How To Build a Social Media Following

Theatre and social media might seem like two completely different fields, but in fact they can intersect in many ways. With the growing importance of social media in the entertainment industry, theatre majors who have a passion for technology, marketing and storytelling can find exciting career opportunities in this field.

Theatre majors are often trained in the art of performance and storytelling, but they may not always receive formal training in how to build a personal brand and how to build a social media following. However, as the entertainment industry becomes increasingly reliant on social media, theatre majors must understand how to harness the power of these social platforms to further their careers.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss tips and tricks for theatre majors to grow their social media following and increase their visibility in the industry.

In This Article:

• How Theatre Majors Use Social Media for Professional Growth
• Tips on How to Build a Social Media Following
• How To Build a Personal Brand as a Theatre Major
• The Business of Theatre and Entrepreneurship
• Theatre Degrees Embrace Social Media Technology Tools
• Earn Your Performing Arts Degree at GCU

How Theatre Majors Use Social Media for Professional Growth

The 21st century has seen a massive shift in how social media has affected modern theatre. The use of podcasts, streaming productions, videos and actors interacting with fans on social media has young audiences captivated by the online theatrical world. So, learning how to build a social media following may just be the crucial piece keeping the art of theatre surviving and thriving.

When you think of your favorite influencer, YouTuber, trendsetter or celebrity who has an extensive following, they each have their own sense of style, energy, adventure, personality and content that are on display for all the world to see. We choose to follow them because we can relate to them in some way or another. With nearly 330 million social network users in the U.S.,¹ social media provides an opportunity for your show, performing arts business, theatre performance or content creation to ultimately reach your target audience, build brand awareness and drive sales.

According to Statista, some of the most popular social media platforms in the U.S. for advertising and marketing include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.¹ Each platform can help theatre majors build a social media following, utilizing sponsored posts, display ads, influencer marketing and more.

As social media marketing usage in the U.S. continues to steadily increase,¹ a theatre performer can leverage the power of social media for professional growth.

Tips on How To Build a Social Media Following

Theatre majors often use technology to enhance their performance and production on the stage. However, individuals with a theatre background also have the emotional awareness and adaptability to be appealing and compelling when creating connections online.

If you’re wondering, how can social media help your career? understand that technology has changed the way theatre is consumed. With more and more productions being streamed online, this has opened new opportunities for theatre professionals to reach larger audiences and present their work to a global audience. Whether you’re streaming a show on the stage or trying to break into the influence marketing industry, here are a few tips for theatre majors to learn how to build a social media following:

• Define your brand: Identify what sets you apart from others in your field (unique skills, qualities, etc.)
• Choose the right platforms: Not all social media platforms are created equal.
• Share your work: This includes photos and videos of your performances, behind-the-scenes glimpses, snippets of your monologues or musical numbers, etc.
• Collaborate with others: Other theatre majors, actors, directors or production teams can increase your social media following by tapping into their existing audiences.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, answer questions and actively seeking out opportunities to interact with your followers.

Increasing your social media following as a theatre major takes time and effort. These tips and tricks can help you build a strong personal brand and connect with a wider audience over time.

How To Build a Personal Brand as a Theatre Major

Building a personal brand online is an important part of establishing a successful career in theatre or in the influence marketing industry. Those who are drawn to acting, theatre and performance learn to tell stories and to create interactions that connect with an audience. These skills — combined with a passion for drama, performance and entertainment — make theatrical professionals ideal candidates when trying to create an online brand.

Social Media and Branding Characteristics of Theatre Majors

Theatre majors have a unique set of skills and perspectives that sets them apart from others in the performing arts and entertainment industries. To pursue a social media career and build a personal brand, helpful traits and characteristics among theatre majors include:

• Sense of creativity and imagination (e.g., storytelling)
• Public speaking and voice adaptability
• Passion for performance (e.g., presentation skills, lighting, sound, editing, storytelling and even setting and costuming curation)
• Understands the target audience (e.g., drives engagement based on content)
• Empathy and emotional awareness or intelligence (able to convey emotions, experiences, ideas and stories through acting and performance)
• Attention to detail and understanding production values
• Comfortable with change and adapts to new situations quickly (used to working in fast-paced environments and makes adjustments quickly and under pressure)
• Knowledge of marketing and promotion to reach target audience

These unique skills make theatre majors valuable contributors when learning how to build a personal brand and open the door to begin a social media career, including as influencers, content creators and developers, social media specialists or digital assistants. Building a social media following does take time and effort. Patience, persistence and continuous evaluation of your strategies are the path to using social media for professional growth.

