Hello my good followers!
A little over a month in Chicago and it is a good feeling. I have my first big girl job in the field that I want and I love being able to come to a place that I enjoy working at. Often you will find me in the Steppenwolf offices just because. I feel as though I am fulfilling a good bit of my personal manifesto in which I mentioned how I just want to be all around the theatre. So thus far I have volunteered to do a lot of things like organize the supply closet or be an audition monitor. I have not been this happy in a long time and I am just thankful for the opportunity to work in my field.
But, oh yes there is a but to this fairytale...
I am trying to save up for my first apartment in the city and living in Chi-town is not like Athens (tear). So the hunt for a second job is definitely a focus as of now. I am trying to get more income as soon as possible to be in my own place by my 23rd birthday (April 9). So applications are going out everyday to different places (mostly arts organizations- museums, other theatres, etc.)I did get placed with a temporary agency and I will not say the name of the agency for the purposes of this story. But often this agency (or really any agency in the city) places individuals in administrative positions with a variety of companies (law firms, non-profits, etc.) When I first interviewed with the agency my consultant asked me, "Would you leave your job at Steppenwolf if you got a temp to hire position with more hours?" I replied, " I would have to see because I came to Chicago to work in theatre and not make money. I want to work somewhere where I will be fulfilled holistically"
So last week I get a call about a possible position with a company. During the call, the consultant from the temp agency wanted to prep me for a few questions that might be asked during the interview. She asked me, " What would you say if they were to ask you where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?" I replied, "Honestly, I would say I am looking to have a arts leadership or arts administration position." The next part of this conversation goes in a way that rubbed me in a wrong way. The consultant mentions that while it is good that I have a passion for the arts, I should not mention that to the company and in stead be very general and vague about the question saying that " I am interested in working in an office that I would enjoy going to everyday and the current job I have now is only nights and weekends."
This definitely hit the wrong chord with me and I spent the rest of the day figuring out how to process it all.
I guess the next way to explain my thought process is to mention a few main points that I have come up with.
1. Understanding the balance between settling and compromising
I remember taking my senior seminar class with Kristen Kundert-Gibbs and her saying that she did not want for us as theatre majors to graduate with a degree and go off to wait tables. This is why we developed 5 year plans for ourselves and did research to help us see get to the goals we wanted. That has always stuck with me and although I have defintely go away from my 5 year plan, I do not want to settle. Yet at the same time, I do have financial obligations so there may have to be some compromising involved. This may mean for a while I may have to to do things as a compromise to get into that apartment by April 9th. But as a theatre major I do understand this compromise will involve me utilizing the skills I have gained ....
2. Pay attention to a skill set of a theatre artist and not just my concentration
Yes I majored in theatre, but I am capable of a lot. Theatre teaches you about adaptation, flexibility, communication, being around people (go figure), faking it until we make it, and multi-tasking. For once, I would like for employers to realize the asset that you have in hiring someone with an arts background. So please pay attention to the skills!
3. I will not hide my passion for money, I can do that in Georgia.
I came to Chicago because I wanted to work in theatre. If I wanted to just get a job to make some money, I could have stayed in Athens to do that. And personally, I am determined to makes sure I don't hide my passion about the arts to anyone. If it comes to that point, well then I will be packing my suitcase and heading back home to the South. Money is not going to make me happy alone.
So where do I go from here?
I truly believe that I was brought to this city for a purpose. I don't believe in coincidences or happenstances and I have faith that everything will work out in the way it needs to. Call it naive, call it optimistic, I do not know any other way to live. In the interview, the 5 to 10 year question did not come up, but the interviewer from the company did ask what brought me here to Chicago to which I replied, " Steppenwolf" The interviewer did ask whether or not the work with Steppenwolf would interfere with the job with the company since it would be a 9 to 5 job. I mentioned that as of now the shifts are nights and weekends but I was hoping to get into arts administration as my ultimate goal and this experience would help me prepare for such a career.
I received an email from my temp agency consultant today who mentioned that I did not receive the job but that the interviewers were very impressed with me and would love to consider me in the future for other openings.
Not bad... and if they were lying..oh well.
I am committed to not being a starving artist. The skills I have, the passion I have, and most importantly the faith I have will get me where I need to be financially and artistically.
Death to the starving artist
P.S. If you know of any people hiring in Chicago (peferrably in arts organizations) let me know. My resume and cover letters are pretty bomb!
