Underpaid Jobs and Their Unexpected Lessons
When you’re passionate about something, like art, you often compromise on the paycheck. Some artists justify their low earnings by saying they’re pursuing their dreams, or highlighting the high costs of creating art and the challenges in fundraising. For me, most of the time, this is nonsense. You shouldn’t hire professionals if you can’t afford them. However, I’ve stumbled upon some life lessons from a few lower-paying jobs over the years.
One summer, I managed a summer camp production at a regional conservatory. Here, I learned I genuinely disliked working with kids. This realization came as quite a surprise, but it’s helped me steer clear of such jobs, even though some of them pay quite well. On a positive note, I discovered a love for mentoring. Teaching a college student how to manage a stage was a rewarding experience.
While working a job simply titled “The Midnight Frolic,” I realized I had more skills than I initially thought. Hired as a PSM, I ended up with many other responsibilities, such as dance captain and music director. There was also a lot of budget management. This experience made me truly appreciate having a full team.
Next, there was “Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical,” a unique project that used an Equity Guest Contract. Here, I got a crash course in stage management, despite the peculiar working conditions. Sadly, the poorly paying project resulted in continuous job offers in the same pay range.
There was a project revolving around drumming for Haiti, where I learned that some productions just can’t be saved.
One of my early experiences was with a small theater company touring around and performing skits about drug prevention. These performances raised money for our company. This was my first taste of touring and the challenges that came with adapting performances to different venues – from churches to prisons. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the variety and the occasional long trips in a van.
Have you ever taken up a job that paid less than what you deserved? Did it serve a purpose or teach you something valuable in a roundabout way? Share your experiences. And while you’re here, check out more stories about my journey in stage management.