Am I too old to pursue my dreams? (Pomona: home, living in)

[nightlysparrow]

Actors and performers in LA, even the older ones, are shockingly model-thin and unusually striking in the looks department. The entertainment industry is very competitive as far as appearance goes, especially for women. But if you've got it, go for it.

[Ingenere]

23 is way too old to do anything. You are getting close to retirement.

[LBNative]

Pomona? That's not a great way to start your CA dream.

[gypsyartist]

Originally Posted by brizz

I a 23 year old blonde hair white female, and yes, I want to do the ever-popular and cliche move to l.a. to pursue acting/singing/dancing (I am a performer in all aspects). Roll your eyes if you want. It is my dream to aspire as a performance artist in movies/tv/stage/recording studio whatever I can get my hands on. By the time I save up enough to even get out there and get a job, I will probably be 24. By the time I'm ready to even start promoting myself and audition I will probably be 25. That's halfway to 30! Do you think I will be too old then? I really want to go for it but I feel the industry will think I'm too old with no experience.

Here's a quote by Henry David Thoreau that inspired me when I lived in L.A.:
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

I'd say pursue your goal of being a performer, just develop a clear sense of what success means to you. Get involved with theatre, sign up for extra work, take an inexpensive yet reputable acting class, sing at coffeehouses/small clubs, befriend kindred spirits, and throw away your timetable. Time is irrelevant because anything can happen at anytime and perseverance is what really counts. Just hold onto your dreams, make concrete goals to achieve them and define your success by your positive achievements. Don't be discouraged by rejection... learn from it and grow. Success is ultimately defined by how happy you are in what you're doing.

I went out to L.A. to work in tv production (behind the cameras). I never did, although I did get job offers. I ended up having a great career in music and graphic design, while also working with friends on theatre productions. I was far more happier in what I actually did than in what I thought I would do.

I have one friend who had been getting tv gigs but was only being cast in minor roles. She thought she would have to give up her acting career because it was going nowhere. Then she was offered a major part in what became a very successful long-running tv series, but it was playing the mother, which she initially thought was too old for her. After much contemplation and plenty of prayers, she took the job and achieved the success she dreamed of. I have another friend who was in several major movies and some television series. After the last series got cancelled, he found it hard to get acting gigs so he wrote, directed and acted in his own theatre productions. When all opportunities finally dried up, he left to pursue a graduate degree. He's been working behind the cameras ever since on major tv shows in NYC & L.A. and is way more successful than he ever was when he was acting. I have a few friends who didn't make it L.A. but are now working as big fish in small ponds in other states. They are achieving their dreams and enjoying success because their dues paying experiences in L.A. helped them tremendously.

Just go for it... and follow I_Love_LA's advice... Don't do porn!

[rocco81]

So yeah...all the hullabaloo aside. Just go for it. Do not stay in Kansas Dorothy, you can always come back.

Give yourself completely to LA or NYC or whatever you decide and live that life. You might never be much in Hollywood, but maybe you'll get to sleep with a famous actor along the way (only kind of kidding) have some cool stories to tell when you decide to come back to to the Mid West, and yes you can always go back and live and work in KC. But, remember you cannot always be 23 and attractive again and with the drive to hit up LA...just go!

[gerrythesnake]

Yes

[Flightoficarus87]

The short answer, no. Being somewhat of a "dreamer" type myself, in a similar situation to yours (A mid-20's aspiring musician), I'll throw in my extra $0.02 too.

In LA (And I'm still considering the idea of going there myself), the competition is fierce for those pursuing creative careers. Few make it, and many more don't. But hey, you only live once, right? If you're serious about going down there though, make a plan. You don't want to go down there with no money, and end up homeless real quick or something like that (And there are people that end up like that). You also want some kind of experience, or demo/press kit to showcase - Anything that will help you stand out/look more professional, than just showing up there with nothing, trying to find work.

And speaking of experience, in the meantime, don't let your location completely limit yourself on getting started. Find local theaters/musicians/the like to work with. Get out there and get experience. Meet people active in the industry and learn from them. Always dream big, and especially, just be happy being able to submerse yourself in what you love, no matter what happens.

[2live&dieinLA]

Originally Posted by brizz

I a 23 year old blonde hair white female, and yes, I want to do the ever-popular and cliche move to l.a. to pursue acting/singing/dancing (I am a performer in all aspects). Roll your eyes if you want. It is my dream to aspire as a performance artist in movies/tv/stage/recording studio whatever I can get my hands on. By the time I save up enough to even get out there and get a job, I will probably be 24. By the time I'm ready to even start promoting myself and audition I will probably be 25. That's halfway to 30! Do you think I will be too old then? I really want to go for it but I feel the industry will think I'm too old with no experience.

No you are not. Go for it! I'd get a jump doing theatre, being an extra, etc. where you are now though. The best you'll be able to get in LA without an agent is an extra in an amateur student film or a part in an aspiring director's television show with little/no pay and long hours. And the saying goes, you can't get a part without an agent, and you can't get an agent without a part. Just like other jobs, gain experience. You will be competing with the best the world has to offer. Best of luck!

[ImtheBrilliantest]

Go for it, but plan first. Find a flexible job that you can support yourself with as well as adjust to audition times. If you've got a car, you won't need to live in Hollywood specifically, so you can look to the "cheaper" areas around LA. Good luck!

[Senshi]

No one cares how old you are. All they care about is how old you look. A big distinction.