ARTICLE: Bad career adivce "Doing What We Love"

[MatthewShiner]

I was reading up on career advice, as I was looking to post about the dangerous of taking career advice from peers - when I ran across this article.

Here’s a very interesting article from a blog . . .

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/18/bad-career-advice-do-what-you-love/

A great dose of reality, and a different perspective.  (Be careful, she does talk a bit a bout sex, but it's a great example.)

There are SO MANY gems in here . . . but it lines up a lot of what I feel about young people (or not so young people) making career decisions  - especially based on the fact "they love theater", "they love Broadway", "they love musicals". 

[On_Headset]

A similar idea people get into their heads is that they'll only ever be working on "important" and/or "fun" theatre. They'll have artistic integrity! They'll say "no"! They'll turn down contracts which demean or insult their artistic sensibilities! Their life will be a never-ending cycle of big-name musicals on Broadway and/or pieces of True Artistic Merit which are performed in theatres which only seat 4 people, but which nevertheless pay 20% above a living wage.

Hope you don't mind licking envelopes for sustenance.

[MatthewShiner]

I hate when "fun" and "work" get confused - are you having fun on your current show?  Well, no - It's work; I am enjoying it.

I do what I do for money, and quite a bit of it, because I deal with a lot of crap - it's not fun, and I would not do this free.  I do enjoy my career, but it's not a love of mine above and beyond on anything else in my life.  I love theater - but that's not my job, that's an art form.

[On_Headset]

And, equally, even if you left stage management tomorrow (literally just tore up your contract and walked out), this doesn't mean abandoning theatre as an art form. In all likelihood, you'd still attend theatre, still take an interest in media coverage of theatre, and might donate to, volunteer at or even sit on the board of a theatre company. (In fact, considering that virtually anyone would earn more money in a "real job" than they do as a theatre professional, you'd probably be better-positioned to do all of these things as an "outsider" than you presently are.)

See also: buying an ebook reader doesn't mean you have to burn all your paper books, buying a car doesn't mean you have to give up walking, etc. etc. etc.

[BalletPSM]

This is an interesting article, although I'm not quite sure I agree entirely - I do love what I do, and I think (especially in theatre), its important to have passion of some kind for the work you do - unless you want to live a bland and unfulfilled life.  Of course there are days that it makes me angry and I want to walk out of the theatre and never come back - but that's the same with anything.  I love running, but after a really bad run where I bonk hard, I never want to see my shoes again. 

I look at my career from a vocational standpoint.  I follow the adage that "your vocation is the place where your greatest talent meets the world's greatest need."  Your vocation is what you are called to do; what you do because there is nothing else you could do (I don't mean that in the sense of talent - I mean it in the sense of life in general!)

I think we'd all agree that our world needs theatre (arts of some sort!) - and I have a talent to make theatre - this is my vocation.

The best part about stage management (IMO), is that are skill set and talents are SO broad that many, many things fall under this vocation!  I can do events, I can do weddings, I could run a press room if I had to, the list is virtually endless.  I can certainly say what kind of theatre/events are my favorite - but I fulfill my vocation when I do any sort of work that also fulfills me and satisfies my vocation.  Just because it's my favorite and I love certain shows more than others doesn't mean that the ones that aren't my favorites aren't just as fulfilling. 

I also view my life very holistically; everything works together for a common purpose.  My relationships feed my work which feeds my relationships, which feed my love of running and athletics; which makes me a better stage manager becuase then I have more energy; which make those I work with happier, which makes me happier...it's circular and complete; does not exist in isolated and separate bubbles.

now I'm starting to sound a bit hokey...but you get the idea!

[Jessie_K]

I, too, love stage managing.  I don't love every minute of everyday, but I still love it.  At this point in my career, I would not do it for free.  But I also won't do anything else for money.

I love other things, of course.  I love painting and I love knitting.  I have been paid for individual items, but would not consider trying to earn a living from either.  The money has always been a bonus for me.

The distinction for me is that stage management is a craft and painting and knitting are an art.  I am willing to bend to the will of other for stage management, I am not with painting or knitting.

Some people can do what they love, be good at it and get paid decently for it.  Some people cannot.  I encourage people to try, if it doesn't work out, then take a reality pill and get another job.

