Let’s Meet a Jobless Stage Manager: A Daily Slice
Mel, aka the mastermind behind brokeGIRLrich, first started blogging to keep herself in line while tackling student debt. But once she settled her debt, she re-evaluated and decided to use her blog to portray an honest look at life and finances in the art industry.
Over the years, Mel has been fortunate to land jobs frequently, even if they came just in the nick of time. But this wasn’t the case last winter – the first dry employment spell since she quit cruise ships back in 2012. Here, she takes us through a couple of typical jobless days. Go easy on her though guys, it’s not all fun and games!
Day 1 of Unemployment:
9:00 AM – Rise and shine. Whip up some coffee and a nutritious breakfast.
9:30 AM – Pen an article for brokeGIRLrich. Tackle some freelance writing tasks.
11:30 AM – Look into valuable skills, like pyrotechnics and becoming a notary.
12:00 PM – Browse for more freelance gigs or transcribe audio.
12:30 PM – Chow time.
1:00 PM – Dive into a blogging course.
4:00 PM – Job hunt on OffStageJobs and Playbill.
4:30 PM – House cleaning time and laundry chores.
6:00 PM – Learn Russian with Rosetta Stone.
6:30 PM – Dinner’s ready.
7:30 PM – Head to the gym.
9:00 PM – Work on personal projects, like revamping the cork board.
10:00 PM – Unwind with some TV time.
12:00 AM – Catch some Z’s.
Day 63 of Unemployment:
11:00 AM – Up and at ’em. Brew coffee.
1:00 PM – Scrounge some food.
1:30 PM – Back on the job hunt.
2:30 PM – More writing for brokeGIRLrich.
5:00 PM – Snack and a TV break.
6:00 PM – Brief existential crisis. Will work ever come again?
6:15 PM – Explore potential careers outside of the arts.
7:45 PM – Pat self on the back for environmentally saving laundry decision – stay in PJs all day.
9:00 PM – Mindless internet browsing. Thank you, Twitter and Pinterest.
11:30 PM – Couch potato time with The Librarians.
12:30 AM – Realize dinner was forgotten. Eat.
1:30 AM – Multitask by checking social media while watching TV.
3:00 AM – Time for some shut-eye.
Coming out of unemployment, Mel now sees the steady downward spiral of her jobless period despite her best effort to avoid it. She has a newfound respect for anyone who’s been through extended unemployment – it wears you down faster than you’d think.
If you’re also an arts worker facing a jobless period, here are a few things Mel suggests to keep you busy:
– Start or work on a side gig (perhaps a blog?)
– Learn a new language using free online resources.
– Attend classes to boost your resume and network.
– Volunteer.
If any of these snapshots of a jobless stage manager piqued your interest, Mel’s got more insights to share about life as a stage manager:
– A Day in the Life of a Touring Children’s Theater Stage Manager
– A Day in the Life of an Off-Broadway Production Manager
– A Day in the Life of a Circus Stage Manager
– A Day in the Life of a Cruise Ship Stage Manager
– A Day in the Life of a Non-Equity Touring Stage Manager
Spread the word, share the journey of a stage manager finding her way through the wild world of art and unemployment.