Author Topic: Going to make a career of this now, finally taking the plunge.  (Read 2414 times)

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chadparkerla

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Greetings Everyone,

My name is Chad Parker and I've been working as a stage manager, lighting designer, and tech director in the LA area for about ten years. It's all been educational or smaller theaters, with moderate stipend pay when the show made a profit. During this time, I've always been working other jobs. First as a database admin and data analyst at EarthLink, and then as a teacher. In fact, as a teacher, I taught my students how to stage manage and run crew. It was a wonderful experience.

But it occurred to me, I have been doing this for twenty years now. I started in Florida long long ago. With all the job changes I've gone through, I've always stuck with theatre in all the free time I had. So, before I get too much older, I wanted to switch to this and make a career of being a stage manager.

So here I am. I'm hoping to make some contacts here and get to know some others, either in the LA area or elsewhere. I know a lot about the job and what needs to be done, but I'm not part of the social scene and I know that's an important part of it.

So, nice to meet you!

Chad
​"The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

ReyYaySM

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Re: Going to make a career of this now, finally taking the plunge.
« Reply #1 on: Mar 13, 2013, 09:41 am »
Hello and welcome to SMNetwork Chad.  Hit up the USA: West/Northwest board over in Regional to connect with other SMs in the LA area.  Best of luck as you make the transition to a full-time theatre career.  Hope you find the forum to be useful. 

SMAshlee

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Re: Going to make a career of this now, finally taking the plunge.
« Reply #2 on: Mar 14, 2013, 11:41 am »
Ah yes, coming to the dark side (as we called it when someone changed their major in school) full-time!  Welcome to the community.  I know you'll find lots of valuable information, tips, and meet some people in your neighborhood.