[MatthewShiner]

This is an interesting article, although I'm not quite sure I agree entirely - I do love what I do, and I think (especially in theatre), its important to have passion of some kind for the work you do

But, here is the thing, and good for you loving what you do . . . but when love, an emotion, enters a business decision, like what do for a career and what we do to make money, then everything runs the risk of getting screwy.

You get people who are unqualified, under-qualified, or just bad as a stage manager trying to make a living stage manage because "they love it".  (and becoming very frustrated by not being able to make a living at it.)

People staying in the market long after it doesn't make it any business sense for them to remain in the market because they "love the job".

People who think they can make a living regardless of the market they live in, because they "love the job."

Young people, with very limited experience, without their equity card, picking up and moving to major metropolitan markets that are already saturated expecting to make a career because they "love the job".

Let's be honest, yes, to be a stage manager there is a bit of "loving" the job, but let's call it a mature love, and not a puppy love or immature infatuation.

You base a career decision based more on things, like:

do you have the basic talent for the career?
do you the interest and means for career growth?
will this career allow for career and personal growth?
will this particular career support the lifestyle you wish live?
do i have an acceptable risk for a chance at success?

you base a business based upon research, to make an informed decision.  Again, remember, unlike other professions where you go ahead and get hired by someone, ultimately most of us are going to be free-lancers, which means running a business of one.  Who would start a small business without doing some sort of extensive research?

Not everyone who "loves" being a stage manager is going to be able to making a living at it - to expand upon the article's author's example - not everyone who enjoys sex would be able to making a living it.

In fact, this notion of "loving" the job, I think, is part of the reason of why our job is devalued in New York City.  There are all these stage management jobs for $50.00 or just for a metro card - basically volunteer gigs, because you know "stage managers do it for the love of the job". 

I know, I know, I know - I am coming off like a downer and pessimist - but I am terrified about the sheer numbers of younger stage managers entering the career field with unreal expectations, and little research on what the job and the lifestyle is like, and have nothing more then their “love” of stage management to get them through.  And that’s great, except when it that “love” blinds them to making basic business decisions correctly.

I can tell you horror stories of the job market in NYC.  I can point out that given the thousands of people active on SMNetwork, there are four or five times the registered users here working as stage managers in the US.  There are a lot of us in a very cut throat business (especially for those living wage jobs.)

I just think people should understand the risks and challenges of pursuing this particular career “just because” they love it.

[hbelden]

As always, I totally agree with Matthew; I would only add that sometimes, when the going gets as rough as it can, my love for theatre and my passion for good stage management is what pulls me through.  And since I will never be able to afford to retire, I'd better keep that love and passion to sustain me until my time comes.  I fully expect to die in harness.

I guess that's my interpretation of "mature love".  I have married this career, it's a vocation (as BalletPSM said); I believe that what we do is good for everyone. 

I completely agree that "do what you love" is horrible advice.  But "love what you do" is, I think, essential; having seen a previous generation stick in careers they actively hated until they could retire.  I think that's a wasted life.

[Jessie_K]

This world is full of all types of people doing all types of jobs.  Some of them love their jobs, some don't.  Some are good at their jobs, some are not.

Doing what you love does not mean that you undervalue the monetary value attached to it.  I love stage management but I haven't done it for free since university.  I turned down many a gig for money reasons, that doesn't mean I don't love stage management.

Each person needs to weigh their options.  What do you want in life?  What job will get you that?

I have faith that the industry weeds out the "not as good" SMs and the good ones can benefit from the competition.

I do, however, agree that the Showcase code is ridiculous and drastically undermines the need to pay for a quality SM.

[BalletPSM]

I am also of the firm belief that love is not just a feeling - love is an ACTION.  Love is something you DO. 

So when I talk about "loving my job," I'm not just talking about a feeling about my job.  Because if I had to base it on feelings....NO WAY would I stay in this business.  But then.....no way would I stick with anything if I always based it on feelings.

When I say I love my job - there is so much more to that.  My job is something I DO.  Just as love is something I do - active.  not just emotion.

What I find fascinating is that the same questions Matthew brings up as questions to ask yourself about your job (which are great questions!) are all variations on the questions I'm asking myself about my current (and pretty serious) relationship!  So even in love...I ask myself the same things!   

[LCSM]

Would someone mind explaining Jessie's "Showcase code" to me? Thanks.

[MatthewShiner]

The Showcase code is an AEA agreement in NYC - little to no pay (it's a stipend).  Lots of work, very little pay.