Title: The Curious Case of a Stage Manager’s Salary
Much has been said about the salaries of bankers, teachers, and cops, but when it comes to arts, people suddenly become tight-lipped. As a stage manager, I’ve always been perplexed. Is it because we’re ashamed to admit we are making money or worried about being underpaid? Are we trying to uphold the romanticized “starving artist” image?
Let me tell you, job compensation secrecy doesn’t help anyone. In fact, it could seriously help those who are contemplating diving into this unique career. By being more open, we could give aspiring stage managers a clearer picture of whether this vocation is financially viable.
Ironically, even though my posts about stage management salaries attract a lot of interest, I noticed no one wants to discuss their earnings – even anonymously! I’d encourage my fellow stage managers, particularly those with blogs, to be more forthcoming about their salary experiences, as it could be a great learning resource for others.
For instance, wouldn’t it be nice if, as a 19-year-old, you had insight into the salary progression of someone who’s been in the game for 10 or 20 years? It would give you a better idea of what you’re getting into – that it might be tough initially, but things could improve.
Now, let me share a bit of my own financial journey as a stage manager:
1. I initially earned $6.25/hr for a 20-hour week in college. It started because no one wanted to manage our shows, so they employed me.
2. A professor’s interference led me to a full-time technician role at the Performing Arts Center, earning more with no cap.
3. Next, I worked two seasons for a small touring theater company in Virginia for $500 a month, while also taking summer gigs as a Sound and Lighting Tech for extra income.
4. During the recession, I took a customer service job to help my financially-strapped parents.
5. Then came the early cruise ship days, grad school, returning to the cruise ship to pay off grad school, and a stint with the circus.
6. Currently, I work as a production manager, which, incidentally, pays considerably more than most stage manager roles.
To wrap up, my advice to budding stage managers is to absorb as much knowledge about the technical aspect of the job as possible. Not only does it make you a better stage manager, but it can also diversify your employment options and potentially increase your income.
All in all, what matters is that you can sustain yourself while doing something you love, right? So let’s make those salary discussions a little less taboo.
Endnotes:
Original post: August 22, 2014,
Keywords: stage manager salary, how much do stage managers make, stage management, money taboos, expected stage manager salary, stage manager salary survey.