Do I go to University or go straight into the industry?

[Jenna281093]

Hi Guys,

 

Need some advice.

I'm in my 1st year of college and need to start thinking about whther to apply for uni next year or go straight into the industry and work my way up.

 

I've had experience in theatres in the past taking on the roles of Crew, ASM & DSM, I'm also part of the National Youth Theatre in London and I am doing a Extended National Diploma in Entertainment Technology (Stage Management, LIghting, Sound & Set Design) so its not like I don't know what to do when it comes to working on a production.

 

However I really don't want to go to Uni, although I am enjoying my time at college because it is a very practical course I am really sick of learning in an institution and want to get into the industry and learn that way.

I just wondered if I should go to uni and do a technical theatre course or whether I could just go straight into the industry and work my way up (even if I do start off as the stage crew/teamaker ** laughs out loud **)

 

Please Help!

Thanks,

Jenna x

[gareth]

I really don't want to go to Uni ... I am really sick of learning in an institution and want to get into the industry and learn that way

You've just answered your own question.

[Jenna281093]

I really don't want to go to Uni ... I am really sick of learning in an institution and want to get into the industry and learn that way

You've just answered your own question.

 

Thanks :D

[Pete McCrea]

What He said! If you don't want to go don't. You don't need a degree in this industry, the personal attributes are more important than the paper you hold. If your a conscientious worker, have attention to detail, the ability to learn and be taught as well as a good term worker, but more than happy to work on your own, and fun to work with, then you'll go as far as you want.

 

That said there is nothing to stop you going to Uni and getting a degree in an unrelated subject (but make it one you enjoy else you won't put the work in) and spending time in the Musical Theatre Group, Students Union etc to get some experience. Then that way when you've had enough of the long hours, unsociable working hours you might be able to get a 'regular' job more easily.

[Simon Lewis]

Jenna,

 

As an admissions tutor I would say there's no point at all in amassing debt and subjecting yourself to further study if that's not what you want.

 

However, I would add to Pete's comment... The learning experience at university is (or at least should be) different from 'training' and learning how to do 'things'. It's more autonomous and student based, and is much more about developing your own higher level cognitive skills. In that sense, university (if it's doing the job properly) shouldn't be seen as "more college" but as developing you as a critical, reflective thinker with a strong set of personal and transferable skills.

 

From where you are at present - finish your course and get a job. It's not impossible to develop your cognitive ability outside of further education, and you can always go into higher education as a mature student should you wish.

 

Simon

[paulears]

They're all giving good advice - but you're only two months into your course, so maybe it's a bit early to worry about this yet - it's going to be 2012 year when you complete the course, and that could be a good time to go straight in - it's certainly going to a be a busy year!

Moderation: I fixed the poll, but I'm not certain you really need the results, as pretty well the advice is going to be "it's up to you" - and we only have yes and no - maybe a category for 'depends' would work - but all the post so far are talking about this very issue, so I'll leave it as it stands.

[Jivemaster]

Start NOW to prepare a CV to get you a job! Start to find things that you are responsible for and get pictures, programmes etc. obviioualy there will not be much so milk it for all it's worth but NO MORE. Get something planned for the vacations -supporting an events company for Christmas party themeing or the like, festival work etc.

 

Starting working life in huge debt is NO fun so get the pay packets lined up! Do a short course every year so that the ability to learn doesn't escape! But the money from a few years work will be a head start when you decide that Uni beckons. Yes the learning experience should be different from college when you get to uni BUT al too often it is, and it really is seen as a filler while you can't get work!

[Ynot]

As one of the (far more) mature (in age at least...) members on the forum, and one who has a 17 yr old at 6th form college at the moment (with another daughter only 3 years behind her) I think my advice would be this.

 

IF you get to the point late next year when you really HAVE to make a decision about uni and still feel the same way, then I'd agree - DON'T go on to further education AT THAT POINT.

Many youngsters take a gap year for the very reasons you cite - feeling institutionalised by the learning system can be wearing by the time you reach 18. But by no means close that door. As Paul says, there are options to go BACK to the uni route. Working (or even just being) in the real world for 12 months can certainly help focus your mind and in some ways change your attitudes immensely.

 

I felt the same way as you when I left school about a century ago - I didn't even want to do 6th form. I was definitely fed up with school and wanted to get out there and earn a crust - and I did so by getting an apprenticeship in telecomms. However, I still had to learn. I had job specific courses, and a day release at technical college, but it was SO different from school that it didn't feel like it was anywhere near the education I was used to. And the fact that the courses were what I needed (mostly) to help me do the job I was doing just meant it was more appropriate.

 

Looking back, there are times that I regretted not doing the A-level to uni 'thing', and I got together with my girlfriend (now wife) whilst she was half way through her degree studies, and got involved on the fringes of uni life that way, and saw some of what I was missing. (Though she does blame me for her getting a 2-1 instead of a first... :D )

 

However, I'm still with the same company now, 32 years on, and earning a decent wage (sadly still not enough with 2 daughters at dance school!!) so my regrets are diminished with time.

 

So - follow your heart for a year or so after college - see what you can do in that time, build up some contacts and maybe these will stand you in good stead should you decide to take a degree after all.

 

I will say that one of the regular cassies at the pro venue I work at from time to time was also doing a business degree in Brum. Her casual work with them and a couple of the regular companies who produce there plus a bit of freelancing and working with the uni events crew meant she was supplementing her grant etc whilst at the same time enjoying the tech work. She got her degree this year but has in fact now gone to work on a lengthy cruise contract instead of using the busuiness training - BUT she knows she always has that degree to fall back on.

