Jobs in MT -Musical Theater ? Need help with direction

Parent Cafe
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<p>I know its early in the process of picking jobs and looking 4 years down the road, but I need to let my D understand the reality of jobs in the MT field. I have read a lot of waiting tables and side jobs just to make it through, but with college loans, I wanted to give our D a “real” picture of how things may be when she graduates.</p>

<p>Does anyone have ideas of the reality of job with MT majors especially as entry level? My concerns are for steady work because the monthly loans will just keep coming.</p>

<p>thanks,</p>

<p>Dad in Training</p>

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<p>The most important thing she needs to know is to not incur debt in the performing arts.</p>

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<p>I suggest you go over to the Musical Theatre forum and repost your question. I’m sure you’ll get lots of varied answers. In my opinion, (and as parent of a junior majoring in MT), it really depends on the kid, their level of talent, their geographic location, their tenacity, their connections, etc. MT is so subjective, it’s not like you can just answer a want ad and get a job. </p>

<p>My D’s experience - she has been very busy during college developing connections. She has had internships with two different theater companies (one paid, one unpaid). Her school is not a “top” MT school (more known for arts management), but a couple of her friends have graduated and landed gigs with touring companies, cruise ships, regional theater. But, the overwhelming majority have day jobs - waiting tables, temping, running a box office, etc. D has two jobs - waitressing and nannying - and will probably continue after graduation while looking for acting jobs. </p>

<p>We went in to this knowing the odds and the likely income (very low) so we did not let our D take out loans for her undergrad degree. Because of that, she had to turn down some acceptances to “top” MT schools. But she is very happy where she is, has gotten some great experience, and will graduate debt free.</p>

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<p>[Musical</a> Theater Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/]Musical”>Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums)</p>

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<p>I would advise against loans or at least keep them to the bare, bare minimum for this type of major/career because the steady money just isn’t going to be there for most kids.</p>

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<p>If she can do tech or adminisrative work as well as performing, she may find steadier work in that industry.</p>

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<p>Another thing to remember is that jobs in the performing arts are rarely “steady” jobs. More likely, its a gig here and a gig there. With lots of time, perhaps, between jobs. Kids need to be able to manage their money well to make it last between jobs, as well as have backup plans. Unless they are planning to live at home with mom and dad forever.</p>

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<p>Steady work, solely onstage in MT, is not the case for virtually anyone. The number who are successful at achieving that is so small a number that the concept shouldn’t even be considered. Even those who have been very successful in shows on Broadway, off-Broadway, national tours, respected regional theatres, etc., all have frequent periods of unemployment. Looking to book the next job is the ever present reality. Most kids who graduate from college with a degree in theatre will not be able to find sustained employment solely in the field. This is a reality and everyone entering that path should understand it. As has been said, a student should not be taking on loans with the expectation that theatre work will be a way to pay them off. Without another source of steady income, or financial help from family, most students would not be in a position to pay off student loans. It’s a harsh truth but one that every kid who has dreams of being up on that stage needs to be aware of before they start the process.</p>

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<p>We knew one highly talented MT kid that opted for business/communications major (with an Entertainment emphasis). He figured that would give him better chance to be involved with something he loved. His school had a lot of drama/MT EC options too. </p>

<p>By graduation he had shifted his focus and found better opportunities in another industry.</p>

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<p>How about getting an education degree with the musical theater so that you can teach? If you can’t get a job teaching in a school - you can always get a job with a music studio or hang up a shingle and teach from home.</p>

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<p>Actually that is what I feel would be the best all-round best option since she is so good with kids and has always had an amazing natural ability to teach.</p>

<p>I personally feel that an option of a teaching minor will help more in the long run.</p>

<p>Anyone go in that direction and input is always welcome.</p>

<p>Dad in Training</p>

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<p>My D graduated 3 years ago from a top university with an MT degree and student loans. She has been living at home and working at a restaurant since graduation. She has also done a regional show and community theater and has taught dance and drama to elementary age children. All of these jobs (except the community theater) have required driving 30-50 miles one way. She has put 40,000 miles on her car in about 15 months. And been paid very little. She adamantly says she doesn’t want to teach and would not hear of getting a teaching certificate, but… she is about to go to Asia to teach English for a year. Go figure.</p>

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<p>It’s a sad thing to report, but having a teaching degree in an arts field will not insure a job. My D, a music major, made sure she had her teaching credentials, got her license in both our home state and her university’s state. It took two years to find a teaching job, with a 3.969 CUM and several long-term substitute positions. One of her friends, a MT major, finally got a job through Teach for America, but it’s for 3rd grade. What a world!</p>

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<p>I will speak about personal experience since I have a daughter who got a BFA degree in musical theater and graduated over three years ago. We are paying the college loans, not her. I agree with alwaysamom that it is not wise for someone to go into this with student loans of any significant amount (a small amount may be OK, as my D’s boyfriend who has a BFA in drama from the same university is paying some student loans as an actor). I also agree with alwaysamom and others that steady work as a performer is not the norm, and so most working performers also have other jobs or skills that they do when not performing. However, I don’t think this needs to be waiting tables or working retail (though am not knocking those options). My D graduated NYU/Tisch in May 2009 at age 20 and has supported herself living in NYC since graduation day entirely in the fields of theater and music only. However, she is involved in four facets of the field, not just one, and has a myriad of skills. And while has has taught, she did not have any minors in college but only focused on musical theater and acting. </p>

<p>General summary of what she is involved in to earn money, again, all in her field, for the past 3+ years out of school:</p>

