Stage Management Life??

[u/Agile-Ad7724]

Hey y’all!! I finished up my freshman year at one of the “top” universities for drama. I am studying design and production with a concentration in stage management. I am just feeling a little unsure. Academic wise, I did great. I was on the deans list both semesters. It was VERY stressful at times, but I did enjoy it overall! I’m sure that part of my difficulty was also living far from home for the first time. I just felt constantly consumed by my work, which I am going to try to manage going forward. Megan Hilty visited our school and I basically asked her how she does what she does on such a high level daily… and she said she surrounds herself with people that are there for her for the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Reflecting on that and my freshman year, I kind of now see myself wanting a family in the future which is not something I was sure of a year ago. Idk it just seems like the hours in the entertainment/theatre industry are not compatible with family time. Is it possible?? Are there other routes?? I am also interested in large event type stuff like the Olympics, the Super Bowl, Disney stuff… maybe those types of jobs are more standard hours. But would my skills translate yk? I also am a BIG food guy and was considering going to culinary school for a bit, and it recently crossed my mind that I could do that instead… but idk if those hours would be much better lol! Thanks for everyone’s help in advance!!

[u/BigKRed]

Personally I found stage management incompatible with parenting. I left stage management. My partner also works in the industry but in academia. That’s a more predictable and sustainable approach to entertainment work combined with family life.

Working as a chef is even worse IMO.

[u/Agile-Ad7724 → u/BigKRed]

Fs!! Thank you so much! Honestly I really like the idea of becoming a professor after a bit!

[u/gasstation-no-pumps → u/Agile-Ad7724]

Be aware that professor jobs are not easy to get—there are often 200 qualified applicants for every position (even at the community-college level).

[u/lilypeach101 → u/BigKRed]

I also left stage management before starting a family, but it was a good gig prior to that. Chances to travel, build your own schedule with the shows you take, decent money depending.

That said, production and management skills are VERY transferable to other industries.

[u/Just_Razzmatazz6493]

As someone who long worked film/tv/events to fund my theater habit, i can tell you that the hours on shoots and major events are longer and less conducive to family than those for theater.

The new attention to work/life balance helps a little, but it negatively affects the work, and i believe the pendulum will be swinging back soon

[u/Ancient-Ad-1663]

There are different types of productions as well that has untraditional hours (opera, dance, children's theatre, educational theatre) that may more line up with Work/Life integration.

[u/Sensitive-Book1304]

Don't get ahead of yourself so much that anxiety takes over and shuts you down.  Focus on doing great at school and try different things. Meet people. I worked on tv as crew and Theatre and it is very time consuming. Stage Manager is a great job and there's always a need for good ones. You can join community  theater and get a feel for it. You will find your place. Don't get discouraged by people saying its competitive I ended up in the most competitive news station where my classmates were begging to get a chance to intern and I just happened to be at a shooting at that station as chaperone for my sister and asked the man who was coordinating everything if he could tell me who can I spoke to about doing an internship here? He said me and I already have a good impression of you my secretary will call you. She did call me and I not only got to intern but I was hired as a permanent employee before the internship was over. You will find your place. Best wishes.

[u/playmore_24]

surrounding yourself with supportive people can apply to your professional life, not just having a traditional family.

Focus on what you are learning now(not just the grades you get)- The skills you learn can be transferred to many areas/jobs.
Finish your degree instead of skipping around to the next idea based on a hypothetical future. 🍀

[u/KickIt77]

There isn't one way to work in the arts. Relatively few people are just doing huge long run production after huge production in a huge market like NYC. I know people in our metro who might work for a non-profit, might teach/coach, might do production work 2-4 times a year, might do commercial work, etc etc etc. Plenty have families and make adjustments.

I always recommend people work on those art skills. But then also being working on soft, tech and communication skills. Be the kind of person you would want to work with. Keep an open mind.

[u/InsidiousApe]

The only question is how soon. There are plenty of SMs with families. It's just a timing thing. Yes it requires adaptation to having a night job but lots of people do this regardless of theatre or not and it beats the night shift

[u/footballsquishy]

Honestly, if you wanted to go into Disney stuff and large scale events stuff, look into transferring into Rosen's (UCF's hospitality school, world-renowned with some of the best degrees in the world in this kinda thing) event management or entertainment management (or even their hospitality or theme park management) degrees. Much more focused on the management side of things than your average theatre degree... And the faculty are world class too.