How To Get Into A Theater Career Backstage

Stepping into backstage operate in the humanities. Simon Lovelace, founding father of technical crew training company Crew Class, offers strategies for a job in backstage technical work.

Qualifications aren’t everything – 1. Qualifications aren’t everythingYou have no need for a proper qualification to get involved with stagehand work. That which you need though is definitely an appropriate background, the right interests, and perhaps some knowledge about local bands, amateur theatre or casual work. If you are planning to perform a qualification, the feedback I am getting right now would be that the market is generally far interested in a BTEC in woodworking or electronics than the usual production arts degree. With woodworking, we all know you will be a reliable carpenter – if you have done electronics, we all know you’ll learn how to disassemble a moving light. Production arts, however, is really an extensive spectrum that for individuals really working in the market, it’s too vague. We do not know your learning, or how developed you’re really. 2. Transfer your skillsYou can spend a great deal of time and money carrying out a degree course being produced management. After graduating your competitor is going to be somebody who has labored their in place – they have began out like a stage hands, done several tours as mind of seem, and they are now getting too old to lug loudspeakers around, and that’s why they are stepping into the development management side.


Video advice: How Things Work: Backstage at a Theater


Complete List of Jobs in the Theatre Industry – There are many different types of jobs in theatre and knowing where to start in your theatre career search can be difficult. Whether you want to be an actor, work within backstage & technical theatre or in one of the many supporting roles our list is a great starting point to learn what role in theatre would best suit you. This complete list of careers in theatre is based on large-scale theatres in the UK. For smaller theatres or productions some roles in this list will not be applicable or the roles may be merged together.

There are many different types of jobs in theatre and knowing where to start in your theatre career search can be difficult. Whether you want to be an actor, work within backstage & technical theatre or in one of the many supporting roles our list is a great starting point to learn what role in theatre would best suit you.

Careers in Theatre and Dance

To be successful in the performing arts, students must develop a range of communication, organizational, and analytical skills in addition to honing artistic and technical ability. These skills are applicable to many careers, including those in the performing arts, and open up students to exciting career possibilities on and off stage.

  • Analysis
  • Artistic/Technical
  • Communication
  • Organization
  • Performance
  • Business
  • Design/Production
  • Education
  • Health/Wellness

Study of Theatre and Dance provides students with skills in:

To be successful in the performing arts, students must develop a range of communication, organizational, and analytical skills in addition to honing artistic and technical ability. These skills are applicable to many careers, including those in the performing arts, and open up students to exciting career possibilities on and off stage. But do I need a degree to perform, design, dance, direct, etc. ? While it’s true, a college degree does not guarantee a position in the world of theatre and dance (as is the case with any field), study and practice are the best ways to prepare yourself for the rigorous demands of the profession, therefore increasing your chances on the job market. Within the competitive landscape of the performing arts there are many very talented people vying for each job. To set yourself above the rest requires skills honed through training, knowledge acquired through study, and fortitude developed through discipline. Study of Theatre and Dance provides students with skills in: Analysis Problem SolvingAnalyzing and interpreting the emotions and motives of othersUnderstanding ideas within historical/social contextComparing and contrasting ideas/informationAttending to detailsCritical thinkingAdapting techniquesIntegrating diverse ideas from others Forming perceptions and seeing connections Artistic/Technical Creating and performingAbility to concentrate and practice intensely for long periods of timeProgram planningDetailed and accurate workWorking independentlyCollaboratively developing a project Communication Public speakingCommunicating ideas and emotions creativelySpeaking articulately and listening introspectivelyExplaining conceptsMaking keen observationsAbility to give and receive criticism Relating to people of varying backgrounds Organization Self-disciplineWorking under pressure and meeting deadlinesInteracting with colleagues in a team settingUtilizing available resourcesTime managementCreativityConcentration Career Fields Performance Students who study areas of performance (dance, acting, music theatre, choreography, directing, etc.

Get Into Theatre is the essential website to help you find all the information and opportunities you need to pursue a successful career in theatre in the UK. From backstage to performing, training to apprenticeships, you will find up-to-date theatre careers information and advice.

Theatre and Film

Discover a wide range of theatre and film arts, including acting and backstage technical work. Theatre majors can transfer to a four-year college to complete their degree.

Students in the Pierce College Theatre program collaborate with other classes across the theatre curriculum. Students in the acting classes act in the digital videos produced by the digital film-making classes. Digital film production/technical theatre students serve as the production crews for these same films. Students in English write film scripts to be used for the digital films.

Film subject matter includes all campus and community life, from dental hygiene to oceanography, from Pierce College basketball to early childhood education. Films that focus on community needs and community awareness are particularly encouraged. Digital film production at Pierce College Theatre is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with fellow theatre/film students, other departments and programs, the campus community and the greater Pierce County area.

Behind the Scenes: Backstage Majors and Careers in Theater

From directing to costume design, there are tons of career options off stage (and beyond). Search Thousands Of Colleges And Scholarships. Join Our Growing Community Of College Bound Students.

Theater: where people from all over the world come together to bring writing to life. Of course, being center stage isn’t for everyone. Luckily for those who would rather be behind the curtain, there is a wide range of majors and jobs essential to the art and craft of theater. Without these behind-the-scenes jobs, the show would most certainly not go on!

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Directing is one of the most important jobs in theater. The director is the one with the vision of how the show should look, steering everyone involved toward making the show the best it can be—not to mention a financial success. The director also helps run the show and coordinates with all other departments, from the costumers to the playwright to the actors to the producers. Directors might come to the job with a background in acting or theater studies, and they often work under other directors (as assistants or other roles), gaining lots of experience in the field until they strike out on their own. Careers in this field can go far beyond the theater to Hollywood movies and many other areas of work.


