<p>I was just wondering if anyone knows how realistic it is to be able to have a part-time job whilst in an MT program.. I know its difficult if you are cast in a show because of the rehearsal schedules of some shows, but I was just wondering what the general consensus was!</p>
<p>Given the class schedule and the rehearsal schedules (if you are in shows), I think it would be difficult to commit to a regular part time job with particular hours, but it depends. Also, some students are busier than others. Some kids have a job on Sundays or Saturdays (though my kid has had rehearsals on those days). One possible job is if you have some type of well paying flexible job where you fit it in around your own schedule. My D has earned money from time to time in college when she could fit it in (she can’t right now)…giving a lesson, teaching, accompanying, performing in Broadway themed birthday parties, etc. These types of jobs were here and there and she could say yes or no as they arose and if she could squeeze it in, she did it and if not, she didn’t. She turned some things down that she felt she could not reliably commit to such as teaching a MT class for kids once/week. Some may have been able to fit that in but my D is always in a show and also is MD of an a capella group and she is pretty booked solid day, night and weekend. She occasionally performs in singer/songwriter gigs in the city but not always for pay but that is another example of earning money that is flexible. A regular job with set hours would not have worked for her schedule. She earns money in the summer though.</p>
<p>While I know it is difficult to work in college, especially in programs like MT and others, my son has worked two jobs during the majority of college. I will say that his jobs are through the work study program so they do work around your schedule and if something came up like a performance period they always are good about letting you off. He also has a church singing job which consist of Wednesday night rehearsals and Sunday mornings. At his college so many of the kids have church jobs they do not have rehearsals on Wed. nights. I think to get a regualar job in the community would be difficult with an MT major unless your employer was very understanding and flexible.</p>
<p>My daughter works as a dancer and MC/vocalist for an entertainment company that does Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet 16’s, corporate parties and the like. It’s weekend work and she can control her schedule by indicating weekends or times (afternoons or nights) that she is not available in order to avoid conflicts with show rehearsals and performances. If working as a dancer, she makes $150 or more a job and if as a MC/vocalist $300 or more a job. You have to be in the right city/market for a job such as this but it’s a job that is a natural for MT students because of the flexibility of scheduling and the “skill sets” required. She averages 3-4 jobs a month when not in a show which she can easily fit into her schedule without conflicting with her school responsibilities.</p>
<p>My D can squeeze in work study but that’s about it.</p>
<p>It might be difficult, but probably possible at most schools. When I was at Syracuse many of my friends worked as ushers at Syracuse Stage. I didn’t work until senior year, when I got a job at a local pizza place as a waitress. In general I worked Monday nights (when shows did not rehearse) and Thursday nights. I think when I was in rehearsals for a show I may have switched the dinner shift with a breakfast shift on a day when I did not have a morning class. It was a long time ago, so I do not remember all the details, but I do remember that I was in three shows that fall, a touring. CT show, a mainstage play, and a cabaret, and I managed to juggle that with working and classes. I was very tired, but it worked. I do not think I could have juggled all that as a freshman or sophomore, though.</p>
<p>It can be difficult to juggle the demands of MT with a retail/service industry job. I know many students who couldn’t do it primarily because their employers would not be understanding or flexible with scheduling. In fact, I have observed many students who thought they had an understanding with their employer about scheduling only to find that the employer changed the “rules of the game” to suit their needs once the student was hired. Restaurants/food service employers are notorious for changing schedules on students and retail sales employers can be very rigid about the hours they have available for part time student employees. If a student is not able to change their availability to meet an employer’s demands, they often are replaced or find their hours cut back. In today’s job climate, this is even more prevalent. I always urge my daughter’s friends who are MT students to think “out of the box” and look for jobs outside of retail sales / food service. Jobs such as those which soozie’s daughter has done, or such as my daughter’s, jobs as tour guides in a city that has such an industry, in general jobs that are structured around a pool of workers who are scheduled on a per diem basis based on availability can mesh well with the demands of a BFA program. It can be tricky to figure out where to look but with a creative approach, the jobs are out there.</p>
<p>At my school anyway, most work-study jobs (really, all except the info desk and library and maybe a couple others) only schedule people until 5. And rehearsals will usually start at 7. I got a non-work-study job with a flexible schedule, though, and have only been able to work 5 hours this semester. (though I was supposed to work all this weekend, 15 hours, but I possibly have an infectious illness so I called out since I work with food). I definitely think it’s possible. You might have to take morning shifts, though. (:</p>
<p>Both of my MT Ds have worked while in college…had to to make ends meet. Church cantor, wedding/funeral singer, catering company, writer for the school paper (paid per story), plus work-study which was the easiest because they are so willing to work around their schedule. It isn’t easy, but in the long run, probably taught them more about how to budget money and time than anything else they’ve ever done. One is graduated now…and graduated summa cum laude, was in shows every year at her program and still managed to work. So, it can be done.</p>
<p>What I have heard is the best type of job to get is one run by the student association. I’m not sure where you will be attending, but most larger universities have student unions, with all sorts of stores and food places and bookstores. These jobs are more flexible, allowing you time off for rehearsals, etc. Moreover, they pay well. They get it because they are run by students who need flexibility too. So, they tend to hire more people to work less hours, and you can make money, but not work quite so hard.</p>
<p>I lived in cooperative housing. I worked as a manager of a house. This might be the equivalent to an RA in a dorm. This is another great way to earn money towards your housing. It means you have to be around your living space more than you may wish to, but I learned alot about management. I eventually was on the Board of Directors of my non-profit housing organization and learned even more, so it was worth the time. (And I was carrying 20.5 semester units… and still got all A’s.) Work is definitely beneficial in college and if you can juggle it, I would encourage it.</p>
<p>2DsnMT, is it common for school newspapers to pay students to write stories?</p>
<p>^^^I don’t think that it is common to be paid to write for the school newspaper. At most colleges, that is an extracurricular activity.</p>
<p>We were very happy when my daughter, who attends Syracuse, qualified for work-study. During Freshman year, she was able to work as an usher at the theater, as KATMT mentioned. Freshmen at SU are not allowed to perform, so she had most of her evenings free. Since that time, however, she has been unable to fit any work-study jobs into her schedule, because of conflicts with classes and rehearsals. In reality, she could have taken a food-service morning shift, but with rehearsals that run till 11 pm, followed by homework – it would have meant no sleep.</p>
<p>I was a journalism major back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and we were paid for working on the school newspaper. Section editors were paid per issue and typesetters (which are extinct now!) were paid hourly. I would not be surprised if school papers paid for newsstories, but unless it is a very small school, they probably have journalism majors to fill those positions.</p>
<p>My D has worked as a tutor on campus (work study) and is able to fit it in each day during gaps in her class schedule. She also has a church job on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Neither of these has interfered with a rehearsal schedule.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I’m going to Oklahoma City University… does anyone know how hard it is to get on-campus jobs and how much they pay?</p>
<p>Thank you all for the information, I really appreciate it!</p>
<p>DD has been lifeguarding at the pool this term. She had to have a non-work study job. Gets a couple of shifts between classes and then one on Sat. Not a lot but some extra cash. They were willing to work around her schedule and she gets someone to sub if she can’t do it. They also have work in the music department for students to run the recording for recitals. They pay per recital and apparently you can study once you get things started. .</p>
<p>My son did that job, the recording for recitals it also extended to opening up the hall, lights and shutting things down. The school uses the hall for lots of programs, outside recitals, etc. It was great, just like you said, he could study once things got started. I don’t know why he moved on to other work, it sounded like the perfect campus job to me.</p>