After spending four years in Ryerson’s theatre production program, Teeft works as a restaurant hostess making money to cover her OSAP payments.
“I worked at a few theatres doing some stage management jobs for about two months and then as those started to dwindle off, I had to start doing more restaurant work,” Teeft said.
8 comments:
This article seems to be covering two major points: Joining IATSE and figuring out that working in the theatre industry is harder than it looks. The first point is something that we actually just covered today in Production Personnel Management. It makes sense that many of the students graduating in Canada are joining IATSE. The theatre scene in Canada is not as widespread as it is in the US, and I can imagine how difficult it would be for graduating students to land theatre jobs right off the bat. By joining IATSE or pursuing the Apprenticeship program, students are finding ways to break into the theatre industry (and learning what it takes to actually make a living off of it!)
Second, it seems as if Ryerson is taking an extremely negative approach with their students. This article makes it seem like if you go to school for technical theatre, you wither join IATSE, work in a restaurant, or go back to school for something more practical. Since I haven't graduated yet, I cannot personally say this holds true for CMU grads, but from what I have seen this is not exactly the case for people graduating from our program. Yes, it is not easy. But there are definitely ways to maintain work without joining IATSE straight away.
I agree with Jess, Ryerson is taking a really negative approach. While telling them right off the bat that not everyone will get a job is practical because it is true, it sets up a tone of "I guess I just won't try then" and I think it sets the students up for failure. It also seems like they talk to their students about joining a union, but don't stress it enough if the students are not taking advantage of the union route. I think this goes back to them telling the students that not everyone will get a job.
I'm not pretending that CMU is so much better and everyone gets a job out of our school, but I have never heard the depressing statement s that I definitely won't get a job out of college because of the degree I chose (at least not from the school).
This article is definitely an eye opener. I always contemplate on if going into the entertainment business is what I really want to do and want to be a part of. Going to an art school and learn what you love is a dream, but does it all pay off in the end. I do agree with this article that there are a lot of job opportunities, but there are also a lot of people competing for the same job. It can be risky being a part of this business, but it's a lot on who you know and then once you've been given the opportunity, then it's what you know. I still feel like I made the right decision. I just hope I'm following the right path.
I would have to agree with Jess, Ryerson's Theatre program is not making a good name for itself. When graduating from a theatre program, you don't have to choose between IATSE and freelance design. There are so many jobs and opportunities that arise after gradation other than theatre. Sure there are not many jobs and a lot of people to fill them, but if you believe in yourself and continue fighting you will eventually make a name for your self. Nobody should expect a job after graduation, you need keep proving yourself to maintain work and moving forward within your career.
By giving students a harsh realistic perspective on the real world and job opportunities, you both help and hinder them. On the one hand, you weed off students who may not be as serious or determined, or those who don't handle rejection well; therefore, you only have students that are really focused to succeed.
On the other hand, this negative attitude right off the bat signals a "might as well not try" mentality from some students with otherwise magnificent potential. Education is about inspiring the younger generation and pushing them to work hard in order to have them figure out what they're good at and what they can contribute to the world.
By stating that they will be unsuccessful in the future, you squash all that potential and possible future contribution.
This article was kind of frustrating and annoying. They're stating that there isn't enough opportunity in technical theatre for the amount of people to be studying it that there are, but then they're stating that 85% of the students graduating ARE employed in their field within 6 months of graduation? That sounds like a pretty good statistic for me.
Not to mention the fact that they examined a program which graduates 70 students per year, a number completely unheard of in any American university. You can't expect for your university to provide job opportunities for you when your graduating class has 69 other students that want their degree to get them somewhere just as bad as you do. This article took an incredibly negative approach in all the wrong ways.
As a student it can be so easy to get stuck within the walls that projects and homework build up around us. While it can be a great thing to focus solely on our studies, I think we miss out on some incredible opportunities to be influenced by the outside world while we are still growing. By working with professionals, even local artists with more experience than you, you can learn "the tricks of the trade" while still having a home-base at school where you can apply your knowledge, get advice from professors, and rely on school resources. Of course, "making it" right after school is always going to be hard, but by associating yourself while still in school with those who may be struggling (or thriving!) in the industry, I think you can better prepare yourself for what's to come and progress more quickly after graduation.
I am so sick of people thinking they have the right to tell people about what they can and cannot do! We get it! Being successful in the arts is challenging. Not everyone will make it. There isn't enough funds, there are limited jobs, it's unstable, blah blah blah. For a change I'd like to hear someone make positive and inspirational remarks about being in the arts. Share different resources and strategies to navigate the business and how to succeed. At the end of the day it is our lives, and essentially our responsibility to be successful or not. Anyone with drive, and handwork can make it at anything. Cheesy as it sounds, but I believe it. So instead of harping on the same old demoralizing crap, I challenge writers to affirm and support future artists and technicians.
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