Teal
What majors are available for people who want a career backstage rather than on one?
I'm a senior in high school and am trying to decide what to major in in college. I enjoy working backstage at theatrical performances, but I don't want to major in theater. I know there are careers in costume design, set design, stage manager, etc... but I don't know what majors could help me prepare for this. #majors #careers #theater
2 answers
Holly Z.
Holly’s Answer
Hello Teal, what a great question, I have a short list of a few things off the top of the brain, One being a sound a person, Audio Video, Laser, pyrotechnic, lighting, editing, Camera Person, computer person in 3D. Or you can take web design with 3D creating characters, for Disney or DreamWorks, 3D visual, vocational or trade schools. However, there are many great colleges that offer equipment operations, engineering. A career in engineering, pays very well, especially for film, news, broadcasting, television, telephony, fiber optics, machine operators. Another great idea is Computer operator and or operations software for broadcasting, motion picture and television. Depending on what type of stage equipment you are thinking of? There are classes for fiber optics too.
Thank you for the great variety of topics to look into
Teal
Sarah Perlin
Sarah’s Answer
Hi
I'm a Stage Manager in NYC and though I majored in theater production there are many majors one could get into and still be great at a theater production job.
You could do architecture which would give you an understanding to make ground plans and the creative mind to do set design. Electrician to work in lights for all types of production work. Psychology helps a lot for stage management. Part of me wishes I took more classes in psychology. Stage management is very much about listening to people and creating a solution sometimes very fast. Photography helps with understanding how lights work and also gives you a creative eye for film production.
Hope that helps!