFA living off his wife's salary, then dumped the wife while he developed a serious gambling problem.
I love the first ten minutes of the movie "Tootsie" about trying to work in acting in NYC. I wish it had been a whole movie.
For those who say, gee, why not teach at a college level, it's not exactly an opportunity with low-hanging fruit. People have such a touching faith that going through college and more college will mean they can "always teach." Not so.
There's actually quite a bit you can do, professionally, having studied theatre that has nothing to do with performing (alums of my program, for instance, have gone into the obvious choice of teaching, but also political lobbying, technical theatre, scenic design, governmental work, advertising, sales, law, museum work, to name a few, if they haven't pursued performance) . But since you evidence a desire to perform, it's best to be realistic about the options available to you on that track/lifestyle characteristics to expect. But, yeah, there are many other things you can do with a degree in performing arts besides perform.
A guy friend of mine is dating a woman who is 37, majored in theater, still spends the money on headshots, etc. works as an admin for 35k a year and is paying of 20k in student loans. She still spends quote a bit of money on attempting to get auditions, etc. I am thinking for a woman at 37, chances are for the most part that your ship has sailed. I just find it royally depressing at 37 I would still paying a decent student loan in a job with very little career movement.
My neighbor is a stage manager for a state theater. She majored in theater, makes crap money and told me she is now just done with the horrible schedule and lack of salary (she is 41 and makes 33k).
Your best bet is to try it out, if you haven't already. Audition for your college's plays (if they allow non-theater majors to audition) and see if you're cast and if you like it. I had a roommate who planned on majoring in theater, but tried out for seven plays and was never cast as anything while other freshmen were getting leads. She also auditioned to be a Disney character at Disney World and wasn't accepted. I think she finally got the hint and ended up switching her major.
If it's something you really have a passion for, you should definitely try it out. If I had an amazing singing voice, I would love nothing more than to be cast in a traveling production of a musical like Wicked (or Rent or Spring Awakening if they were still in production). That would be such an amazing opportunity.
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