If art is a language you can understand, so much so that you decided to pursue a Bachelors in Performing arts – we have got just the perfect list for you.
Looking for career options after a BPA degree is daunting, but we have done all the hard work for you. We talked to various people in the performing arts sector, noted down their opinions, and after vigorous research, we found the answer.
Here are the five best career options that you can pursue after doing your bachelor’s in performing arts.
Choreographer
Right now, ‘Choreographer’ is one of the most in-demand professions in India. Students who will graduate after completing Bachelor of Performing Arts are the ones who are eligible for this position.
The responsibility of choreographers are, understanding specifications as well as limitations of the project; collaborating with the director; creating dance steps that fit with the mood, music and theme; supporting, guiding, and explaining all the steps and the formations to dancers; ensuring studio or venue is available for rehearsal and that dancers have been notified in a timely manner; and finally, conducting research by watching dance shows and attending performances.
The real picture is that money in this sector has been steadily increasing year-by-year. You should expect to earn somewhere between INR 3,10,000 -3,50,000 per annum when you begin your journey in this field, but a lot depends on how good you are at your work and the company that hires you.
Work-life balance varies a lot, but in general, weekends are considered holidays, and overtime is uncommon.
Only a few people who are successful enough to rise to the top are offered leadership positions. In this field, a lot of soft skills are needed, and being an introvert can work against you. A high degree of self-assurance is an absolute must. If you don’t like working in groups and have poor communication skills, this may not be the best option for you.
And I don’t think that I need to say this, but if you can’t dance, don’t pursue this profession.
Music therapist
A great option for you, if you are a Bachelor of Performing Arts, is to pursue the path to become an music therapist. The work-profile is really interesting, and you would be required to solve unique problems every day. Is there a better feeling than that? Probably not.
In simple terms, music therapists help their patients reach mental health goals through musical treatments. A Music Therapist is a healthcare professional who works with a variety of patients to improve mental health outcomes through individualized, clinical and evidence-based treatment plans. He (or she) uses various different tools and techniques to perform these tasks and duties.
BPA graduates have an added advantage, as they have been trained to do this due to regular assignments and coursework during their 3 years of graduation.
Work from home is possible in this field, but whether you are allowed to do this or not depends a lot on the company that you are working for. And if you are assuming that there is a dearth of companies that hire music therapist; take a look at related job postings on LinkedIn – it will blow your mind (Okay, it might not blow your mind, but it will definitely change your opinion).
Salaries are a mixed lot. Some firms offer really good starting salaries, whereas others would require you to slog for a couple of years before you get decent pay. On average, you can expect your starting salary to be around INR 2,00,000.
Broadcast presenter
Want to do something that helps people in a tangible way? Want to bring real, positive change into the world? As a Bachelor of Performing Arts graduate, your best bet to achieve these dreams is to become a broadcast presenter.
So how does a broadcast presenter do all this? The broadcast presenter’s responsibilities generally include organising meetings, interviews and schedules, operating technical equipment such as radio ‘desks’, undertaking relevant background research, interviewing guests via the telephone or in person, writing and rehearsing scripts, meeting with programme directors/producers, giving reviews of newly released books, films, music, etc.
Work-life balance, unexpectedly, is a bit hectic in this profession because your work life and your personal life overlaps quite a bit. What happened during ‘job hours’ may affect your mood during your off-hours.
The best part about his job is the rewarding nature of it. You can go to sleep everyday knowing that you have helped someone in their lives, and they are thankful to you for it. Growth prospects are also good, and leadership opportunities are available from a very early stage. A lot of soft skills are needed to excel in this role.
Salaries differ from organisation to organisation, but on average, you would be earning roughly INR 4,50,000 when you begin your career. Monetary growth is slow, but steady.
Community arts worker
A slightly unique or offbeat career option for students of Bachelor of Performing Arts is Community arts worker. But being unique does not mean that the work is not good or that the pay is not that high. It just means that there are not a lot of people who tread this path, for whatever reason it may be.
So, what are the responsibilities and work profile of an Community arts worker, you may ask? Worry not, we have the answer.
The duties of community art workers are identifying the needs of community groups; designing, monitoring and evaluating arts project; teaching performance or creative skills to project participants; compiling and maintaining databases of professionals available to work on projects; publicising events; supporting community groups and offering advice on fundraising and forming projects; managing volunteers and recruiting artists, and so on.
As you can see, the work is very interesting, especially if you are interested in the arts. But a word of warning if you are not particularly an ‘artsy’ guy (or girl), please don’t get into this profession as you would be miserable most of the time. Don’t say that we didn’t warn you!
And of course, how can we not talk about salaries. Starting salaries are roughly in the range of INR 2,50,000. Mostly employment would be found in cities, so if you are from a rural or semi-urban area, be ready to relocate.
Growth prospects (both monetary and otherwise) are great at the moment (we wouldn’t be recommending this to you otherwise, would we?). So, to stress the original point of this article, becoming a Community arts worker is a great option for Bachelor of Performing Arts graduates.
Theatre director
If you love doing performing arts so much that you can’t get enough of it, and if you are also deeply passionate about it, then Theatre director may just be the right career choice for you.
The theatre director’s responsibilities include working with producers on large productions, collaborating with additional support staff such as artistic directors and music directors. Leading rehearsals, he or she collaborates creatively with the actors and technical crew to make the blocking natural, changing it when necessary and allowing inspiration.
Directors finish their work when they determine the final pacing of the play reverberates with the life of an artistic vision that is satisfying and complete. It is not a 9-5 job, which means that you will have enough time to spend with your friends and family. Finding a job in this space is not super-difficult, especially if you have samples and portfolio projects which scream about your abundance of talent to small studios.
Opportunities are available to the few that are good enough to get to the top. A lot of soft skills are needed in this profession, and being an introvert might work against you. A high level of confidence is definitely a prerequisite. If you are not comfortable working within a team, and if your communication skills are next to nothing, this may not be your best bet.
Another important thing to note is salaries. Salaries are often dependent on a number of things, such as location, company, skills and so on. But on average, you can expect to earn anywhere around INR 3,50,000 as a fresher in this field. Some times you might be offered more, some times you might be offered less, but the amount we have provided to you can be a good reference point for negotiations.
So these were some of the highest-paying professions that you can go for after completing a B.A. in Public Arts. Did you like the article and found it informative? Then please share it with fellow students so that they can make well-informed decisions about their professional life. Subscribe to our newsletter to get a weekly update about the different career options added on the website.