Does my degree have to be relavent

[lukeb]

Hi,

 

I would like to persue a career as a Stage Manager/DSM/Company SM, however rather than doing the sensible thing and going to Drama School, I have ended up studying an unrelated subject at Cambridge. Is six years experience (the amount of time I will have been Stage Managing by the time I graduate - four years at Cambridge, preceeded by two years with Oxford Youth Theatre) going to be enough for me to be confident in securing employment, or will I need to spend two years or so getting a relevant qualification?

 

I am aware that Professional Stage Managers have significantly more responcibilities than a Stage Manager for a student production, but surely the skills involved (people management, co-ordinating the entire production, general organisation and responcibility) are the same? Is a course in stage managing really going to teach me more than what I've learnt SMing far too many shows* at University?

 

(or should I just give up my degree now? ;) )

 

Thanks,

 

Luke

 

*I will have worked on eight shows by the end of my first year!

[Tomo]

(or should I just give up my degree now? ;) )

If you are enjoying the degree and learning to research, think and implement ideas then it is worth it, almost regardless of what it is a degree in.

 

(There are exceptions - most employers think that degrees in aromatic basket-weaving et al are pointless)

 

Make sure you pass your degree as well as you can!

Don't spend too much time in the theatre, but do get lots of experience.

If you can do some short contracts during the summer at a local theatre or festival (eg Edinburgh, but there are many others), then that's even better.

 

Be prepared to start at the bottom, and don't forget that nobody is in this business for the money - it generally doesn't pay well, has long hours, and lots of hard physical and mental work.

But it's a lot of fun!

[lukeb]

If you are enjoying the degree and learning to research, think and implement ideas then it is worth it, almost regardless of what it is a degree in.

 

Make sure you pass your degree as well as you can!

Don't spend too much time in the theatre, but do get lots of experience.

If you can do some short contracts during the summer at a local theatre or festival (eg Edinburgh, but there are many others), then that's even better.

 

If I didn't enjoy my degree I wouldn't be doing it, but I'm currently finding theatre much more enjoyable - and technicians at Cambridge often end up living at the theatre. I hope to get some work at Edinburgh this year, and have some contacts in Oxford so might get some work during the holidays.

 

Be prepared to start at the bottom, and don't forget that nobody is in this business for the money - it generally doesn't pay well, has long hours, and lots of hard physical and mental work.

But it's a lot of fun!

 

I am happy to start at the bottom with low pay (it can't be worse than being a student!), but there is the added issue that I have a disability* that makes me particularly unsuited to hard physical work in the theatre - lifting/carrying, flying, set changing and rigging are all out for me. Hard mental work is fine though. In an ideal world I'd like to enter nearer the top and work to my strengths: organisation and people skills.

 

* Yes, someone is now going to point out that a SM with limited mobility is a health & safety risk and I'm not going to be given work etc etc. It hasn't stopped me yet, and the ADC is particularly on Health and Safety (I am not allowed to be the only technician in the PS wing), it just gives me something extra to think about when planning the show...

[Tomo]

Well, your disability may make it difficult.

 

But it is most definately not impossible, and the anti-discrimination laws tend to discriminate against the able-bodied*, so getting that first job may be easier than expected.

 

*This is a pet peeve of mine! You should always pick the best person for the job, regardless of trying to fill 'quotas' and such idiotic concepts.

If the best person is disabled - well, you make the allowances for that disability. Some jobs are impossible (deaf sound engineer?), but most are not.

[w/robe]

Is a course in stage managing really going to teach me more than what I've learnt SMing far too many shows* at University?

Possibly not but it will tell prospective employers what you know. You could look at 1 year post grad. courses when you leave University.

 

(or should I just give up my degree now? B-) )

NO! sorry to shout, but a degree from Cambridge is never going to be an obstacle in your employability.

 

 

In an ideal world I'd like to enter nearer the top and work to my strengths: organisation and people skills.

I'm afraid that this is probably not an option. Small companies who may take an inexperienced person at a higher job title will expect them to undertake a wide range of jobs, where as larger companies would only take you at the bottom and the biggest companies only take you in at the bottom when you have a range of professional experience.

