Survival Jobs

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>I am possibly the worst sort of parent an MT kid could have; pragmatic, maybe slightly pessimistic and a person who plans at least 10 years ahead. I can't help it... maybe it's genetic? Oh -- and on top of all that, we're not wealthy enough to support a starving artist for life.</p>

<p>D will be looking for her first "real" job this summer (i.e. not performing, cat sitting or babysitting) to put more money into her college fund.</p>

<p>If I could design her ideal survival job, it would involve doing what she loves on a flexible schedule while getting full healthcare benefits and earning at least $100/hour. Oh -- and it should be legal in all 50 states.</p>

<p>She has an MT friend who works at a national espresso chain (you may have heard of it), which has been good for him in several respects. It's flexible, he can do it during the day or night, it pays reasonably well, provides health benefits for part-time employees, and he's been able to work at college and when he comes home for breaks. I also like the idea that a good barista can work anywhere and any time, and can potentially start their own small business some day. Plus it's probably decent exercise, both physical and mental.</p>

<p>Another thing I've thought of is teaching music lessons, as D is an accomplished flutist and singer, and could earn decent money, but I'm guessing her sense of pitch could make teaching painful plus she'd have to keep a fairly consistent schedule and living location to build up a studio.</p>

<p>Also - D plans to double major and is thinking about what to major in that might be of use in creating an ideal survival job.</p>

<p>Any thoughts on outside jobs that are particularly compatible with a career in MT, and any training one would need to be eligible for such jobs?</p>

2

<p>Soozievt had a great post about all of the amazing work her D is putting together post-college, including writing her own show, being part of an improv troupe, being a music director on several productions, working for her former college, etc. </p>

<p>I’d love to copy it here as an example of how a really multi-talented person has gone on to create Survival Jobs all within her chosen field… but I can’t find that amazing post. If anyone runs soozievt’s Survival-Job-related post, can you copy it here, or at least add a pointer?</p>

<p>Obviously creating a string of theatre-related jobs would be the optimal Survival Job for most of our kids!</p>

3

<p>I don’t have much time now to search for it but I recall writing about it. </p>

<p>My D never felt any need for a double major in terms of a “fall back.” I also believe that a degree in theater or MT can prepare you to do a myriad of things and not just theater anyway. A college major doesn’t mean that’s all you can do is that major for your career. </p>

<p>But all that aside, in my D’s case, ALL of her work since graduation day (and she does support herself living in NYC) has been in the field of theater and music. She has varied interests and skill sets and so can pursue many avenues…some things she does because she really wants to do them and some things are to earn money so she can do the other things. But they are all in performing arts. She even is turning down jobs (she told me a few minutes ago she turned down a job…there are only so many things she can juggle and she has lot going on). </p>

<p>My D is pursuing several things at once (again, some are survival jobs and some are things she really wants to pursue career-wise). Some of the more “survival” type jobs have been: accompanying MT song performance classes at both pre-college level programs and at the BFA in MT program at NYU/Tisch, musically directing a faculty directed musical at Tisch, musically directed several other shows in the city, including both high school and college level, accompanist for children’s classes, MT coaching for other actors, recording demo CD’s for other artists, and related stuff of that nature. (I can’t tell you how beneficial it has been that she is a proficient pianist!) </p>

<p>In terms of her more career oriented pursuits…she does MT performing (did a national tour and got her Equity card), has done workshops/readings of new musicals in NYC, been in other shows…though has often been busy on other projects and so hasn’t auditioned that much yet), wrote a musical that had a professional workshop and then an Equity showcase production in NYC (also performed a lead in that) and that was a ton of work as it has gone through many stages of revisions to get to that point; is recording her own EP of original songs of a singer/songwriter nature (not MT), performs regularly in NYC venues as a singer/songwriter (not MT…she is also interested in that genre of music very much so), sings back up for other singer/songwriters in various concerts in the city…and her latest news which I don’t want to get too specific about on a public forum, but she was just commissioned to write a new musical for a major regional theater and that sum of money is enough for one year’s worth of “survival job” salary in itself. As she said, “what a survival job!” She also performs weekly in NYC in a musical comedic cabaret troupe and all performers in that cast also write the material (she writes songs for them regularly) and the show changes weekly. Those are the main things at the moment. </p>