[abbotsmike]

I was in the exact same situation as you not so long ago, and didn't want to go to uni. I even got a place on Apprenticeship schemes with both BT and BAA. While all of this was going on I did actually take the decision to apply to uni, as I had this nagging voice in the back of my mind, wondering whether I'd get bored of the apprenticeships too quickly. Whilst I love practical work, I need an academic challenge to keep me interested.

Fast forward to the gap between exams and results coming out, I'd both signed contracts for BAA and accepted an offer at Brunel. When it came to it I wanted to go to Brunel, and am now very happy studying Electrical and Electronic engineering there.

I went for both as I can't make decisions until the last minute. As it happened I changed my mind, and would have kicked myself if I hadn't set up that fall-back plan.

The debt doesn't worry me, as I am living at home, and have a regular part time job + short contract based work to keep me going. My loan is in a savings account trying to earn some interest. For all those people that say you have to move out to experience uni, don't blindly believe it. I have friends in halls, and I would have killed someone if I had to put up with what they do almost every day (and night). I can go out when I want, have meals when I need them, have my room and all the stuff in it, my car and it takes me only 30mins to walk home after a night out.

 

Bit of a ramble, but if you aren't absolutely 100% certain, don't back yourself into a corner. Besides, the interview process for uni spaces is good practice :D

[Bobbsy]

As everyone has said, it's up to you. There's no one single route into the industry. However, without advocating any particular course of action, let me throw a couple of random thoughts into the equation.

 

First off, I should say that I actually did do a theatre course at university. However, at the same time, I was lucky enough to have a part time job at a local TV station. It was the part time job that got me full time work in the end--but the university gave me lots of extra perspective on things and also helps a lot when I get into discussions with directors about the "art" of it all. I think, over the years, it's helped me to get and keep jobs because directors are comfortable with me when I can keep up with them when they launch into an academic discussion about Strindberg or Artaux or whoever

 

Second, if you do consider additional time at school, don't limit yourself to theatre courses. Depending on your interests, things like C&G certificates in electricity or electronics can be very useful. Similarly, any training in computers or IT goes a long way these days. Almost every bit of gear you use now has a computer chip buried in it somewhere. Or, a longer shot, how about structures and engineering? How often are people on this forum told they need input from an engineer before rigging some truss or whatever? Anyway, the good thing about any of the above is that it also gives a fall back position if the theatre industry isn't kind to you.

 

Finally, whatever you decide, have fun and good luck!

 

Bob

[Unfathomable]

Not much I can add to the good advice above, but just to say that when I left school I went through this (two years ago now). At the time I decided that more time learning was not what I wanted at that point, but now, after 1.5 years, I am applying to uni. It's on my terms now and I think I am ready to go back to learning. There are plenty of opportunities for technicians out there and its good (in some cases better) to have experience and references as well as a degree.

 

 

David

[TomHoward]

I think that one small point might be worth making:

However I really don't want to go to Uni, although I am enjoying my time at college because it is a very practical course...

Whilst I wouldn't want to comment on whether it's the right thing for you overall, in my experience there are a good number of university level courses with a large practical element as well as at college level.

[tbexon]

I'm coming up to a similar stage to you.

 

I am the just starting 6th form and I have been thinking about going to uni or whatever.

 

I am thinking about, yes going to uni, but taking a gap year in between to work as the technician at my school for a year (they employ a different person each year normally someone who has just left the 6th) as this way I can say I have worked in the industry doing a variety of things from setting up and running a relatively big show while at the same time having to manage day to day things like who needs mics for which assemblies etc teaching music tech students the basics of sound eg mic types/ mic placements

 

(yes I realise I am assuming in this post that I get the job I AM not assuming that there are some other strong candidates in our year but I think I have a chance but thats not what this post is about)

 

I would agree that if your heart ain't in it don't go to uni as your heart won't be in it and I know plenty of technicians who didn't go to uni and are doing reasonably well however I do know others who did go to uni and did just as well

 

just my thoughts on the matter

 

and to add another question do you think it's worth doing a specialised degree like sound or doing a technical theatre degree I realise that the sound degree is more specific so therefore I'm limiting myself but will it allow me to progress to doing some bigger gigs faster? (I realise it won't be anywhere near instant but within say 10years will a specific degree help me ot get further quicker allowing me to miss (some) of the 'tea making levels'?

 

thnks

[paulears]

The year can be useful, but perhaps NOT in the way you expect. If it's a school, as opposed to college, expect that very many of the ways you will be taught will be quite different to how it's actually done in practice, and to be fair, many unis have their own ways of working, and you'll need to 'unlearn' your method and pick up theirs. What WILL happen, is that you will get the hang of working with people who have their own agendas, and this could be a surprise. Finding out how teachers work behind the scenes could be a shock - you'll find out the reasons for some of the perhaps 'odd' things that you got inflicted on you, and you'll discover how reliability and efficiency are more appreciated than out and out technical ability.

 

I doubt the actual technical work will count for very much really, but the extra year of 'life' and money helps your attitude. The trouble is that the school only have one place, so hoping you get it is luck really. What I do know is that your own school will rather take the reliable option, rather than the technical one - they have to be more interested in the person than the skills - especially so when they only have the person for a year.

[stevei]

well I think you have been given some good advice so far

 

I never went to uni, but there again back when I left they didnt have the practical courses they do now so I knocked on the door of the local theatres, hire companies and worked with all the am drams I could getting experience

 

I also agree its a bit early to decide but no harm in hassleing some companies now and there are quite a few in and around your area (I'm leeds based so most of them round here)

 

There is certainly lots of scope for activities while at uni as well as the course work so thats good to bear in mind as well as the uni life experience. Then you may well have the best of both worlds (a peice of paper and practical experience) if you want some help with local companies PM me

 

Steve