Video advice: What Should I Prepare For a Musical Theater Audition?


Backstage Theater Jobs, Employment

157 Backstage Theater jobs available on Indeed.com. Apply to Stage, Customer Service Representative, Production Assistant and more!

Costumes Apprentice – Theater TechnicianView all Kennesaw State University jobs in Kennesaw, GA – Kennesaw jobsSalary Search: Theater Technician salaries in Kennesaw, GASee popular questions & answers about Kennesaw State UniversityView all The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts jobs in Washington, DC – Washington jobsSalary Search: Theater Manager salaries in Washington, DCSee popular questions & answers about The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsStage TechnicianView all St. Catherine University jobs in Saint Paul, MN – Saint Paul jobsSalary Search: Stage Technician salaries in Saint Paul, MNSee popular questions & answers about St.

Theatre and Dance Majors and Degrees

Study acting, musical theatre, dance, design and technology, directing and stage management, theatre education, or theatrical studies.

The theatre teaching major will help you earn a secondary education teacher’s license. It provides a broad foundation in performance, theatre design and technology, and theatre history to prepare you for all areas of a high school drama curriculum and production program. Learn more.

  1. Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre
  2. (86 Credits)
  3. Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
  4. (50 Credits)
  5. Bachelor of Fine Arts
  6. (85 Credits)
  7. Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Theatre
  8. (64 Credits)
  9. (84 Credits)
  10. (62 Credits)

A bachelor of fine arts (BFA) in dance will prepare you for a career in performance, choreography, or studio teaching, or for advanced training in a quality graduate school or conservatory. It combines concentrated study in dance technique with courses in theatre and several other areas. In addition to technique and performance skills, this program develops an understanding of historical, social, and intellectual aspects of the art of dance. Learn more.

Backstage Opportunities – The Theatre Department has plenty of opportunities for students interested in every area of production.

Wardrobe assistants help the wardrobe supervisor, facilitating quick costume changes, hair, and makeup changes. They are the extra hands that put the finishing touches on an actor’s transformation into character. Volunteers will learn new techniques on the job, but should have a basic knowledge of hair and makeup before they begin. They must attend all technical rehearsals and performances.

  • Stage Management
  • Board Operators
  • Wardrobe Assistants
  • Run Crew

Theater – Christopher Newport offers over 80 areas of study, from art to physics and everywhere in between.

The theater minor allows you to pursue a meaningful exploration of the art of theater while undertaking a major in another discipline. Theater minors take an active part in the production process from performance to backstage. If you have a love for theater, but your primary interest is in another area, the minor is perfect for you.

  1. Concentrations
  2. Minors
  3. Core
  4. Electives
  5. Theater Core
  6. Additional Requirements

Working backstage in the Theatre

Ever wondered what jobs there were in the theatre that didn’t involve standing on it? Working as a theatre teckie or in costume, set, effects or make up is just as exciting, read what jobs you can get backstage.

Working backstage in the Theatre Roles behind the scenes There are many jobs in the theatre that do not involve being on stage but backstage and many people with a love of the theatre business prefer to be involved in the background, doing jobs that are vital in keeping the show running smoothly and looking great. Drama schools run classes in all kinds of backstage and technical work, as well as dance and drama classes and students often choose to mix both types of class for a well rounded education. So what jobs are available backstage in the theatre? Props ManagerThe props manager looks after the props department, buying props or overseeing their construction, then looking after them during the production, making sure they are in the right place at the right time. Theatres may have a stock of props that the manager is also responsible for taking care of and maintaining. Stage HandStage hands or stage technicians are responsible for moving scenery to the right place at the right time, a vital role in any production.

Where to Look

What to do, where to look, and how to build a career on Broadway.

  • Cross-State
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii

This section shares information about where to find Broadway and professional theatre jobs, as well as apprenticeships, fellowships, and/or internships through online links. This list is curated and is not intended to be inclusive of every theatre organization in the United States. Once you click on a link to a site, be sure to look around at other pages on that site as employment, internships and volunteer opportunities may be listed separately. If you have a suggestion of a new organization to list, please email us.


Video advice: Get Into Theatre


References:

College and university ensembles can usually find a staff person to fill the stage director’s role.

“A Performer's Guide to Seventeenth-Century Music, Second Edition” by Jeffery Kite-Powell, Sally Sanford, Stewart Carter, Julianne C. Baird, Anne H. Heider, Gary Towne, Herbert Myers, Bruce Dickey, Steven Plank, John M. Cooper, David Douglas, Julie Andrijeski, Mark Kroll, Marc Vanscheeuwijck, Paul O'Dette, Stuart Cheney, Jack Ashworth, George Houle, Dorothy Olsson, James Middleton
from A Performer’s Guide to Seventeenth-Century Music, Second Edition
by Jeffery Kite-Powell, Sally Sanford, et. al.
Indiana University Press, 2012

Get a job on the ground floor in one of the top talent agencies, management companies, or studios, and work your way up.

“Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business” by Chris Fenton
from Feeding the Dragon: Inside the Trillion Dollar Dilemma Facing Hollywood, the NBA, & American Business
by Chris Fenton
Post Hill Press, 2020

I went to Tucson and got my training, three years of college-level stage work, and went on to professional theater.

“We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy” by Kliph Nesteroff
from We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy
by Kliph Nesteroff
Simon & Schuster, 2021

As for finding a job in showbiz, the first thing was to get an agent.

“Storm in a C Cup: My Autobiography” by Caroline Flack
from Storm in a C Cup: My Autobiography
by Caroline Flack
Simon & Schuster UK, 2015

Go backstage afterward and connect in person.

“Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music” by Angela Myles Beeching
from Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music
by Angela Myles Beeching
Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2020

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