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.
