Definition of 'Plan B'
an action or set of actions for doing or achieving something that can be used if the preferred method fails:
The alternative Plan B for funding the stadium calls for a contribution of $7.5 million a year from taxpayers for 30 years.
The dreaded alternative career path is a topic of conversation many performers don't wish to have. When at college we were drilled to believe that we would never become a professional performer if we had a plan B prepared. But what happens when we get injured? When we have to pay bills? When we are deemed too old? When having children or a more structured life becomes a priority? What happens if Plan A simply doesn't work? Is it right to plan ahead for all eventualities? Or by doing so are we distracting focus from reaching the ultimate goal?
I began by mind mapping my initial thoughts...
...and am continually adding to this map as a discuss the topic with fellow performers in my SIG group via facebook. So far it looks like this...
The new, key points that came up when discussing this potential line of enquiry with my SIG group were; the idea of admitting to defeat and the guilt they would feel for falling back on a plan B. Many fellow graduates said that because their parents had spent their entire lives driving them to dance class, making costumes, consoling us when we didn't get the part, making sure we had dance shoes, leotards, sheet music, as well as the amount of money it costs for lessons and then professional training, that 'giving up' just didn't feel like an option. This lead to question why a plan B is deemed 'giving up'? Why is changing direction, veering off path, or honing in on a skill that you may have acquired along the way seen as failure? Many people change careers through out life and are applauded for 'being brave', 'taking a leap of faith', 'going after what they want', so why is it the opposite for performers?
Many of my friends also said that they would be embarrassed to pursue another career. We were all the talented kid from our local dance school who made it into a professional college and was going to be the star...how do we go home and face people who thought you could make it? All those people you promised tickets to when you finally got your break in a big show? This made me question my own choices. How many people who have no luck, those who always get cut from every audition, would continue to pursue a career as a performer if there wasn't a negative surrounding the idea of the Plan B? Is it really passion driving us?
There are numerous articles on the web in regards to this subject (turns out we might all be thinking the same thing after all.) This particular article highlights many of the key points i've already thought of and tryies to convince us that it is in fact, okay to take a new path.
'blindly following a dream becomes less about pursuing a passion and more about just desperately trying to avoid failure.'
http://www.thegloss.com/career/i-gave-up-my-dream-and-id-do-it-again-731/ -Allison Ford 2012
One of the most interesting finds from simply googling this topic is the amount of articles in relation to 'successful' well known performers from big features films, tv shows or pop stars who want a year off, or intend to give up their career in the industry. Maybe the problems with this career path stem all the way up the ladder?
Plan B - I think I am on Plan E - but seriously - you have confronted a tricky challenging idea well in this blog. Planning for change and coping is a part of many creative careers...
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