The reason while I encourage people not to come up with a back up plan or to subsidize their career with a side job is I think people have a better chance at success in this career when they put all their efforts into making this career work. A side job can be distracting in many ways - besides getting in the way of the job, it might just prove to you that you can make money in easier ways, easier ways. (Trust me, there are a LOT easier ways to make a living).
You know, the stats people throw around is that 50% of small business fail in their first five years. So, if we are our own small business . . . then the odds are pretty steep against us. Even if we do everything right, there is just a certain amount of luck involved in this crazy business. You can work your ass off, and just never get high enough up the rungs of the career ladder to make a decent living. (See previous rants about schools putting out too many young stage managers and too many young stage manager desperate for resume credits working for little or no pay . . . )
You know, we are in a business that combines LOVE of theatre, ART, BUSINESS, etc - it’s a complicated economic model, for a career that really pays for and favors experience - but makes it VERY difficult to get this experience. Theatre thrives on taking advantage of young, good and cheap/free labor. Theatre can be an EMOTIONAL DRUG that makes us pursue this career perhaps a wee bit longer then perhaps we should, or SUFFER for art, when in reality, is stage management a career you need to suffer for? (Does one suffer to be a pharmaceutical sales rep?)
At the end of the day, here’s the honest truth - not everyone who wants to be a stage manager will be able to make a living as a stage manager. (It’s one of those odd things about life - it’s true when a parent tells a child they can grow up to be president, but not every child can possibly be a president.)
Yes, I agree with Nick. I bet at least 50% of the stage managers on this web site will find that they will have to change careers in the next five to ten years. It doesn’t mean that they can’t stage manage for the love it. Yes, you should always have back-up plan, but don’t jump to it right away - commit to this job, and do everything you can to make it work - if you find you have to keep compromising things that important then . . . then maybe it’s time to make a u-turn.
And we complicate the issue with life choices, such as marriage, a child, taking care of a family member. I will tell you right now, if I had fought and won custody of my child in my divorce - I do not think I would have been able to let my career grow the way that it did. Hell, if I had stayed married, I don’t think I could have made the decisions I made. (The relationship I am in know makes my career difficult enough). But you may find waiting around for the big break is nothing worth other things life have to offer, and let me let you in on the big secret - live the life you want, and find a career that can support it - as opposed to living the life you career will allow. Stage Management has an odd way of taking over your life . . . and not always in a good way.