Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2011 - 14

of a teacher is to help the student fulfill his or
her dream!
Is a BA or BFA best for you? Do you
need any university training? Is a bachelor's
degree enough, or would a masters or a
doctorate be better preparation for the
career you want to pursue?
However, regardless of how well you did
in school-whatever your level of education
and training-it does not entitle you to a job in
theatre. Any formal education you have is only
going to be useful in a job if you can apply and
build on it as you continue to learn in whatever
job you have.
For me, every new opportunity has come
with its own steep learning curve, and-I have
to tell you-it didn't get easier with each new
job. For those of you who are just beginning
your career, your first major learning curve
will be moving from your formal training to
job training outside the nurturing environment
of a school. There are expectations for your
performance and you are getting paid. This
Friday from 9:30 to 11:00, there will be a panel
discussion entitled, "Are Students Prepared for
Their First Job?" Come and join us to explore
this issue.
Oh, dear, I'm getting so far from my
subject. " How do I make my theatre training
pay-off?" That is the question! And my topic, so
I should get back to it.
It's been my observation, and experience,
that learning is a continuing timeline that should
be constantly active throughout your life. So,
plain and simple, your theatre training needs to
be continuous and constant. To be successful in
theatre, you must always be in training.

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So, how are you going to train, develop,
and remain successful? Even if we assume
that job opportunities are likely to come in
some fashion if we diligently search for them,
what turns those opportunities into success?
Whether you're still in school or a professional
wanting to advance your career, I want to offer
four simple things that will make the most
difference in assuring your success.
Finally, I'm going to say something
important! Please, now is the time to pay
attention.
1) Be prepared;
2) Be alert and focused;
3) Be reliable;
4) Be aware and mindful of what is
needed and contribute to solving that need.
By keeping these four elements constantly
active you will be in perpetual "Theatre Training."
Be prepared. Obviously, the first formal
aspect in being prepared is your education.
Those of us in education strive to make sure
your training will provide you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in theatre and

summer 2011

entertainment as a career; that will lead to
you getting a job and assist you in maintaining your job; that will help you get another
job when it's time to move on. And, of course,
there is the hope your education is going to
be something that your employer is going to
consider important.
Of course you realize being prepared
never stops. You have to prepare for every
task, every meeting, every day. This is part of
being "in training."
Be alert and focused. Focus is not just
what you do while you are working, it's also how
you need to think about living your life, watching
others and their work, seeing and remembering
sights and sounds, visiting museums, building
friendships, etc. What do I want to do, and what
will it take to get there?
How do I best prepare for a job when I
don't know what job I'm going to end up with?
How can I get hands on job training when
I don't have job experience? Am I watching
the trends, am I keeping up with technology
advances? What path will prepare me to be
ready to take advantage of the opportunities
that come my way? What's more important
to me, economic security or job satisfaction?
How hard am I willing to work so that I can
have both? What am I prepared to do if I can't
find the job I want? Would I take a job when
I believe I'm over qualified for the position?
Oh, and there's one more very important
question. As we all know working in theatre
and entertainment, one is his or her own
independent contractor. How prepared are you
to be an entrepreneur in your own behalf?
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2011
