We Don't Do It Because It's Easy

March 22, 2017

Let’s face it: If you wanted an easy, straight-forward career path, you probably wouldn’t aspire to be a professional dancer. First of all, there’s no set path to success. If you want to be a doctor, you go to medical school. A lawyer? Law school. And while there are tons of great higher-ed opportunities for dancers (check out our September issue!), the programs are far less standardized—and job placement immediately following graduation is the even more challenging. Dancers have to face all kinds of other tough stuff—like auditions and typecasting and rejection and understudying and side jobs and injuries and…you get the picture.

Long story short: It ain’t easy! But with a little help and guidance, navigating the world of show biz needn’t be quite so daunting.

Broadway veteran Adam Cates’ new book, The Business of Show: A Guide to the Entertainment Business for the Performing Artist, is just what it sounds like: a one-stop shop of career advice for aspiring performing artists. Want to know how to use social media for self-promotion? Wondering what kind of pay you can expect for different gigs? Nervous about understanding the industry jargon in your contract? Want help navigating the networking process? Cates (the assistant choreographer of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) answers all these questions and more, bringing together advice from dancers who’ve made it big—and the artistic directors, choreographers, producers, agents and casting directors who helped them get there.

The Business of Show
is available in paperback and e-book on amazon.com and in select retail stores. We’re also giving away three print copies! Click here to enter for a chance to win one.