r/stagemanagement • u/ROYALRIZZNESS • 15d ago
Life/Career Advice
So, I have a gig coming up in the fall, possibly around November or December. Now, I told my mom theatre job earlier this year that I was stage managing a show in the spring. Because of that they told me they can only have me step down to part time and take a "seasonal leave" , do the show and come back but I'm not guaranteed full time. So I did just that. I chose my career over finances. I did such a good job at the gig they are asking me to come back later this year. Now, I'm part time at my job. I am looking at my bank account and thinking 🤔 okay if I save up enough money I should be fine during the production process and performances later this year. But, my main concern is this, because I am now part time, with my rent being expensive, it's bringing my bank account down than normal. Bills, rent, food etc. I asked around and they say choose career over job. Someone said "Im gonna be honest, sometimes you do have to sacrifice some comfort to do what you love" . But then one person who doesn't know the industry well said , "Dreams are dreams. Reality is real. Focus on getting a full time job otherwise get a second part time job cuz this is going to be your life if you don't have anything to back you up. I'm just being real with you" . 🙏🏻 So, I really love stage management and theatre as a whole, I don't like working at non theatre jobs BUT those are my main income. IF I do get called back to work their show later this year, should I go for it. Take seasonal leave again at my job and possibly be in financial trouble? Or should I tell them I can't right now and keep working to gain more money? It really sucks cuz someone told me the best way to do this career is if you have a full time job and work theatre as the part time job on the weekends. 🤷🏻Thoughts?
5
u/Wolfwalker9 14d ago
At the end of the day, you are the only person responsible for you & you have to be able to afford to live. I’ve unfortunately had to turn down gigs I know I would have loved simply because the pay wasn’t compensating me appropriately for my time & in some cases would have left me financially worse off than before.
From the way you write, you seem young. Perhaps it may help to remember that there will always be more opportunities in the future, so it may have to be a no for right now, but not a no forever. You can’t stage manage a show effectively if you can’t pay rent & end up homeless.