<p>So, in her case, her survival jobs are all in her field but just in different facets of the field but in most of her jobs (not all), these are interests she truly wants to pursue and not simply performing in musicals. </p>

<p>In your original post, I thought you were asking jobs your D could do the summer before college and I will say that besides being in a professional show that summer here locally, my D (who was 16 at the time), created her own job and made enough spending money for the first year of college from it. She and another friend heading to a BFA in MT program created their own two week MT program for ages 10-14 and rented space and taught classes to the kids in the program in voice, dance, and acting, and also created an original musical revue show that they put on at the end of it. She came home for two weeks two summers later and ran it again and that year, she helped the young teens in the program write their own musical revue rather than writing it for them. This was quite lucrative. I’m mentioning that as perhaps someone like your D might want to initiate and organize their own type of job like that.</p>

<p>(for those who don’t know me, my kid graduated a BFA program in May 2009)</p>

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<p>@soozievt – thanks so much for outlining all of your D’s creative solutions to that pesky Money problem!! I love hearing about how creative she is being – and apparently has been even since her summer before college. I wish D knew her so she could be her role model!!</p>

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<p>Well, consistent with my stated desire to plan the future 10 years out, I think it would be great if whatever summer job D gets (or creates) is a first step toward some longer-range plan about what her Survival Job(s) might be after college! </p>

<p>I realize this is probably too much to hope for, but even a mom can dream, no?!</p>

<p>And about the “fall back” Major… D doesn’t play the piano, and there’s little demand for flute-playing Music Directors (although D has done several paying Pit Orchestra gigs), plus I haven’t yet see that entrepreneurial spirit in her that is serving your D so well. </p>

<p>Also D is really gifted at math and science, and our family has a history of artists that later embrace careers in engineering and science, but we can NOT afford for her to go back to college later if she got that do-over gene so we’re hoping she can cover all her college bases in one fell swoop.</p>

5

<p>If you take costuming or stage craft (which I feel like is a requirement at most schools) it is a GREAT “fallback” job/all-around skill to have. I didn’t know her personally, but there’s a CCU grad in NYC right now who really enjoyed costuming in addition to MT and is in the city auditioning but was hooked up by our costuming faculty with a shopper job for one of the huge costume building companies (for Broadway shows and such) and she spends her days going around the city buying fabrics and other useful equiptment. Pretty cool, I’d say! As great as your singing/dancing/acting training is, “stagehand” skills look amazing on your resume.</p>

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<p>Alexa, I’m so happy to hear that as my D is going to attempt to get as close as she can to either a double major or a minor in costuming, either literally or virtually (depending on if her final school choice allows it or not - some do, some don’t.) Because that is her “back up.” It’s actually more of her planned second stage of her career, actually - it’s more a matter of how long she feels like keeping up with performance. She might go back for her masters in it (and if so, we absolutely want her to apply at UT because their costuming department is aMAHzing - I personally would never want my undergrad kid there but it’s terrific for grad students)</p>

<p>She can’t play the piano well or compose music like you so I’m glad she has something else to “fall back” on. ~ Her UIL costumes got finalist again this year so we are keeping our fingers crossed that she will end up placing somewhere in the top three again this year. Two years in a row of first place in state would be too much to hope for (but wouldn’t that be awesome?) </p>

<p>The great thing about tech is you are never the wrong “look” or age for tech.</p>

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<p>Yay to soozievt’s daughter for the musical commission! And how wonderful that musicals are being commissioned these days. Make it one with a BIG cast!</p>

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<p>soozievt - Congratulations to your D on getting the commission to write the new musical. I hope at some point you will be able to share with us what it is called so anyone near the regional theatre can see it!</p>

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<p>I was self employed for years as an editor/proofreader…I made my own hours and worked as much or as little as I wanted to. Knowing my D’s strengths, this would be a great gig to carry her through lean times. She’s also an organizational wizard, so she could try and create a small business around that.</p>