 

*This is a pet peeve of mine! You should always pick the best person for the job, regardless of trying to fill 'quotas' and such idiotic concepts.

If the best person is disabled - well, you make the allowances for that disability.

Ditto. Anything else devalues the people with real skill who get there on their own merit as they can be accused of being quota fillers.

 

Some jobs are impossible (deaf sound engineer?),

I've worked with them too, at least I assume that was the problem.

[Jivemaster]

Many degree courses actually introduce you to the leading names in the relevant industry, so you may have to look around for these introductions. Also you could look widely at prospective employment locations, as some will have real difficulties making all their backstage areas chair friendly. Current builds should have much better access than listed buildings!

[w/robe]

I am not allowed to be the only technician in the PS wing

Why not? Do you have a tendency to spontaneously combust? I can think of no reason that you would have to be watched over. If you can perform the tasks required in the wing then you should be on your own, if you can not then you need someone else with you, that is true of any technician.

 

Sorry I shall stop being frivolous now. None of us in the BR know the extent of your disability and even if you told us (which I see no reason for you to do) we would all be supportive and encourage you to fulfill your ambitions. Likewise any educational establishment would do everything possible to make their courses accessible to you. However I do think that at some point you need to find someone who has worked extensively professionally and ask them to be honest and un-PC enough to realistically asses your prospects of gaining employment. I know that sounds harsh, sorry, sorry, sorry, but what I don't want you to do is to finish university, then train for another 1, 2 or 3 years then apply for jobs for months before discovering that there is no prospect of you gaining employment.

 

I really do wish you well and hope that everything works out for you.

 

Mark

[Jivemaster]

A good Cambridge degree will always help, and you will have it for life - it doesn't expire. At Uni you can cross disciplines simply by doing it. Your experience will help. In industry you will have problems getting past the personnel dept as you may not be able to tick enough boxes. You need to start NOW preparing a course into the industry, Attending as many events festivals conferences etc, selling yourself as a brilliant and inspired person. Entering the SM arena as DSM or ASM is going to be hard as there are activities you will never do -ladders tallescopes towers.

 

Start by keeping an address book of contacts, Keep it up to date, find ways to meet theatre owners, playrights, designers, production companies etc. See if you can get to develop a dramatic work from script to stage with the writer, getting involved at the beginning lets you work to your strengths without being restricted by your weaknesses.

 

Try to keep in touch with your health professionals and remain within your abilities -even if only just so!

[lukeb]

I am not allowed to be the only technician in the PS wing

Why not? Do you have a tendency to spontaneously combust? I can think of no reason that you would have to be watched over. If you can perform the tasks required in the wing then you should be on your own, if you can not then you need someone else with you, that is true of any technician.

 

I should elaborate. At our theatre, the SM is responcible for health and safety, and evacuating the backstage area in case of fire. Seeing as I have limited mobility, Theatre Management decide that I would not always be able to get around quickly and safely enough to sort out every concievable emergancy, I should have an ASM who would deal with emergencies for me. Since I started however, they have got to know my limitations better, (and have seen that during a fire drill I was able to fly the iron and evacuate and tick off a cast/band/crew of 60 in under two minutes) and have loosened up a bit. Even so, I feel happier having a handy ASM to send running on stage with a fire extinguisher when an actor drops his cigarette on something flamable.

 

Sorry I shall stop being frivolous now. None of us in the BR know the extent of your disability and even if you told us (which I see no reason for you to do) we would all be supportive and encourage you to fulfill your ambitions. Likewise any educational establishment would do everything possible to make their courses accessible to you. However I do think that at some point you need to find someone who has worked extensively professionally and ask them to be honest and un-PC enough to realistically asses your prospects of gaining employment. I know that sounds harsh, sorry, sorry, sorry, but what I don't want you to do is to finish university, then train for another 1, 2 or 3 years then apply for jobs for months before discovering that there is no prospect of you gaining employment.

 

I really do wish you well and hope that everything works out for you.

 

Mark

 

Have no fear in being harsh - I know for example, that my disability pretty much prevents me from becoming something like a TD or Cheif Lx, much as I would like to.

 

For those who are interested, I have athetoid cerebral palsy. My best lay description of this, is having a sober mind but drunk body.