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Ray
Student
Alaska, MI
1
Question
Updated
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What are the most effective?
What are the most effective ways to transition from a theater degree into a well-paying career outside of traditional theater roles, and how can one leverage their theater background in industries like marketing, event planning, or arts administration?
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7 answers
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1503
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
All the world's a stage." These famous words are just as true today as they were when Shakespeare first wrote them.
No one knows this better than a theater major. Theater students are masters of performance. They know how to enchant, persuade, infuriate, and entertain. They understand the nuances of human emotion, the importance of body language, and the power of communication. Why theatre majors are no longer just for Actors. The world it your stage, take a look at some other options.
PLAYWRIGHT
Becoming a playwright is potential career for a theatre major. Playwrights tend to be creative individuals who develop the concept of a new play and write it. While writing a play, it’s essential to be mindful of how it will be performed. Playwrights must keep in mind the traditions and exciting challenges of live performance when writing. Playwrights can also be script writers in Hollywood for movies or on-staff writers for news, television, and streaming services. Often, playwrights are freelancers. They may send copies of their play to theatre companies in hopes that one will decide to perform it. As they begin to make a name for themselves, playwrights may then be hired on a contract basis by the theatre company to write new plays.
COSTUME DESIGNER
If you have a love for fashion as well as the performing arts, consider pursuing a career as a costume designer after earning a degree in theatre. Costume designers work on movies and TV shows as well as theatrical productions and commercials. Their job often requires research, as they must consider the fashions of the time period in which the production takes place. Typically, costume designers begin by producing rough sketches of the clothing, jewelry, hats and footwear, taking into consideration both style and fabric. Once the initial designs are approved, the designers produce full-color versions, which are sent to costume makers. Designers are also responsible for creating a “costume plot,” which is a document that specifies each item of clothing a particular character will wear in each scene.
PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
public relations specialist manages the public image and reputation of individuals, organizations, or brands. These specialists are skilled in crafting and delivering messages that shape how the public perceives their clients or employers. Their primary objective is to establish and maintain positive relationships between their clients and the public, which includes customers, media, investors, and the broader community. Public relations act as intermediaries, conveying accurate information and managing crises to ensure that their clients' image remains consistent and aligned with their strategic goals. Through their expertise in media relations, content creation, and crisis management, public relations specialists contribute to fostering a strong brand identity, building trust, and promoting open and transparent communication between their clients and their target audiences.
SPECIAL EVENT SPECIALIST
Weddings, galas and large-scale product releases are all ultimately theatre productions. Special event companies employ theatre technicians, designers and stage managers to get these events installed quickly, looking beautiful and running smoothly. Next time you see a picture of a celebrity wedding or watch the live release of Apple’s next new gadget, realize that theatre designers and technicians are most likely responsible for the event.
No one knows this better than a theater major. Theater students are masters of performance. They know how to enchant, persuade, infuriate, and entertain. They understand the nuances of human emotion, the importance of body language, and the power of communication. Why theatre majors are no longer just for Actors. The world it your stage, take a look at some other options.
PLAYWRIGHT
Becoming a playwright is potential career for a theatre major. Playwrights tend to be creative individuals who develop the concept of a new play and write it. While writing a play, it’s essential to be mindful of how it will be performed. Playwrights must keep in mind the traditions and exciting challenges of live performance when writing. Playwrights can also be script writers in Hollywood for movies or on-staff writers for news, television, and streaming services. Often, playwrights are freelancers. They may send copies of their play to theatre companies in hopes that one will decide to perform it. As they begin to make a name for themselves, playwrights may then be hired on a contract basis by the theatre company to write new plays.
COSTUME DESIGNER
If you have a love for fashion as well as the performing arts, consider pursuing a career as a costume designer after earning a degree in theatre. Costume designers work on movies and TV shows as well as theatrical productions and commercials. Their job often requires research, as they must consider the fashions of the time period in which the production takes place. Typically, costume designers begin by producing rough sketches of the clothing, jewelry, hats and footwear, taking into consideration both style and fabric. Once the initial designs are approved, the designers produce full-color versions, which are sent to costume makers. Designers are also responsible for creating a “costume plot,” which is a document that specifies each item of clothing a particular character will wear in each scene.
PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
public relations specialist manages the public image and reputation of individuals, organizations, or brands. These specialists are skilled in crafting and delivering messages that shape how the public perceives their clients or employers. Their primary objective is to establish and maintain positive relationships between their clients and the public, which includes customers, media, investors, and the broader community. Public relations act as intermediaries, conveying accurate information and managing crises to ensure that their clients' image remains consistent and aligned with their strategic goals. Through their expertise in media relations, content creation, and crisis management, public relations specialists contribute to fostering a strong brand identity, building trust, and promoting open and transparent communication between their clients and their target audiences.
SPECIAL EVENT SPECIALIST
Weddings, galas and large-scale product releases are all ultimately theatre productions. Special event companies employ theatre technicians, designers and stage managers to get these events installed quickly, looking beautiful and running smoothly. Next time you see a picture of a celebrity wedding or watch the live release of Apple’s next new gadget, realize that theatre designers and technicians are most likely responsible for the event.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1746
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Ray !
I would be happy to give you some lived advice because I did the same exact thing that you are planning to do. With my degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting) and my minor in Social Science (what was your Minor?) I leaned on my minor and just took a chance entering that field for a temporary job not requiring a degree at all for a Youth Employment Counselor for the New York City Summer Youth Employment Program.
One of my sites for this job was at a Transitional Housing Program for homeless youth. The administrative assistant there took a liking to me and so did the Director and I was offered an interview there to be a Client Coordinator. So my experience was taking that first step, and making contacts that were very valuable. I stayed in the Social Services realm for 27 years, but went back to Acting in 2018. It's a matter of reading employment notices and seeing how qualified you are to do something.
Of the three transitional career interests you have mentioned, Event Planning would be the closest to your training in theatre. As you know, there is lots of collaboration and distinctive planning for theater and you can apply your training to planning events. The cool thing is, Ray, you do not need a college degree to be an event planner, so even though you have a college degree, that may carry weight when you apply for event planning jobs since many others may not have a degree.
Look for entry level positions and internships to sharpen your networking, practice your communication skills and even add a bit of your natural creativity to projects. Read the job descriptions of the event planner jobs at the link I have left for you below. The jobs are in the area where you live. Keep in mind that Theatre as well as Event Planning are two careers that superb communication skills are needed and can be transferrable. Theatre trains us to have these skills, so you should do wonderfully as an event planner.
If you decide to pursue Event Planning, you can take some classes for a foundation at QC Event School which is online (link is below). You can also take Certifications there that will boost your resume and teach you more about the event planning industry.
You can transition from theatre to a different field but it is something that you will have to choose and something that doesn't need a specific subject degree for. My advice is that Event Planning comes close to the theatre experience than any of the others, but weigh all your options and make the best choice for you.
I wish you well because transitioning from theatre can be bittersweet but can turn out to be very rewarding and you never know, you one day may return to your theatrical specialty after a long gap like I had !
EVENT PLANNING JOB DESCRIPTION FOR JOBS WHERE YOU LIVE https://www.indeed.com/q-event-planning-l-ann-arbor,-mi-jobs.html?vjk=0b42633cecf06ca8
QC EVENT SCHOOL ONLINE https://www.qceventplanning.com/
EVENT PLANNING TRAINING AT UDEMY ONLINE https://www.udemy.com/course/event-planner-training-series/
I would be happy to give you some lived advice because I did the same exact thing that you are planning to do. With my degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting) and my minor in Social Science (what was your Minor?) I leaned on my minor and just took a chance entering that field for a temporary job not requiring a degree at all for a Youth Employment Counselor for the New York City Summer Youth Employment Program.
One of my sites for this job was at a Transitional Housing Program for homeless youth. The administrative assistant there took a liking to me and so did the Director and I was offered an interview there to be a Client Coordinator. So my experience was taking that first step, and making contacts that were very valuable. I stayed in the Social Services realm for 27 years, but went back to Acting in 2018. It's a matter of reading employment notices and seeing how qualified you are to do something.
Of the three transitional career interests you have mentioned, Event Planning would be the closest to your training in theatre. As you know, there is lots of collaboration and distinctive planning for theater and you can apply your training to planning events. The cool thing is, Ray, you do not need a college degree to be an event planner, so even though you have a college degree, that may carry weight when you apply for event planning jobs since many others may not have a degree.
