College is not for everyone.  Our society really emphasizes college, and yet there are plenty of people who go because they are “supposed” to and then end up with tons of student loans and a degree they cannot use… or worse they end up with tons of student loans but were unable to complete the degree because they didn’t belong there in the first place.  In theater, there are some alternatives to the traditional college experience, which also happen to be good supplements to the college experience. 

1. Attend non-college training programs.  Most of these still cost money, and you cannot take out student loans for this kind of training.  The training is very focused in one area and results in a certificate, so it is the only area you will be qualified to work in after completing the training.  They are still generally less expensive than college, and do not require all the extra learning in area outside your discipline.
2. Apprentice.  This path may be a hard one to find, but there are still some “master artists” in the world who will take on apprentices.  (Some will only take apprentices who have actually attended college first, and if you haven’t had college you may not be able to find an apprenticeship that pays.)  If you have other kinds of experience that can be applied to theater, for example construction experience when your goal is to be a carpenter, you will be more likely to land an apprenticeship.
3. Attend Conferences.  USITT is my personal favorite tech theater conference.  They have lots of seminars that provide education, as well as a number of hands on workshops.  If you do not have a college degree, you need to have knowledge.  This kind of environment can provide you with bits and pieces of knowledge.  It is also a great place to find other training that is available and to network with people who may be able to offer you experience opportunites.
4. Find a union “in.”  Sometimes who you know really is more important than what you know.  If you make the right connections at the stagehands unions in some cities, you may be able to make the call list.  In that case, you’ll start doing a lot of heavy lifting, which doesn’t take too much experience to do.  You can move up to more skilled theatrical work over time by learning from the older hands.  I don’t know how common this method is anymore, but I do know some older gentlemen who became technicians this way.
5. Volunteer places that you may want to work.  This is kind of like networking, but more of a networking for beginners.  Many theaters take volunteers, at least for ushering positions.  By volunteering you can figure out who the right people to contact are for further pursuit of experience.  It also helps give an empty beginner resume some extra material that shows you do have a true interest in theater.

These less traditional methods in lieu of college are not for everyone.  They require more determination on your part to demand learning experiences, instead of learning being dropped in your lap.  You must also pay more attention to what it is you need to know, because there  is no one testing you and telling you what to do.  For most people, college is still the best way to go.  

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