<p>Hi all - I have a D who is a freshman in HS so we are just getting educated on this whole process. I am wondering if it will be possible for her to hold a part-time campus job while in an MT program, as we are going to need her to pitch in for college expenses. It sounds like these programs are pretty all-consuming. Any experience with this topic would be appreciated.</p>
<p>My D is a freshman BFA MT at Coastal Carolina. She does work part-time in the box office and as an usher, probably around 12 to 15 hours a week on average. Right now she is mainly working evenings/weekends but next semester she will be working more day shifts as she was cast in the spring show and so will have evening rehearsals. Fortunately the people she works for understand the rehearsal/performance schedules for these students so they work with the students. And students are constantly dropping/picking up shifts so there is flexibility. She has a friend who works in the costuime shop on campus as well. Again, they work with the student’s schedule. One thing we found was that as a freshman not getting federal work study it was harder to “break in” and get a job at the beginning of the first semester, just as a heads up.</p>
<p>Thanks austinmtmom - that is very helpful. I think having a job during college is beneficial in so many ways, even aside from the money. It’s an easy way to make friends quickly, and if you can actually work in anything related to your field, you’re learning a ton & making connections. We’ll add this to the list of desired attributes for her apply list.</p>
<p>As austinmtmom states, flexibility of employment scheduling is a key component to having the opportunity and ability to work which is why employment through the school can be ideal. Retail sales jobs are probably the worst! </p>
<p>My daughter is a senior in a BFA MT program and has worked throughout college. She did exactly what you suggested; she found employment in a field related to her college studies. My daughter works for an entertainment/DJ company that provides entertainment/party motivator packages for sock hops, sweet 16’s, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, corporate parties etc. The work is generally weekend work for the parties, practices and hiring auditions and she gets to control her schedule on a monthly basis. From September through June, she can work 1-2 jobs a weekend if she wishes, or she can block a month out from working parties if she is in a show. The job is all about people skills, having an energizing personality, creativity and performing. When you think about it, running parties like these is like putting on a production with a cast and crew of caterers, photographers, videographers and music and with an interactive audience. Plus the money is very good, getting paid by the function. This is a job she will continue with after college and is part of her game plan to have sustainable income when not in a show.</p>
<p>Finding a job like this, however, takes planning. Generally, you have to be in a metropolitan area. Plus, most of these companies typically look to recruit dancers/party motivators who are still in high school and then bring them up through the ranks as the employee gets more experience and training. My daughter started as a junior dancer at 15. She stuck with it through high school and in college, became a senior dancer, the dance manager/choreographer, and now also performs as an MC who runs the parties. She also runs the auditions and hires and trains new talent and has hired students from her MT program. My daughter decided early on to make this job part of her life game plan to help support herself as a performer. </p>
<p>Jobs like these are out there. They are a natural fit for an MT kid. You just need to think a little outside of the box and then put in the time and energy to cultivate the opportunities.</p>
<p>My son who started out as a MT major and switched to VP has always had two jobs in college. He has done work study and has usually gotten a job at the music school where they tend to be flexible regarding hours and when he works. He also has a paid job as a church singer. All of the churches in town seem to have singing jobs for kids from the music school and they all have practice on Wednesday nights, so the school never has rehearsals on Wednesday nights. It has worked out very well for him. He’s usually able to pay his utilities and his grocery bill from these jobs plus a little extra for fun. But you have to move fast to get these jobs, he has had other campus jobs and it’s much harder to get it worked into your schedule.</p>
<p>My D graduated from the BFA MT program at Syracuse this year. Because freshmen at SU are not allowed to perform, she was able to work as an usher at the Equity theater on campus, and also held a part-time food service job. However, beginning sophomore year, she was lucky enough to be cast regularly in main-stage and black box productions, and it became almost impossible to maintain a job. Her classes kept her busy till 4 or 5 pm, and rehearsals ran from 7 pm till 11 pm most weeknights, with all-day rehearsals on weekends. Monday nights were usually free, so that’s when she tried to schedule elective classes – also very difficult to arrange! I suppose she could have tried to work on Saturday or Sunday evenings, but still would have had to take those evenings off during show weekends. And really, with such a stressful schedule, she needed to have SOME time off!</p>
<p>My D, who is a senior in a BFA program, is a tour guide for admissions in her department. Since these tours are by request, she can schedule them to fit in around her classes and rehearsals. She’s not making a ton of money, but with time being as precious as it is, at least she doesn’t have to travel far for her job. And she’s learning a bit about marketing.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone - this is great information. Thanks to all who post here - i have learned so much so quickly, but there is oh so much left to learn!</p>