Do you consider yourself a “triple threat”? If so, you’ll find these 15 struggles — rounded up by Fayetteville, GA voice teacher Alexandra R. — all too familiar…
If you’re a triple threat, chances are you know a thing or two about struggling. From maintaining three different skill sets to always being compared to your triple threat peers, the challenges of being a triple threat are unique and often difficult to overcome.
Here are 15 struggles all triple threats can relate to.
What Are Triple Threats?
A triple threat is an individual who excels at three different things:
- In the world of entertainment, a triple threat is someone who can sing, dance, and act.
- In the world of sports, a triple threat is an athlete who excels at offense, defense, and special teams.
- And in the business world, a triple threat is an employee who is skilled in sales, marketing, and customer service.
Triple threats are often considered to be rare and highly valuable individuals.
After all, it’s not easy to be good at three different things. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and natural talent. That’s why triple threats are often in high demand by employers and are well-compensated for their skills. If you’re lucky enough to be a triple threat, make the most of your unique talents!
And if you’re still working on cultivating any of your skills, be sure to sign up for lessons. Lessons, like singing lessons, will not only teach you how to become better at your chosen craft, but will also help build your conifdence.
Here’s a video with even more benefits of signing up for lessons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huqdwhVX9TI
What is a Triple Threat Celebrity?
The term “triple threat” is usually reserved for people who excel in three different areas. In the entertainment industry, a triple threat is someone who can sing, dance, and act. There are many celebrities who are considered to be triple threats, but there are a few who stand out above the rest.
Here are a few examples of celebrities who are triple threats.
Jennifer Lopez is one of the most successful entertainers in the world. She got her start as a dancer on the popular television show In Living Color. From there, she went on to have a successful career as an actress, starring in movies like Selena and Out of Sight. And, of course, she is also a singer, with hits like “If You Had My Love” and “On the Floor.” Lopez is the epitome of a triple threat.
Another example of a celebrity who is a triple threat is Justin Timberlake. Timberlake started out as a member of the boy band *NSYNC. He then transitioned into a solo career as a singer, with hits like “Cry Me a River” and “Suit & Tie.” He has also had success as an actor, appearing in movies like The Social Network and In Time. And, he has even dabbled in fashion design with his clothing line William Rast. Timberlake is truly a man of many talents.
Last but not least, we have Rihanna. Rihanna got her start in music, with hits like “Umbrella” and “Diamonds.” She has since gone on to have success as an actress, starring in movies like Ocean’s 8 and Battleship. She has also released her own beauty line, Fenty Beauty. Like Timberlake and Lopez, Rihanna is also considered to be a fashion icon. There’s no doubt that she is a triple threat.
How to Become a Triple Threat
Although usually used in the entertainment industry, the phrase “triple threat” is given to someone who excels at three specific things – in just about any industry, for that matter.
In the business world, a triple threat is someone who has a deep understanding of their industry, is an excellent communicator, and is incredibly strategic. If you’re looking to get ahead in your career, becoming a triple threat is the way to do it. Here’s how:
Step One: Educate Yourself About Your Industry
If you want to be a triple threat, you need to have a deep understanding of your industry. That means staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, reading relevant trade publications, and networking with people who work in your field. The better you understand your industry, the more valuable you will be to your company.
Step Two: Work On Your Communication Skills
Being able to communicate clearly and effectively is crucial if you want to be a triple threat. After all, what good is all that industry knowledge if you can’t explain it to others? If you’re not confident in your ability to communicate, there are plenty of resources out there to help you improve. attend workshops, take classes, or read books on effective communication. There’s no excuse not to work on this important skill.
Step Three: Develop a Strategic Mindset
The final piece of the puzzle is developing a strategic mindset. This means thinking long-term and always being one step ahead. To do this, you need to be able to identify opportunities and threats before they happen. You also need to be able to develop creative solutions to problems. Sharpen your critical thinking skills and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true triple threat.
Now That You Know the Meaning of “Triple Threat,” Here’s What They All Have in Common
Now that you know the triple threat meaning, here’s more information on how you can leverage your status as one to take your career (or passion!) to the next level.
The stars have aligned and that dream to be on Broadway, to be a superstar, to be unstoppable is just at your fingertips. The auditions and opportunities of a lifetime are waiting for you on the horizon. You walk through the door of that audition room and you know you’re the one they’ve been looking for… but we all have our constant struggles that stop us dead in our tracks and make us question if we really should pursue this passion as a career. This article is here to show you that you are not alone!
A “triple threat” is a performer who has three notable skillsets. This can be anything including acting, singing, dancing, or playing piano or another instrument. Each skill is high and can be considered equal. Most Broadway performers are triple threats, as well as some celebrities (Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway, for example).
Now that you know what a triple threat is, does that sound like you? If so, the following 15 struggles will also be familiar for you…
1. Identifying your superpower.
Can you play piano? Cool. Belt your face off? Check. Perform the entire “The Wizard of Oz” with costumes, voices, and choreography to a T? Awesome. But what is your best talent? Making a slight change to your performance resume can determine how a director perceives you. Are you a singer/actor/dancer, an actor/singer/mover, or a juggler/dancer/actor? The slight change and reverse of any of your triple talents could determine how great you actually are at your talents. Can you stand the pressure?
2. Deciding how to market YOU.
In high school you always played the “mom” character. You’ve also played the tree and the sidekick. In college, you were the ingénue, the villain, and then something completely opposite. Marketing yourself and creating a brand/type for yourself can be hard. Take time to really step back and see what you honestly can bring to the table. Ask your teacher for advice, ask your agent, and ask your other triple-threat friends. Ask anyone who will be honest with you, and then make your own decision!
