Lindsey writes:
I am interested in technical theatre and I am thinking about majoring in it. My concerns are what type of steady occupation could I work in after college?
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me state that only you can answer your question. The ideal situation for any student or job-seeker is to find a job/career that you love — and that is in demand.
Technical theatre is all the stuff that goes on behinds the scenes — stage management, lighting, sound, props, wardrobe, scene design, etc. And as long as there is continued demand for theatre, there will be demand for the professionals who are responsible for just about everything but the acting.
My advice is to conduct some informational interviews with professionals working in the theatre. Informational interviews are where you sit down (in person, by phone, or electronically) with someone in a job that interests you. Ask as many questions as you can about how s/he broke into the field, how s/he sees future employment trends, how you can best prepare for a career in this field, etc. The goal is information. A side benefit is adding the person to your network. And in some cases, the interview may result in your being invited to apply for an internship.
I would also talk to the professors who teach the technical theatre courses. Ask about careers and ask about the placement of recent grads and other alums.
I haven’t seen any news indicating the demise of theatre in this country, but I think it’s a bit cyclical and tied to the economy — when people have jobs and are confident about their future, they are more likely to spend more money on entertainment, such as the theatre. But ask your professors and the professionals in the field — they will have the inside scoop.
Here’s a really cool site for technical theatre:
www.theatrecrafts.com.
And for books about technical theatre, check out: TheatreBooks: Technical Theatre.
