#53: Dear Julie: First Professional Job!
Wednesday 9/11/24
DEAR JULIE: I got cast in my first professional show! I’m scared though. How can I show up as a professional though I haven’t been a professional before? I have done a lot of shows and have my theatre degree so I have a lot of experience but not with seasoned pros. I’m in the ensemble!
First off - SO EXCITING! Congrats!!!! This is a huge milestone for you. Whether someone is paying you $5 or $5,000, you are being paid for your craft. Those first few jobs are so thrilling. And honestly, good on you for asking this question. Many people don’t really know what to expect and it definitely IS a different environment.
Here are some bullet points to consider as your navigate this time!
If the show is from the standard MT canon, then there should be source material. You don’t need to memorize the show in advance, but professional shows usually move very quickly and it’s probably in your best interest to not have the first time you hear the music at a rehearsal. I believe that actors should be paid for that time for prep, but I also think of the pay once the show opens as backpay for any work i did earlier before rehearsals haha. If you have 5 shows a week, thats about 15-20 hours of work a week but your pay is the same from when you had 40+ hours of rehearsal a week. To be clear, not getting extra pay to review a bit before is a big deal and sticking point for some actors - it is not to me. I’m ok without receiving extra money!
Introduce yourself to everyone. Not just the cast/creative team. Meet the stitchers, meet the house staff, meet each musician, meet designer and technician and janitor. Get comfortable shaking hands and approaching faces you don’t know.
Clock how the director works asap. I once worked for a director who wanted to see props. She didn’t come right out and say it - but any time an actor WOULD have a prop (even when blocking) she’d ask someone to find something to use as a stand in. What I realized the first HOUR was that she wanted to see the props. So, go once props start arriving, USE THEM! That was just this director but when people didn’t have a prop, the rehearsal stopped. I simply don’t want to be the cause of a pause.
Make sure you know the pay structure and if you do not know, ASK! Are you on a 1099? Or are taxes being taken out? How are you getting around (if it show is out of town)... how are you getting to the grocery store? How are you getting to rehearsals? Pause subscriptions at home you can’t use in a new location like wifi, tv, gym.
FIND OUT HOW YOU ARE GETTING TO HOUSING FROM THE AIRPORT! Get late night/emergency contact #s in case of travel issues.
Back to process things haha - don’t take up more than your fair share of the directors time. Let me say that again… DON’T TAKE UP MORE THAN YOUR FAIR SHARE OF THE DIRECTORS TIME. Don’t be the only person talking. Answer questions succinctly. I remember I worked for a theatre several years ago and a question was posed to the group - a theoretical question not like ‘who moved that block’. One person answered. Then, she answered the next and the next and the next. And the answers were LONG. You need to be mindful when you may be co-opting the room. This is no longer an educational environment. You need to learn to be succinct and know when you’ve had enough of the floor.
Be aware of your hygiene and breath.
Take up only your space in the dressing room.
Since you are in the ensemble, make sure you track your costume changes so that you aren’t deciding to change when a principal has a quick change. Like if you have 20 minutes to change, don’t do it when there are other important things happening. Plan appropriately so you aren’t creating mess, chaos, or taking up extra space.
Once something is staged, be off book on it for the next time it is touched.
Be full out except when told to mark or if you ask to mark.
Bring a snack and once in a while something to share :)
Your job as the ensemble is to highlight the main action of the scene. You are to help the audience know where to look. Pulling focus or overblowing a moment may take focus off of the main action. Don’t do that unless explicitly told to do so.
Bring a cute opening night fit! Never get hammered. Don’t cry in a parking lot. Control yourself.
Wear appropriate undergarments for fittings and prep your hair for wig fittings.
No spraying perfume in a dressing room!
Go to your stage manager if there are traffic issues, dressing room issues, or safety issues.
Never walk in front of the director (aka crossing downstage) always cross UPSTAGE and go around if needed.
Stay engaged in rehearsals even if you are waiting or the scene is long. You are at work. It’s respectful to watch your peers.
Time is important. Be on time. Be back from breaks on time.
Say Hi and Bye to everyone you see on the way in and out.
Have fun!
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie