SoundGirls.org: Everyone has worked with a venue, or a crew, or even just one person where it would be so satisfying to colorfully tell them to shove it and then walk out the door for the last time. As satisfactory as that would be, realistically the majority of us in this industry will put up with a lot before we make that move. Everything from insane overtime hours to being overwhelmingly underpaid. Here’s the thing that no one is going to say, or at least not out loud
3 comments:
I’ve never been in the awkward position of having to send a resignation letter – when I left my job back home, it was because I was moving to another state (here) to go to school, so it was pretty obvious I wouldn’t be able to make the commute. I think it’s really important that every person knows for themselves what they’re willing to put up with, and what they’re not. The resignation letter requires a level of diplomacy and deference in order to not burn bridges, but you can’t sacrifice your personal principles or needs to stay at a company that has been detrimental towards you. The art of balancing these two things, and being able to state your reasons for why you left to hopefully improve the company in the future, is quite difficult. We talk a lot about how to position yourself to get a job, but learning when to quit is also important (in situations that are harmful to you). I feel like in theatre it’s often expected that you can just put up with anything.
Though the only time I have had to leave work was when I was leaving for college and could not make the 10 hour commute every weekend to run escape rooms and at the end of gigs and seasons I have wanted to quit before in certain scenarios. I feel like in the theater industry especially there is an expectation that you as an employee will put up with anything and everything for the sake of the art and show. I also see that in the meeting and festival industry. Though most of us know what we are getting into there is definitely a line that can be crossed and boundaries that can be broken and sometimes you just need to leave the job for everyone's sake. I feel that to resign respectful and with grace is the best way to leave a job because though it is tempting to rage quit from time to time the best course of action is to send a respectful resignation letter and leave quietly.
Theo Kronemer
While resigning is not something I’d had to do yet, being able to write a calm, concise resignation letter is an important skill to have in your back pocket, and I appreciate that this article so thoroughly covers some tips for writing the letter. (side note - I found this website recently and I really enjoy the content, information and resources they produce) I found it helpful that the article discusses writing your first letter and just letting out all your frustrations (and promptly deleting it). I also really appreciated her examples of writing segments. There are a lot of layers to a resignation letter - from what relationships you are trying to maintain or what venues you are trying to work at, but above all, (for the most part) you need to be able to articulate your thoughts to your employer - why the resignation letter. Overall, this article presents a very important skill to have, and it’s very useful. I’m going to bookmark it for later!
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