Advice - My first real letter!

I got the first letter requesting my advice! Eat that God and Abby! Unfortunatly I only recieved one. So this week's advice section is short. Maybe if you send me questions to Ian_Mullan@hotmail.com you too can be advised. Your identity will be kept top-secret.

LETTER:
As a theatre student I have run into people who, after learning I am studying theatre, laugh and make some comment about how it must be easy. It is not easy! It involves a lot of hard work just like everything else there is to study. I find it very disrespectful when people say this and despite trying to explain to them what goes into a show they don't understand. How can I make them understand? Signed - Disrespected in the theatre

Dear Ditt,
People think theatre is easy because of how easily a terrible actor can make a career out of it, and a good actor can go into botany. In theatre you get out what you put in. There will be a dredge of jerks walking across the stage when you graduate who studied drama and gave nothing back while you killed yourself with lighting plots, set-construction and timetables. Theatre is self-motivation, task management, and being obligated to yourself to succeed, make work and grow. Put simply: Theatre has more to do with plumbing, and the trades industry than it has to do with other academic subjects. A good plumber can anticipate problems and has practical experience-- good theatre students will develop a working knowlege of marketing, carpentry, administration, management, design, writing, and fundraising. The trade of theatre is adaptability.

I think people have this notion that theatre and ho'ery are linked. Many times in history acting and prostitution was one and the same career choice. Although no longer the case it doesn't hurt if you want a job in the field to put-out, or get fucked with low pay...I think that's common knowledge. So when people hear: "I'm getting into theatre" their eyes roll because they don't see it as academic, they see it as borderline working-class. You have to use your hands?! You have to enjoy it? Well, that isn't "education." That isn't "work." Yeah well, it's not. It's a lifestyle choice. If you want to do theatre, you have to do it--motivate yourself, seek jobs, make jobs, apply for grants, take other jobs and sometimes: go back to school.

Say to the detractors "I'm passionate about it." If they don't understand, then maybe they are in the wrong career field.