The entertainment business is known to be tough, and some entertainers might do anything to make it big.

These K-State students share their plans about following their dreams to stardom.

Taking a chance

Nick Robinson, senior in theater, said he plans to graduate in May and wants to get out of Manhattan quickly and to work toward his lifelong dream.

Robinson said he already has bought his plane ticket to New York City where he plans to look for theater companies and take more professional classes.

"My first goal is to audition for a touring company and work my way up so that I can someday be on Broadway," he said. "It's all about networking and being at the right place at the right time."

Robinson grew up in a family of music directors - several that directed high school musicals - and has continued the tradition with his performances in several K-State musicals like "Pippin," as well the Manhattan Arts Center's "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

He said he has several friends living in New York he could live with, and he plans to move into an apartment with friends from K-State who plan to work there also.

Robinson plans to work for a temporary-work agency, waiting tables somewhere while he works toward Broadway.

"I'm legitimately nervous, and I'm going to get there and fall flat on my face," he said. "But if you've always had a dream, why not go for it?"

Playing it by ear

Donald Holliday, senior in sociology, said he always has loved to sing and write music.

But his mere interest has turned into something more with the upcoming release of two albums.

"I've always been interested in music since I was a little kid," Holliday said. "It was never a priority, and it didn't turn into what it is now until the last few years, but the passion has always been there."

Holliday said he is working with another singer, Mardell Maxwell, junior in business, and the two will be releasing one of their albums on Valentines Day.

The pair met while in K-State Singers before Maxwell released his second solo album, Holliday said.

"It just kind of snowballed," he said. "At first it was just an idea."

They started performing at different K-State activities and for promotional events for Maxwell's albums, Holliday said.

He said he and Maxwell both write their songs, and sometimes sing other artists' songs while performing.

Holliday said his priority now is making music and singing, but he plans to "play it by ear" in the future.

"There are so many doors that have been opened for me," he said.

He said his future plans might include getting a master's degree in sociology.

He also wrestles for K-State and said he has had job offers for an assistant coach's position.

"Music is always another option," he said. "We have a lot of connections, but I'm prioritizing, and school comes first. I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket."

a different light

Elise Podhajsky, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communications, said she couldn't believe her luck when she talked her parents into letting her sign with a modeling and talent agency when she was 16.

Podhajsky said she always had wanted to be in fashion magazines like Seventeen, but said her parents were skeptical.

Her parents allowed her to sign with an agency after hearing about one of her friends who had success with the agency.

"I went to my first photo shoot, and it was so fun, but I wasn't actually happy about my pictures," she said.

Podhajsky was told later that she couldn't do runway modeling because she wasn't tall enough.

Eventually, she began working at promotional events and almost did a photo shoot for Lee Jeans, but the company decided she was too young.

While she enjoyed being at the casting calls, she said she still was not getting the kind of jobs she wanted.

Last summer, Podhajsky said she went to the Actors, Models and Talent Competition and was successful in the acting portion of the competition. Although she liked acting, she didn't want to pursue it.

"I don't think it's a realistic goal, and I don't want to take classes for acting when I could be doing other things for my major," she said.

However, Podhajsky still still signed with the agency and said if she was offered to do another photo shoot, she would do it.

"I really like being in front of the camera, and I want to be in a print sometime," she said. "At the same time, I don't really care enough to keep my body in shape as it should be for that kind of stuff."

Podhajsky said she loves fashion and realized her passion for it through modeling.

She said she still would like to be in the industry somehow and would like to get an internship with a major publishing company and someday have her own column for a fashion magazine.