I was researching some career things, and thought I would finally register and start posting.
Short version- Born in NY, raised in FL, back to NY for college. Just graduated in January so I am trying to find my way in the crazy world of NYC SMing. Besides school shows, I've SMed and ASMed off-off-broadway, was a venue director at FringeNYC and have freelanced doing set installs/strikes and event work. I'm currently applying for 4673461743647 PA jobs/internships all over the country. Even though I am not in AEA yet, I work part-time as an audition monitor for them.
My tips? I can't say I have many that ya'll wouldn't already know about, but my favorite is to have some office supplies you adore. I always get weird little Halloween notepads for my to-do lists and other things just to make me smile during rehearsal. When a cartoon ghost is telling you you're BOO-TIFUL it's hard to get worked up.
My favorite story is not really a story but a feeling, if that makes sense. If any of you haven't done a Fringe before, the venue director is essentially the production manager/semi-SM of a specific venue (NYC's festival uses around 16-18 venues every festival). I had 14 separate productions (the most of any venue) with 5 shows each on rotating schedules, and it was my first time working at Fringe in any capacity. Despite one show that was a near-disaster, and almost living at the theater, the support from the cast, crews and producers of every show made me feel so incredibly loved. The amount of food I was brought (and one time, a bottle of wine) was amazing, let alone how many times people offered to get me everything from cupcakes to cold medicine when I was a bit sniffly. I got subsequent work and great friends.