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<p>Skwidjymom - That’s funny that you talk about organizational skills because my D is also extremely organized! D also taught herself html progamming and designed web pages when she was 12 years old. This may be a skill she can use once she is done with college and needs money to survive while auditioning.</p>

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<p>No kidding, showmom! Those are great freelancing skills!</p>

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<p>Ok, your kids all sound so very creative, self-motivated and organized that I’m starting to wonder if our D is a total schlump! Just kidding – she MUST have some employable skills buried beneath that half-crazed diva exterior (granted she’s in the midst of a big show), but she may just have to do some work to figure out what exactly those are. ;-)</p>

<p>Seriously, I love the idea of editing, as she is a very strong writer. How does one start to find such work?</p>

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<p>be careful the “survival job” doesn’t become your job. </p>

<p>“There is a tangible amount of luck that is necessary for a successful career, and the only way that luck happens is if you’re prepared for it and you stick with it. If you drop out of the scene, your opportunity for luck diminishes greatly. No one’s going to say, `Hey you’re an insurance salesman. Come and do this movie’.” or MT.</p>

<p>that comes from a guy who really put in his dues to get “lucky”:)</p>

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<p>Point taken, but on the other hand no one’s going to say ‘Hey you’re an actress. Allow me to pay your bills for you’. ;-)</p>

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<p>If a “survival” job serendipitously leads to discovering another as yet unknown passion that is also, happily, lucrative enough to live on, though, that’s not a bad thing.</p>

<p>If D ends up the next Sutton Foster, great. If she ends up never being a household name (actually, I am probably one of two dozen people in my backwater town who would even know who Sutton Foster is anyway, though they all know who Paris Hilton is, yuck) but gets work in the field enough to scrape by and has fun doing it, fine. If she finds something else she loves to do and decides to do it - fine.</p>

<p>I don’t care what she does as long as she’s doing something she wants to do, which is why I’ve supported this whole theater thing, because it’s what she wants to do. I can’t see that changing any time soon. But by the time she’s looking at her 3rd or 4th decade of life, she might want a different life than that, because things change and people change. I have no doubt that her theater experiences will make her such an interesting and well rounded person that no matter what she ends up wanting to do, she’ll be better off having followed her passion.</p>

<p>At least she’s going into acting. She could have ended up a dancer. You talk about a short lived career. Even the most tippy top of the heap successful dancers are done so fast, there are no parts for aging dancers as there are actors. This is why she’s doing MT instead of straight acting - so she can still get to dance, hopefully.</p>

<p>interesting side note - St. Edwards in Austin, TX has developed an uncommon program that is getting acclaim - it’s part of their New College (non traditional students) and it’s specifically for dancers, who apparently quite often don’t finish or even start school, as their careers are so short lived, and they have to find second careers so early. It gives them experiential credit for their work and life experience and it’s designed especially for completing the education of dancers - they saw that there was a real need for this and I think it’s pretty cool that they recognize the challenges that performing artists face and the sacrifices that dancers, specifically, have to make.</p>

<p>Any of you know any dancers in that position, wanting to complete their education, they might want to check out that program. :-)</p>

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<p>I stumbled on this thread while doing a search and though I do not usually post here, I thought I would weigh in. D is just finishing her MM in VP. She currently has three jobs (all music related) and regularly gets professional singing jobs. One of her most lucrative endeavors is as a voice coach for young actors who are needing help before professional auditions. Her students are up for everything from Glee to professional Broadway productions. She developed a good reputation (and made most of her contacts) after teaching a group class at a professional acting school. Right now she is turning away more students than she can take. I would think the same sort of coaching is needed for dancers and actors as well and though she lives in a large market for this, I imagine wherever there are kids auditioning for musical theater, there must be a need for coaches. She makes her own schedule so when she has a performance or an audition of her own, it’s no problem.</p>

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<p>MomCares, survival jobs within theatre are awesome if you can get them. It might be worth your D taking up piano at this point - if she practised a lot she has 4 years of college to develop her skills. I can’t tell how much I wish I played. It opens a lot of “job that isn’t acting in theatre” doors. Definitely have her keep up the flute. Any instrument skill is a real plus.</p>

