Performing arts

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Actor
• Broadcast presenter
• Community arts worker
• Choreographer
• Dancer
• Dramatherapist
• Music producer
• Music therapist
• Theatre director
• Theatre manager
• Theatre stage manager

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Arts administrator
• Charity fundraiser
• Film director
• Higher education lecturer
• Museum education officer
• Secondary school teacher
• Special effects technician
• Talent agent
• Theatre manager
• Writer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Although your degree will include a lot of practical work, projects and performances, it's still good to supplement this with additional work experience outside of your course.

Try to tailor your activities to your career aims. For example, if you want to be an actor, you could join an amateur dramatic group, work as an entertainer at theme parks or holiday camps or register with an agency to get work as an extra in television or film.

Many courses have links to local theatres and local professionals who support student productions or deliver workshops and seminars. These opportunities can help you build skills and begin networking within the performing arts sector.

If you'd like to work in theatre, you could join a youth theatre group or seek part-time work in a theatre to gain insight into how productions are managed. Roles might include front of house, stage crew or wardrobe.

Universities also offer a range of performing arts opportunities through societies and student productions, which can help you broaden your experience.

Networking is vital in the performing arts industry, so keep a record of any contacts you make and stay in touch with them to remain aware of new opportunities.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

If you want to work as an actor or within the performing arts, employers include:

• theatres - including producing and receiving theatres, youth and community theatres
• film, television and radio companies
• marketing companies - for promotional videos
• museums, heritage organisations, tour companies and theme parks - for role-playing and bringing to life certain attractions.

You can also find employment with a range of other employers who will value your skills. These include:

• local government
• arts organisations
• nurseries, schools, colleges and universities
• the National Health Service (NHS)
• leisure companies
• voluntary organisations.

Short-term or freelance contracts, moving between different fields, generating opportunities through networking, attending auditions, collaborating with other artists and putting on your own shows, are all part of a performer's lifestyle. Using social media to platform yourself and show your work in shorter form can be great for self-promotion purposes as well - especially in comedy.

Performing arts is about how you present yourself. It's important to network at every opportunity and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry. There may be an opportunity for employment in the most unusual places, and by being open-minded you'll be able to make the most of your talents.

Find information on employers in creative arts and design, teacher training and education, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

The skills you gain while studying a performing arts degree prepare you for work in acting or performance, but they can also be applied in many careers. These skills include:

• confidence
• self-presentation
• teamwork and collaboration
• time management and organisation
• creative thinking and idea generation
• self-awareness
• self-discipline
• an open mind and the ability to push the boundaries and experiment with different ideas
• effective communication
• critical analysis and research
• the ability to take on board criticism and learn from it
• stamina.

Further study

You may want to specialise further after your degree, by learning additional performance skills or undertaking academic research into an aspect of your subject that interests you, for example. Alternatively, you may choose to take a vocational course, such as a qualification in arts administration, teaching or art therapy, which will open alternative areas of employment.

Continuing your education while taking the first steps to becoming established can ease the transition from student to professional performer. It also means that the opportunity to take part in student performances and festivals is still open - many dancers, actors and musicians have started their careers through this route.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in performing arts.

What do performing arts graduates do?

Fifteen months after graduation, performing arts graduates were employed as actors, entertainers and presenters (11%), arts officers, producers and directors (5%), photographers and audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators (4%), and dancers or choreographers (3%).

Teaching roles are also common with 4% working as secondary education teaching professionals, 3% as teaching professionals, 2% as educational support assistants, and 1% as teaching assistants.

For a detailed breakdown of what performing arts graduates are doing after graduation, see What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.