Actors, comedians and circus performers
Career Overview
Actors, comedians and circus performers:
- Perform roles and circus skills in circuses, motion picture, television, theatre and radio productions to entertain a variety of audiences
- Work for motion picture, television, circuses, theatre and other production companies
- This unit group includes acting teachers employed by private acting schools
Job Titles
Duties
Actors and comedians:
- Study and rehearse lines, gestures and expressions to interpret a role
- Play roles in video or motion picture productions, television shows, theatre productions, radio dramas, commercials and other productions or perform the narration
- Sing or dance as required by specific roles
- Perform comedy acts in nightclubs alone or as members of comedy troupes
- Improvise a role
Acting teachers:
- Train students in interpretation of scripts, speech, movement and dramatic theory
- Prepare acting students for specific auditions and performances
Circus performers:
- Perform a variety of acts intended to amaze, thrill, and engage audiences
- Conceptualize and choreograph original performances
- Study and perform acrobatic and aerial skills required by specific circus shows
- May participate in the development of a director or ringmaster’s vision
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,050% Employed Full Time
10%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings that include various weather and temperature conditions
- Workplaces may include hazardous locations or stunt work that pose safety risks
- Noise in the workplace may affect hearing
Career Pathways
Career path information is not currently available.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Demonstrated ability, based on an audition or previous acting or circus roles, is an important hiring criteria
- Circus performers and acrobats may require a period of study at a circus school
- Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges and private acting schools
- Acting teachers usually require experience as actors
- Membership in a guild or union may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Drama/Theatre Arts Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,050Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,730 | 89.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 85 | 2.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 175 | 5.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,410Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,290 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 0.8% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 1,240 |
| Educational Services | 70 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 50 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
| Construction | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