<p>In terms of majors/minors that would be useful for a support job, I’d say computer science or web/graphic design, especially if she is math/science minded. That kind of work pays very well (often something like $25/hr + ) and can often be done part time and very flexibly, maybe even from home. She could think about starting a web design business. Or could do that kind of work for other people. She would have to be highly skilled though. I’d recommend looking at job postings and seeing the kinds of skills she’d need to see if it’s worth pursuing.</p>

<p>Babysitting can also be lucrative. You mention it as not a real job but in NY it certainly is. I know many people who support themselves comfortably with babysitting. Obviously more than the occasional night is needed, but it does pay well (anywhere from $12-20/hr).</p>

<p>Waitressing/bartending can also be very lucrative (as awful as it sounds) if she doesn’t mind dolling herself up with lots of makeup and wearing heels, and is the kind of girl that suits that look. Working at top level restaurants in NY you can take home several hundred a night on weekends.</p>

<p>Creative/copy writing is also something that can be done flexibly/somewhat remotely from home and can pay well, though web design pays better. Also techy things related to the arts - like sound ops, production assistants for film, editing, etc.</p>

<p>Hope that helps! To give some context - I’m in my first year out and these are recent observations. Though my situation is slightly different because I’m international.</p>

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<p>@JennyD123 – Thanks so much for your recent firsthand look at which jobs are helping pay actors’ bills in NY!</p>

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<p>This made me laugh! Is there an MT girl (or guy) who minds dolling themself up with lots of makeup and wearing heels? It’s what she lives for! ;-D</p>

<p>I think D would have a great head start on piano, since her music theory is VERY well developed, but I wonder how far she can get during college in addition to everything else. I do hope she keeps up with flute (she’d played quite seriously since 3rd grade), but again I can imagine it being hard to fit in lessons (or afford them on top of NU tuition).</p>

<p>Interesting to hear that I shouldn’t write off babysitting. She really loves little kids, so maybe that’s not a bad option.</p>

<p>It will be interesting to see what paid work she chooses for the summer, and even more interesting to see all the jobs that may follow.</p>

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<p>@ musicamusica – your D seems to have created a PERFECT survival job!! I know D’s vocal coach is also a working actor who has built a fantastic life around a very successful vocal studio. It’s particularly nice for both of them that they are in a position to be EXTREMELY selective about who they work with, so the pitch issue isn’t a factor.</p>

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<p>“Survival jobs” is something that my daughter started thinking about during her freshman year. She has worked since she was 15. Once she got settled into her MT program and routine, she started mapping out a game plan of what she needed to do to position herself after college to have sustainable income with the flexibility to audition and be in shows. In my view, this is important so that a student can have some focus and direction during college to network, form connections and as applicable get additional training and certifications. My daughter has put together a “package” that draws on her talents and training, extracurricular interests and relationships she has formed. As graduation approaches, she is employed by an entertainment company that does Bar and Bat Mitzvahs as an MC and dance manager (during college, she has been paid the equivalent of $60/hr when working as an MC, $35/hr when working as a dancer, mostly weekend work), got certified as a spinning instructor and was hired by 2 upscale health clubs ($25-30 /45 minute class, presently 6 classes a week while in school) and through the entertainment company developed a relationship with a wedding planner and works on a per diem basis as a “day of” assistant. These jobs draw on her communication and performing skills, ability to read and interact with people and her creativity and in many ways are a natural offshoot of what she has been doing for the last 4 years. She is getting certified as a personal trainer over the summer so that she can pick up more hours at the health clubs. There are common elements to all of these things; they are offshoots of things that she loves to do (performing, working creatively with others, she has always been a gym rat), draw upon her talents, skills and training in various ways and provide very flexible scheduling that will not interfere with her auditioning and performing in shows. I think what’s important is that a student start mapping out a post graduation game plan early on. It’s really no different than all the planning and preparation that goes into getting ready to apply to college and audition except that it’s for the next phase, post graduation. With creativity and planning, there are lots of rewarding “survival jobs” out there and the above posts illustrate that well.</p>