3 answers
Maggie
Student
Canton, Georgia
1
Question
Asked
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What are some good part time jobs for students about to pursue a performance degree? Specifically jobs in the music/performance space or adjacent to that.
I am a graduating senior who will be pursuing a BFA in Musical Theater in the Fall. I want to get a job to start supplementing my schooling. In addition to musical theater I love choral music and singing as an art form. I want to get a job that allows me to work on my craft as well as make money.
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3 answers
Saint P
SongWriter and Creative writer
59
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Saint’s Answer
Hey Maggie!
Since you're starting a BFA in Musical Theater, it’s smart to find a job that supports your craft. Teaching voice to kids or beginners is a great way to make money and stay sharp. Church choir gigs are another solid option—usually weekly and paid. You could also look into event singing, like weddings, or even voiceover work online.
If you want to stay in the theater world, working as an usher or helping with kids' theater programs can keep you in that creative space. The goal is to find something that either uses your voice or keeps you close to the action.
Let me know if you want help getting started!
Hope this helps—
Good luck!
Saint
Since you're starting a BFA in Musical Theater, it’s smart to find a job that supports your craft. Teaching voice to kids or beginners is a great way to make money and stay sharp. Church choir gigs are another solid option—usually weekly and paid. You could also look into event singing, like weddings, or even voiceover work online.
If you want to stay in the theater world, working as an usher or helping with kids' theater programs can keep you in that creative space. The goal is to find something that either uses your voice or keeps you close to the action.
Let me know if you want help getting started!
Hope this helps—
Good luck!
Saint
Chelita Hagan
Writer
6
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Chelita’s Answer
Consider joining theater schools or academies, or volunteering at a performing arts school. These are great ways to learn, grow, and shine in the world of acting or preforming.
Michelle M.
Actress
2420
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Maggie !
I think I have some ideas for you that may help you understand what road to take for a part time job and in addition, some advice for college. Congratulations on your upcoming high school graduation !
My first recommendation is that it is going to be much easier and quicker to get a job connected to musical theatre by applying for Federal Student Financial Aid and selecting the Work Study option as part of your package. This will allow you to work in the Musical Theatre Department on a Work Study job and it will be double the learning experience. You may even be an audition assistant, work on costumes, be a peer career advisor to fellow students, or any position the department sees fit whether it's in the actual Theatre Department or the genre of Musical Theatre. Once you receive word that you have been granted Work Study, immediately go to the office and tell staff and they will guide you from there. No need to waste time looking for a job off campus in theatre because you need look no further than campus for now.
The way it is right now, not too many people in theatre hire people without advanced experience so the work study route is your quickest and best bet. Theatres make do with multitasking the employees they already have and volunteers. I know so many theatres that are dark due to the expense it costs to mount a show at this time.
As someone who obtained her degree in Theatre, I can advise you to not forget about performing, either. I highly advise auditioning for the college productions, but try to mostly do shows in the community because they will carry a lot more credibility than college plays and musicals. Frankly, in the past, every college production I have seen has been very high quality but the Casting people sometimes don't think like that. I did mostly plays, TV and film outside of college during college for production companies not affiliated with the university. As a student, someone gave me this same advice so I share it with you now.
For this summer, focus on volunteer work, a quick way to get experience and fun volunteer work. Visit the Canton Theatre in downtown Canton as well as The Cherokee Theatre Company. They most likely will welcome a volunteer. Check now to see if either are offering a Performance Internship for the summer as that could be an option, too. Once you're at college, though, remember the Work Study opportunity.
You should choose any major you want, but I also have some advice about a Bachelors Degree in Musical Theatre. I would highly recommend changing it to Theatre, however. Musical Theatre is a genre, not a career and the degree is so limiting that it may not prove to open opportunities for you for non-performance work. As a Theatre Major, you will and can be involved with musicals. You learn most of the genre by being in a musical as directors can be good with feedback and direction is a form of learning, too. With a degree in Theatre, you can obtain a non-performing job in theatre as well, many non-performing fields of work honor that you simply have a Bachelors Degree, but Musical Theatre does not reflect a wide range of skills, singing, dancing and acting are crucial for performing, but all actors know several genres already. While in college, I took dance and singing in the P.E. and Music departments and learned a lot. College costs a lot of money so I like to advise, if you're a performer, get a Bachelors Degree that points to a field of work and not a genre. It's up to you, though.
There's a lot more information to advise about but I hope this helps and I wish you all the best ! Enjoy the path to becoming a performer !
I think I have some ideas for you that may help you understand what road to take for a part time job and in addition, some advice for college. Congratulations on your upcoming high school graduation !
My first recommendation is that it is going to be much easier and quicker to get a job connected to musical theatre by applying for Federal Student Financial Aid and selecting the Work Study option as part of your package. This will allow you to work in the Musical Theatre Department on a Work Study job and it will be double the learning experience. You may even be an audition assistant, work on costumes, be a peer career advisor to fellow students, or any position the department sees fit whether it's in the actual Theatre Department or the genre of Musical Theatre. Once you receive word that you have been granted Work Study, immediately go to the office and tell staff and they will guide you from there. No need to waste time looking for a job off campus in theatre because you need look no further than campus for now.
The way it is right now, not too many people in theatre hire people without advanced experience so the work study route is your quickest and best bet. Theatres make do with multitasking the employees they already have and volunteers. I know so many theatres that are dark due to the expense it costs to mount a show at this time.
As someone who obtained her degree in Theatre, I can advise you to not forget about performing, either. I highly advise auditioning for the college productions, but try to mostly do shows in the community because they will carry a lot more credibility than college plays and musicals. Frankly, in the past, every college production I have seen has been very high quality but the Casting people sometimes don't think like that. I did mostly plays, TV and film outside of college during college for production companies not affiliated with the university. As a student, someone gave me this same advice so I share it with you now.
For this summer, focus on volunteer work, a quick way to get experience and fun volunteer work. Visit the Canton Theatre in downtown Canton as well as The Cherokee Theatre Company. They most likely will welcome a volunteer. Check now to see if either are offering a Performance Internship for the summer as that could be an option, too. Once you're at college, though, remember the Work Study opportunity.
You should choose any major you want, but I also have some advice about a Bachelors Degree in Musical Theatre. I would highly recommend changing it to Theatre, however. Musical Theatre is a genre, not a career and the degree is so limiting that it may not prove to open opportunities for you for non-performance work. As a Theatre Major, you will and can be involved with musicals. You learn most of the genre by being in a musical as directors can be good with feedback and direction is a form of learning, too. With a degree in Theatre, you can obtain a non-performing job in theatre as well, many non-performing fields of work honor that you simply have a Bachelors Degree, but Musical Theatre does not reflect a wide range of skills, singing, dancing and acting are crucial for performing, but all actors know several genres already. While in college, I took dance and singing in the P.E. and Music departments and learned a lot. College costs a lot of money so I like to advise, if you're a performer, get a Bachelors Degree that points to a field of work and not a genre. It's up to you, though.
There's a lot more information to advise about but I hope this helps and I wish you all the best ! Enjoy the path to becoming a performer !