As I have posted before, the world of stage management is a very competitive work environment, especially for “living wage” and above jobs. The economy has impact us in a grave manner, with shows closing, theatre’s tightening budgets, doing small shows and eliminating non-union required positions (such as PA, and interns). There is no magic answer to “how do I get a job”, but, without knowing the specifics of your situation, let me respectfully offer this generic advice.
1) Are you applying for the right level of job? Are you just starting off and are you applying to far up the career track? (Should you be applying for PA jobs versus applying for PSM jobs). Note: Sometimes you can be desperate for work, and apply UNDER your position. I was recently applying for jobs to fill a gap in my season, and sort of sent out some resumes to summer stock theatres; job paying 1/6 of what I make – absolutely no response. In this business, sometimes there is something as “over qualified”.
2) Are you applying at the right theatre level for you? (should be submitting for more summer stock situations to beef up your resume versus applying to Broadway jobs – okay, that’s an extreme example, but I think you get the point.)
3) Are you able to open up your search geographically? I find a lot of your stage managers don’t really want to leave a certain geographical zone. But there are a lot of good reasons why to do so . . .
a. If you are having trouble finding work locally, it means that there is either a shortage of local jobs or excesses of stage managers.
b. There is something about a theatre hiring a non-local that is good for them. They are bringing in new blood and someone who is only there to focus on the work they are doing.
c. It also gets you exposed to an entirely different market.
4) Look at how you are marketing yourself?
a. Is resume to generic? I find a lot of young stage managers throw every single theatre thing they have ever done on their resumes (painted a set, observe a show, worked box office). In this age of computers, your should be able to customize your resume for the job your applying. And, at some point in your career you are going to want a “stage management” only resume. When I am looking for an AEA stage manager, when I see too much “other experience” it reads to me like they don’t have faith in their skills as a stage manager, or, that they professionally lack focus.
b. Are you just responding to add? Are you sending out resumes cold? Are you just e-mailing? Just sending in hard copies? If what you are doing isn’t working, try shaking it up.
5) Request a courtesy interview. A theatre company many not be hiring right away, but if you reach out and ask to meet with whomever is hiring, they are putting a name to a face and to a person. I find that I am probably 50% more likely to hire a person I have met then hire them just off a phone interview. (In fact, I am now implementing a rule where, besides interns, I am avoiding hiring ANYONE that I don’t spend at least 45 minutes with in the same room.)
6) Network, schmooze.
And then be prepared with the plan B.
You say your second job is applying for job – that’s the life of a freelance stage manager. I remember when I was freelancing, I would spend sometime during pre-production and update the resume and send it out – with a little note describing the project I just started.
I would also, after re-reading your post, avoid doing another internship. There comes a point where people will see you as just an intern (same thing is true as a PA – if you PA too long, then that’s what you get labeled as . . . not that there is anything wrong with being a PA . . . but if that is not your end career goal, you should take the next step.)
Good luck, and keep us updated.