Look for entry level positions and internships to sharpen your networking, practice your communication skills and even add a bit of your natural creativity to projects. Read the job descriptions of the event planner jobs at the link I have left for you below. The jobs are in the area where you live. Keep in mind that Theatre as well as Event Planning are two careers that superb communication skills are needed and can be transferrable. Theatre trains us to have these skills, so you should do wonderfully as an event planner.
If you decide to pursue Event Planning, you can take some classes for a foundation at QC Event School which is online (link is below). You can also take Certifications there that will boost your resume and teach you more about the event planning industry.
You can transition from theatre to a different field but it is something that you will have to choose and something that doesn't need a specific subject degree for. My advice is that Event Planning comes close to the theatre experience than any of the others, but weigh all your options and make the best choice for you.
I wish you well because transitioning from theatre can be bittersweet but can turn out to be very rewarding and you never know, you one day may return to your theatrical specialty after a long gap like I had !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Linda Mire
Interior Design
129
Answers
Lake Charles
Updated
Linda’s Answer
What aspect of theater did or do you excell in acting, directing, playwright? Whichever of those skills you do best and enjoy most I would dissect it from the rest and follow the different ways that particular skill can evolve. Just remember there is no starting at the top . You must get your foot in the door then you can do your tap dance and shine,show them what you can do. Work harder than anyone you know, have a positive additude , be willing to do the jobs no one wants to do it will get you noticed. Believe in yourself and don't be afraid to fail because you will at small things and some big ones too but be open for the valuable lessons failures bring to us. Like learning you are strong enough to put the pieces back together if you need to. The human spirit is unstoppable when we put our minds to it. So stroke the fire in you belly and put on your best shoes for the tap dance waiting for your encore. Good luck!
Collins Lucky
Data Entryspecialist, Cost analysis, Repairing of all kinds of smartphones, Apple, & Samsung mobile.
48
Answers
Bonny, RV
Updated
Collins’s Answer
Hey there, Ray!
If you're looking to pivot from your theater degree to a rewarding career in marketing, event planning, or arts administration, here's a friendly guide to help you make that transition smooth:
1. **Showcase Your Skills**: Make sure to highlight your amazing communication, creativity, and project management skills that you've honed in theater.
2. **Customize Your Resume**: Make your theater experiences like event coordination the star of your resume.
3. **Make Connections**: Reach out and connect with professionals in the field you're aiming for.
4. **Build Your Experience**: Grab any opportunity for internships or volunteer roles to beef up your portfolio.
5. **Learn More**: Think about getting certifications in marketing or event planning to add more sparkle to your profile.
6. **Use Your Background**: Don't forget to emphasize how your unique theater experience sets you apart from the crowd.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to a successful career transition. Good luck!
If you're looking to pivot from your theater degree to a rewarding career in marketing, event planning, or arts administration, here's a friendly guide to help you make that transition smooth:
1. **Showcase Your Skills**: Make sure to highlight your amazing communication, creativity, and project management skills that you've honed in theater.
2. **Customize Your Resume**: Make your theater experiences like event coordination the star of your resume.
3. **Make Connections**: Reach out and connect with professionals in the field you're aiming for.
4. **Build Your Experience**: Grab any opportunity for internships or volunteer roles to beef up your portfolio.
5. **Learn More**: Think about getting certifications in marketing or event planning to add more sparkle to your profile.
6. **Use Your Background**: Don't forget to emphasize how your unique theater experience sets you apart from the crowd.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to a successful career transition. Good luck!
Matthew Gleim
VP of Global Marketing
5
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Hello Ray. Some great answers already and I'll share some personal experience here. I actually graduated with a BA in Public Speaking. Candidly I am not even sure if that is still an available major in some schools now. As part of that degree I took courses in theater, children's theater etc. What I have found useful in my career is focusing not on what you were trained, but what the transferable skills of that training provided you. Theater training translates incredibly well to a variety of occupations but since you mentioned marketing and that is my area of expertise I'll align there.
First and foremost, almost any role in modern corporations involves presentation. You will win or lose in most marketing roles based on your ability to bring an audience - in this case coworkers, managers etc - into your vision of a situation. Just like convincing an audience they are part of the story, successful marketers spend a good part of their day inspiring and motivating those around them to support an idea, fund a project or provide resources. I have found that my background in presenting made me more confident in delivering a message and in crafting a more compelling narrative. You didn't mention exactly what role you performed in theater, but if crafting the narrative or presenting that narrative is in your toolkit then you are well poised to make an impact as a marketer.
