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« on: Feb 08, 2009, 08:06 pm »
I've decided to write this post because I'm allowing myself to be consumed with current situations that are being created due to the tough economic times that we're all going through.
I am a young stage manager, late 20's, and have been working since I was out of school. In the past 2-3 years, it turned into a full-time position for me, and I was hired on at a prominent regional theater. First I got 1 show, then there was about 6 months off, and I got another show, and then 3 more following that. I was working continually (and am right now) and felt very happy.
I've learned that in the coming season, there are going to be major production cutbacks, and I will have only 1 show in the season. Our staff is hired on shows by seniority and I, along with 1 other person, fall at the bottom since I'm new. It does seem that this other person is going to get quite a bit more work, I believe because of their age and that they had a few side projects with the company while I was working in other theaters during the initial 6 month layoff. It's hard for me to accept that this gives this person seniority, but I guess I have to.
The reason I'm writing is more about how to handle the stress and sadness that goes along with what I'm going through. I feel very let down that I am not going to have work with the company in the coming season. I was handed some very difficult tasks, and did well with them, and have received incredibly positive feedback from supervisors, production staff and actors.
I feel a sense of failure for not having a full season next year, especially when this other person may indeed have one. I know that I'm not a failure, but it feels that way.
I don't know what I want in response from this post. As I'm feeling more and more consumed by the anger, pain and loss with this, I felt that writing it and sharing it may benefit me, and hopefully allow others to know that they are not alone. Maybe someone has insight... I don't know.