<p>1) Performing in musical theater:
Was cast right out of college. Has a talent agent. Is a member of Actor’s Equity. Been on a national tour of a musical. Been in musicals in NYC. Recently played a lead in a new musical written by a Tony nominated playwright in a regional theater. Been in various workshops and readings of new musicals. Played a lead in NYC in a musical she wrote. Performs weekly in NYC in a sketch musical comedy show that she also writes for. Performs frequently in various cabarets and showcases in theaters and concert venues in NYC with Broadway actors and composers. Was recently in a rock opera show at the Sydney Opera House. Just turned down a role in a musical in Australia. </p>

<p>2) Performing as a singer/songwriter:
Has put out an album of original songs. Performs regularly in concert gigs in venues in NYC (and one in LA) that she books as a solo performer with a back up band performing original music, including ongoing residencies at some venues. Has achieved several significant recognitions as a singer/songwriter, but I don’t want to name these selections or awards which may identify her. Often selected to be in concerts or showcases of singer/songwriters, including one tomorrow night in NYC with some major people in the industry. </p>

<p>3) Musical theater writer/composer/lyricist:
My D did not set out to have a career in this area but happens to be skilled at it and has achieved a lot in this area. She wrote her first musical in senior year of college which was performed. That musical later went on to have a concert version at a venue in NYC, selected to be workshopped at some place I don’t wish to name with a Broadway director, showcased at a national new musical event for the industry in NYC, and received an Equity production in NYC and is now selected this fall to be a mainstage musical at a university. The musical was a finalist for a major national award. She has a theater literary agent. She was commissioned by a Tony award winning regional theater to write a new musical for them. She was commissioned by Disney to write music. She is the composer in residence at a theater in NYC and is commissioned to write a piece for them too. She has been selected as a MacDowell Fellow. She has performed in some showcases featuring her as a musical theater composer/writer.</p>

<p>4) “Survival jobs”:
Since she can’t rely on a constant income from all of the above (though she earns money doing all those things), she always has ongoing “survival jobs” but these change periodically. Her current survival job is being on the faculty part time at a BFA in MT program in NYC. Other ones she has done to date include: musical director for another BFA in MT program in NYC, accompanist for classes in a BFA in MT program in NYC, accompanist for high school MT training programs as well as for youth programs, vocal teacher and musical director for a high school aged private musical theater academy, accompanist for a choral program for teens, teacher/accompanist for music program for tots and their moms, private vocal coaching, writing songs for others and also recording albums for them, musical director for a year long musical theater program/production of a new musical by a Tony nominated playwright/composer with teens in NYC, accompanist for a theater company that performs in schools and such, commissions to write songs for special events. Performer/writer for a musical series for a new channel on YouTube for a well known corporation. Music videos. </p>

<p>That is just one snapshot of one kid who just turned 24. But as others have said, no performing jobs are steady work and so it is constant job hunting and piecing together many jobs at times. My D’s life is busy 24/7 but she is totally immersed in her field (even in her so-called “down time” such as a few nights ago, she sang songs for a wedding processional at a wedding she attended for the playwright who is collaborating with her on one of her commissions).</p>

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<p>OP, your D needs to read soozviet’s post about a dozen times. The best way to make a living is to be able to do* a lot*. I know more musicians than actors, but it’s the same way with them. We have a neighbor who supports a family nicely as a working musician. But he sings - multiple styles, performs in concerts, shows, records; he plays two instruments well; he does commerical jingles; he composes and arranges; he organizes and writes corporate shows and cruise show entertainment. At one time when his kids were little, he was really close to taking a full time university job, just to get a steady paycheck.</p>

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<p>Yes, “do a lot” AND live in a market that has enough work opportunities to support a performing artist or a performing arts teacher. Living at home is only an option if you live in an urban environment that has abundant opportunities to teach and perform.</p>

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<p>My D is in a slightly different place in that she wants to be a pit performer. She started her BMus in Performance degree under the guidance of her Prof not letting her take a performance only major because he was blunt and told her she would not likely be able to the pay rent for a number of years. She took a dual Major in Peformance and ED. She is now a senior but at the end of her 5th semestre she decided she could not handle teaching (student teaching was all she had left) but sat down with the head of music business and worked a plan that would allow her to take all the course she would need between summer courses etc. to graduate this coming May with a Dual Major in Performance and Music Business. She has been primarily taking Orchestral courses. Heavy work load but she is handling it. She has many contacts and has been told that in the MT industry it is more of who you know and not what you know. She is trying to build contacts continuosly. She is now applying for MMus and is hoping for NYU and to be able to take the dual track of Orchestral and Broadway performance. She is realistic and knows that she will need another job to pay the bills and that is why the business major. She is graduating with her BMus completely debt free and we are saving big time to help with her Masters. If she does go to NYU it is $75,000 per year and we have almost saved up her first year, we figure that the most she will be is $25,000 in debt total, but even that is hard start out with. It is hard life but it is her dream, I would not be so understanding if she was not realistic about needing a second job and thought it was just going to fall on her plate.</p>

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<p>PERCUSSIONDAD: something to get involved in:</p>

<p>[Save</a> Live Music On Broadway - The Council For Living Music](<a href=“http://savelivemusiconbroadway.com/]Save”>http://savelivemusiconbroadway.com/)
Canned music is killing the pit. It stinks.</p>

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<p>MUSICAMUSICA, been there-done that and would buy the tee shirt if I could. :slight_smile: It is incredible how people can think this way. I dont know if you have ever seen the Jersey Boys but I want to see them do that with canned music. With the drummer (my D wants that job) on a motorized platform moving around the stage. I really think the actors/actresses would also lose a lot of the atmosphere since live means just that, little mistakes here or there, a missed cue that the pit can repeat a bar for to get the singer back on. There is nothing like live theatre.</p>

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<p>Similar stuff is happening here in Hollywood. Movie studios send composers and arrangers to Eastern Europe to record soundtracks for a fraction of the price. Outsourcing our arts is a tragedy.</p>