The Business of Theatre and Entrepreneurship

Theatre and entrepreneurship are two distinct fields that can intersect in various ways. Starting a theatre business can be challenging because the industry is highly competitive and often requires significant investment in talent, production and marketing. Success in the theatre industry requires a combination of creative and business skills, a deep understanding of the target audience, and a willingness to take risks.

Entrepreneurial ventures pursued by theatre majors include running your own theatre company, producing shows, creating online jobs (such as a virtual assistant to YouTubers and influencers) and using your theatre experience to promote products or services.

Entrepreneurs who wish to learn how to build a social media following with a theatre degree background can accomplish this using several strategies:

• Define your niche: Identify what sets you apart from others in the theatre industry and focus on sharing content related to your unique perspective.
• Create compelling content: Utilize your theatre background to create engaging posts, videos or livestreams that showcase your talents and share your knowledge.
• Network and collaborate: Connect with other theatre professionals and work together to create and promote content.
• Leverage your existing audience: Reach out to friends, family, and former classmates to help spread the word about your social media presence.
• Utilize hashtags: Use relevant and popular hashtags to increase visibility and attract new followers.
• Engage with your followers: Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback and share user-generated content to foster a sense of community.
• Consistency is key: Regularly post high-quality content and engage with your followers to keep them interested and build a strong following.

In fact, 90% of U.S. marketing experts and entrepreneurs plan to increase their influencer cooperation on Instagram in the future.¹ Because theatre majors are creators within their own niche, a theatre degree will help you stand out in today’s competitive marketplace.

Theatre Degrees Embrace Social Media Technology Tools

Adapting to new technologies may not be the first thing you think of when pursuing a theatre degree, but it is a huge part of the industry. Theatre majors use technology tools in various ways to enhance their practice, including lighting and sound design software, video editing software, digital script analysis tools and more.

How can social media help your career? It can help by providing you with a powerful tool to network, showcase your skills and experience, and stay up-to-date with industry trends and news. For theatre professionals who want to blend their talents with social media marketing, there are several technologies that are commonly used for a career in social media, including:

• Social media management tools: Schedule posts, monitor engagement and analyze performance data. (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Buffer)
• Analytics tools: Helps you measure the success of your social media accounts, including insight into clicks, conversions, engagement and reach. (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social and Facebook Insights)
• Content creation tools: Create high-quality content with photo and video software, graphic design tools and content management systems (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva and WordPress)
• Collaboration tools: Helps teams work together more efficiently (e.g., Slack, Trello and Google Drive)
• Social listening tools: Monitor social media channels for brand competitors, identifying trends, customer sentiment and opportunity (e.g., Brandwatch, Mention and Hootsuite Insights)

Modern technology has brought many new tools and techniques to the field of theatre, and theatre majors who are proficient in these technologies may also have a significant advantage in the social media industry.

Earn Your Performing Arts Degree at GCU

As technology becomes an increasingly important aspect of the theatre industry, theatre majors need to be familiar with its use and integration into their work. Earning a BA degree in theatre and drama from Grand Canyon University (GCU) can help leverage your unique skills and perspectives to find success in this exciting field of social media.

At its core, theatre requires imagination, empathy, social skills, teamwork and a way to express yourself, all of which greatly benefit those looking to branch out into a social media career. Unlock the potential of social media to take your career to the next level — learn how social media can help your career today!

The performing arts degrees offered at GCU help you reach your career goals of merging theatre with a social media presence. To learn more about the degrees offered by GCU, click the “Request Information” button at the top of your screen.

¹Dencheva, V. (2023, Jan. 6). Social Media Advertising and Marketing in the United States – Statistics & Facts. Statista. Retrieved March 10, 2023.

Approved by the Dean for the College of Arts and Media on March 14, 2023.