Choosing between Job A and Job B – and sometimes Job C and Possibility of Job D . . . are challenges that are going to face you, me, and everyone on this list that choose to stay with this career for long enough. I am finding that I am continuing to face this challenge, and know that I will continue to face the challenge – everyone will, especially if you chose to work on the development side of theater . . . where a project you work on may have life beyond the reading, workshop, production you are currently doing.
Some of the major philosophies I have begun to adapt as I enter year three of free of my freelancing career switch (mid-career)
It’s very hard to steer your career
You can put a goal in mind, and you can open yourself up for that goal, but unless you are well off enough to sit around and wait for that perfect opportunity to show up, often you are taking jobs to take jobs. You may have the “Dream Job” in mind, and you may have a path to the “Dream Job” in mind, but it may be difficult to actually find those path jobs in the reality of life. And who knows, the “Dream Job” path you have in mind may not be the right path for you. When I was in grad school, I was dead set in working in Las Vegas – “Spectacle Boy” was my adoring nickname. I spent 3 months over the course of nine-months shadowing on almost every strip show that would take me in – spending time with tigers, magicians, Cirque productions, headliners, etc. It was my “dream job” – and then I got into regional theater, and ended up with a dream job working six years with a great classical theater job. I was working on the greatest texts, with some of the best artists in the country . . . about as far away from Tigers and Circus acts I could get. But on the path, I gained some fantastic experience, and also learned a lot about myself – and WHY I do what I do – and what I want out of my life, as well as my career.
It’s very easy to steer you career
On the flip side, there are ways to steer you career –by being open to opportunities as they present themselves. This means a wide variety of things – be able to travel at a drop of hat, don’t be afraid of relocating, think outside of your comfort zone. Make connections, keep them open and don’t be afraid of using those connections. I find it very odd at this point in my career, I am still afraid of dropping an email to a theater company I have worked with in the past and say, hey, I have an opening in my calendar, do you have anything available? But I can’t tell you how often that has resulted in a job. I also found out by finding out what I really want out of my career – it’s oddly easier to steer. After years of thinking “bigger, better”, and I have reshuffled my goals – now it’s “closer to home” and “work with nice and interesting people”. Funny, by figuring out what I really want out of my career, it has been easier to steer the career in the right direction – and finding those opportunities.
There are very few career making jobs.
Stop thinking that you every career choice is the one that is going to make a break your career. Don’t stress too much about it. It’s just a job, and most of the time, it is probably just for a couple of months. If you don’t get a gig you, or your turn down a gig, and you thought that was going to open up a whole new career path – chances are it will come around again. Shows open, show close – they come and go, just like opportunities. It’s hard, almost impossible to predict where Job A or Job B will lead, we often are trying to guess, well, Job A is great, and filled with connections that could lead to Job C, D and E . . . or Job B is with this great director, and that could lead to Job F, G, and H. Don’t look to far down the line and don’t forget to weigh the jobs just on they stand. Especially earlier in your career, these are choices that are hard to track where they will lead you.
Don’t Ever Forget You are a Business
I think, like we have discussed before, we are often put into positions of taking jobs without proper compensation in hopes for pay off down the line. Be very careful. I was offered the opportunity to work on a new musical off-Broadway that has “future” of transferring – they will say anything to get people to work on a show. And everyone wants their show to transfer. Take the show on the merits of the show, and if you can afford to invest and gamble of a low paycheck now for a possible future payoff, then take the risk . . . but eventually, you can’t pay the bills with a “chance at Broadway”. Work for what your worth. Make smart business decisions, and try to avoid making decisions with you heart.
DON’T LOOK BACK, DON’T SECOND GUESS YOURSELF
I turned down a show that made it to the Broadway – why? It wasn’t the right job for me. Sure, I kick myself a lot about that choice . . . but it’s like hitting on a soft 17 and getting a five – you could have gotten a four. “If I should have, would have, could have . . .”. You don’t know what would have happened - so don’t spend time nor energy in dwelling over the past.
Contracts have out for a reason.
I recently have become very aware of my out on a contract – they are there for a reason. Not that you should make a habit of breaking contracts. Not that you should get known as a show hopper. But there are times when a better opportunity comes along that doesn’t quite line up. I have been in two situations, where I have discussed leaving a contract early with a producer – one had them matching the salary, and offering me another show to get me to stay. The other was quite open to the possibility to get me to stay as long as possible, and was very happy to switch me out after opening – because it would save them on housing. Know when to use this for you advantage. Make Smart Business Decisions.
What’s the right decision for you, may not be the right decision for me.
This is the danger in asking for help with a bunch of strangers. We don’t know you. And would could be the 100% right decision for me, maybe the 100% wrong decision for you. I know this is hard, but try to make friends with a couple of stage managers – one a couple of steps above you on the career ladder, one right on the same rung. Someone you trust not to stab you in the back or take advantage of you. Talk to them, get to know them, have them get to know you – bounce ideas off them, discuss job opportunities with them, throw them jobs you can’t take, they will start throwing jobs back to you. (I have a tight group of four or five stage managers I trust, and I am getting very good at learning who to go to for advice.) Also, learn who you can’t trust. I am socially friends with someone who is a terrible stage manager and has a terrible career . . . I like him as a person, but I think he gives some pretty bad advice. It doesn’t stop me from talking to him – I like to hear advice from a different perspective – and often allows me to look at a situation from a different angle.
I am glad you were able to make a decision – there are probably a lot more coming down the pike.