3. Settling on a location.
We all want to reach our goals, but where should we go to pursue them? Should you move to New York? Will LA suit you better? Should you pick another town like Atlanta or Chicago with a smaller competition pool and be the big fish in the small pond? You might worry about missing an opportunity by choosing the wrong place to start your career, and that decision can tear at your heartstrings.
4. Keeping your audition material up to date.
The dreaded repertoire book. Do you have contrasting monologues? What about legit songs, jazz cuts, pop cuts, and 1960s pop cuts? There’s always something missing from your book and there’s always something that is outdated and overused. It may seem like you are always looking for something else to fit in your encyclopedia of a repertoire book!
5. Keeping your audition material not too mainstream.
So you walk into an audition room and you are ready to perform your go-to song, and what do you hear? The girl in front of you is singing the EXACT same cut of your song. How frustrating is that! Your diamond-in-the-rough song could very well be everyone’s diamond-in-the-rough, so find a backup plan and keep researching in order to avoid the overdone audition songs.
6. Being unique.
So, the breakdown calls for a Mickey Rooney-type that can move and belt high Gs and can waddle like Godzilla. So, what do you do? Do you dress like Godzilla and research all of Mickey Rooney’s movies? Do you dress like the character breakdown? Do you learn catchphrases and movements that can help you stick out in a crowd? What if you walk into the audition room and everyone is wearing the EXACT SAME thing? If you think there is a role that you and only you can play, sometimes walking into a room with each person looking just like you can be frustrating.
7. Scheduling auditions.
It’s been months since you’ve had an audition. Is your agent alive? Did he or she forget about you? Now all of a sudden, you have five auditions in the same week and you have a part-time job, and you’re still making your beauty YouTube tutorials and meeting your deadline for those 55 subscribers! What do you do? Maintaining your schedule and deciding which auditions are worth going to can be intimidating.
8. Handling your arch-nemesis.
She’s there. She’s the one you always look for every time you’re in an audition. She’s the girl that looks just like you, sings like you, acts like you, and almost ALWAYS beats you for that role. You two are always supportive of each other, but you can’t deny the underlying rivalry.
9. Deciding which gigs to book.
After months of auditioning, you finally book it: you got the role of your dreams! You also get called in for a head-to-head death match between you and your arch-nemesis for a new hip TV show. Both are great for your career. Both can change your life, but they will start you in different fields. Deciding which role or job to take can be hard. Deciding if you can schedule both can be frustrating as well.
10. Dealing with headshots.
The slightest change in your life can be cause for new headshots. Did you get a haircut? New headshots. Did you dye your hair? New headshots. Lost more than 100 pounds? New headshots. Want to have a more commercial look? New headshots. You’re auditioning for a dance company? New headshots. Your manager thinks your headshots are outdated? New headshots. It seems like every time you just spent hundreds of dollars to get new headshots, you have to go out and take new headshots again! The struggle is so real!
11. Budgeting.
So you want to take lessons with the best vocal coach in the city, take that Bikram yoga class with the cute instructor, brush up on jazz and hip hop dance, learn piano, and still have money for rent, food, transportation, and those dreaded school loans? Being a triple threat can be tough; we have more things to brush up on and only so much our budget can handle. Along with budgeting comes another important aspect: finding the time to fit it all in!
12. Making time to practice!
Yes, you’re Sasha Fierce. You can sing runs like it’s the Boston Marathon. You can dance like Fred Astaire. You can play piano like Billy Joel. You can act like Laurence Olivier, but even the greatest performers had to find the time to practice. But when?!? In this career, we already struggle with work and money. There are great times for us and there are times where we just can’t catch a break. There is always someone out there better than you, so why not keep everything in check? Make time for voice lessons, try new dance/acting classes, and meet with friends to go over audition materials regularly. Patch up and finesse yourself so when you do have an audition, you’ll be on your “A” game.
13. Maintaining a schedule.
So, you are in Tampa for five days performing in “Spring Awakening” and then you have to leave after the matinee to fly in for the first rehearsal (which is really the second week of rehearsals) to Pittsburgh to do a weekend run of “The Fantastiks” while leaving in the middle of the week to perform at Carnegie Hall and fly back — and then don’t forget that performance in Toronto next month! Maintaining a schedule when the iron is hot is tough! Sometimes scheduling months in advance can be overwhelming. It can even get to the point that you’re scheduling time to sleep between studying lines and practicing songs. Forget about the gigs! It’s about keeping a regular schedule in each show we perform.
14. Sacrificing your social life.
So, you want me to be in your wedding party? Awesome! When is the date? So many of us have friends and family that find it mind-boggling that any second, our plans to be part of a family trip, a wedding, or a family reunion can change. At the drop of a hat, we could book the role or tour of a lifetime and have to catch a plane to pursue our career. We don’t have a nine-to-five job where holidays are the same. When opportunity knocks, we pack our bags and catch a cab to the nearest airport!
15. Answering the question, “What’s next?”
The question we all dread. What happens when the river runs dry? What happens when the show closes? What do we do? Sometimes as triple threats, we cannot find a job right off the bat. Others plan six to eight months ahead on shows perfectly so they can budget what they need to pay bills. Sometimes, that means working at a coffee shop to stay on track.
But no matter what, remember: this is what you love to do.
Triple Threats, Take Heart
This is your passion. You chose this career for a reason. Our passion and love for the arts propels us to make others happy. Keeping each skill refined is important, so always find time to practice. Take private lessons and always be working on your craft. Half of this industry is what you know and who you know, and trust me, someone is always willing to help you achieve your dreams!
Alexandra R. is a singing, piano, and acting instructor in Fayetteville, GA. A Berklee College of Music graduate, she earned her BM in Music Business and Vocal Performance cum laude. Learn more about Alexandra here!
Photo by renamon
Suzy S.