Needing advice taking a job or not

[Trevor7]

I am a recent college grad who has just moved to NYC.  I have been applying to theaters for stage management internships like crazy, but I have also been applying for crew positions.  I recently got a job offer to run sound board for a show for 1 month.  The pay is only $250 for the month, but it isn't a lot of hours and it seemed like it might be a good way to get my foot in the door.  What worries me though is that I will accept this and then get a call from one of the jobs that I really want to do, or one that pays better. 

Can anyone give me any advice?

[hbelden]

Caveat: I have no NYC experience.  There may be good NYC reasons to go against the advice I offer.

Take the job. It's only one month, and it does "get your foot in the door."  This company will be much more likely to talk to you about open positions in the future if you do a great job with the current offer.  Adding a NYC credit to your resume (even as sound op) will help you in future applications.  And, most important, maybe you can get a reference from this job that will connect you to other job offers.

If another job you want calls you up with an offer that conflicts, you just say how extremely sorry you are, but you are already committed to the other company.  You really hope that they call you when something else comes up.  This shows that you a) honor your commitments and b) are in demand, both impressions are vital to beginning a career in a new place.  Company B knows that you didn't leave Company A in the lurch, so they'll be more confident in hiring you in the future knowing that you won't leave Company B when Company C calls.

Hope this helps,

[Trevor7]

Thank you, that really does help.

[Scott]

Caveat: I have no NYC experience.  There may be good NYC reasons to go against the advice I offer.

Good advice follows -- no NYC reasons I know of not to take the gig and many for.

[RuthNY]

You'll come across this situation time and time again during the course of a free-lance career.  Get used to making this kind of decision!

I am a recent college grad who has just moved to NYC.  I have been applying to theaters for stage management internships like crazy, but I have also been applying for crew positions.  I recently got a job offer to run sound board for a show for 1 month.  The pay is only $250 for the month, but it isn't a lot of hours and it seemed like it might be a good way to get my foot in the door.  What worries me though is that I will accept this and then get a call from one of the jobs that I really want to do, or one that pays better. 

Can anyone give me any advice?

[Libby]

To echo Ruth...
you will make this decision many more times in the future. And sometimes you WILL be wrong. (Ask for a raise of hands to how many people have taken one job and then couldn't/knew they shouldn't get out of it when they were offered a better one.
But just remember there will be other jobs. The worst thing that happens if you take it is (as said above) you get to know some of the insiders at one theatre company, and prove you commitments/etc to another. If you don't take it the worst that can happen is that you don't get a call for another month and then are out the experience/money (both ARE desperately needed in nyc).

[theaterra]

I agree. Take it. If you're in a position that offers start coming in while you're working, that's good news, because in my experience they will keep coming. You'll also make connections and therefore job leads while working as a board op.

[Chelley]

My advice. Take the job it is great experience and would look great on a resume. There is a saying...."A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH" ....meaning if you already have an opportunity right at your fingertips than wait for the others in the wings that may or may not come around. Take the job...if you get another offer, you can always talk to your current company and let them know what is going on, they will either be flexible with your time so you can work the other job OR they will just tell you to let you focus...either way, you would not burn bridges. Any company will appreciate your integrity to want to accomplish your commitments and a GOOD company would not hold you back from a great opportunity. If a company holds you back, you would not want to work for them anyway....better to find out early in the process.  Hope that helps.

[hbelden]

While I agree with Chelley in principle, establishing your reputation in a new region is a delicate process.  There's no harm in asking, you might think; and usually, you'd be right.  If I were in your shoes, my decision as to whether to talk to Company A about Company B's conflicting better offer would be balanced by how much lead time there was for Company A to find a replacement for me; whether Company B's offer were an order of magnitude better than the Company A job; how connected the Company A people are to the theatrical establishment, and whether or not they hold a grudge.

Speaking from experience, it's a horrible feeling for Company A if they get left high and dry.  But if your job with Company A is something like sound board op for four shows a week for $100, and Company B's offer is something like an AEA position for a mainstage show at Manhattan Theatre Club, that might be worth bringing up with Company A; particularly if you have a reliable, skilled friend who can take your place at Company A.

All I'm saying is that as theatre workers, our reputation is so much more important than our resumes in terms of getting future work.  If you're trying to make a name for yourself in the cutthroat world of NYC theatre, I'd be extremely careful in making my first impressions if I were you.

[LCSM]

Look at it this way: if you never accept a job for fear of something better coming along, you're never going to accept a job. You have to make the decision of wether to take the (reasonable) job you are being offered now or to wait just in case something better comes along. What if nothing coms your way for a while? It can be a frustrating feeling when you miss out on something you'd rather do because you're already buisy, but at least you're doing something and not just sitting aroung with your fingers crossed.