Secondly, marketing is an ensemble cast. Even in roles where you may be what is commonly referred to as an "individual contributor" it still takes a team - often a large team - to complete programs successfully. Many people reference military experience as a good indicator of someones ability to be effective in team environments due to discipline involved. I've been in multiple theater productions and a fair amount of discipline is involved there as well. You have a clearly defined role, your performance affects those around you, and everyone has to coordinate efforts to be successful. That rigor translates to many roles -but most especially marketing as programs bounce between different stakeholders and teams. As an example, a program I am working on now involves my interaction and dependance on a creative team that is building the materials to bring the program to life with print ads, social copy, downloadable content - they are my set designers. I work closely with product marketers that craft the messaging and understand the audience, competitors, customer use cases etc - they are my script writers and directors. My marketing only works if our sales team is trained in the messaging and positioning and they can take the customer along the last mile to a closed deal. They ultimately bring the whole story to life - they are my performers. And all of this has to happen on time, on budget and be well received otherwise my management - the producers - are going to tell me about it. The skillset to understand roles, work with disparate teams and bring people together around a common production is a very transferable skillset.
Finally, just from a personal standpoint, you likely enjoy theater for a number of reasons but creating an amazing experience is probably in there somewhere. You want to wow your audience. Ultimately I approach my day to day thinking about what my customer will experience. What journey will I bring them on using video, social media, thought leadership, we experiences? How do I create a world where they can see themselves and their company as part of my ecosystem? Are there things I can do to keep them in that moment, and areas to avoid that will disconnect them? Great marketing is storytelling. It is visual and compelling and should move people along a path. I think that folks with creative and performance based backgrounds thrive in these spaces. You mentioned event planning as well - another occupation that is about building experiences and more often than not a key aspect of many marketing organizations.
Look at the organizations with offices in your area and follow them on LinkedIN and connect with marketers from those companies. I often get messages from local students and job seekers who would like to ask me questions about my role. Be specific and value their time, but most marketers I know enjoy sharing their story.
First and foremost, almost any role in modern corporations involves presentation. You will win or lose in most marketing roles based on your ability to bring an audience - in this case coworkers, managers etc - into your vision of a situation. Just like convincing an audience they are part of the story, successful marketers spend a good part of their day inspiring and motivating those around them to support an idea, fund a project or provide resources. I have found that my background in presenting made me more confident in delivering a message and in crafting a more compelling narrative. You didn't mention exactly what role you performed in theater, but if crafting the narrative or presenting that narrative is in your toolkit then you are well poised to make an impact as a marketer.
Secondly, marketing is an ensemble cast. Even in roles where you may be what is commonly referred to as an "individual contributor" it still takes a team - often a large team - to complete programs successfully. Many people reference military experience as a good indicator of someones ability to be effective in team environments due to discipline involved. I've been in multiple theater productions and a fair amount of discipline is involved there as well. You have a clearly defined role, your performance affects those around you, and everyone has to coordinate efforts to be successful. That rigor translates to many roles -but most especially marketing as programs bounce between different stakeholders and teams. As an example, a program I am working on now involves my interaction and dependance on a creative team that is building the materials to bring the program to life with print ads, social copy, downloadable content - they are my set designers. I work closely with product marketers that craft the messaging and understand the audience, competitors, customer use cases etc - they are my script writers and directors. My marketing only works if our sales team is trained in the messaging and positioning and they can take the customer along the last mile to a closed deal. They ultimately bring the whole story to life - they are my performers. And all of this has to happen on time, on budget and be well received otherwise my management - the producers - are going to tell me about it. The skillset to understand roles, work with disparate teams and bring people together around a common production is a very transferable skillset.
Finally, just from a personal standpoint, you likely enjoy theater for a number of reasons but creating an amazing experience is probably in there somewhere. You want to wow your audience. Ultimately I approach my day to day thinking about what my customer will experience. What journey will I bring them on using video, social media, thought leadership, we experiences? How do I create a world where they can see themselves and their company as part of my ecosystem? Are there things I can do to keep them in that moment, and areas to avoid that will disconnect them? Great marketing is storytelling. It is visual and compelling and should move people along a path. I think that folks with creative and performance based backgrounds thrive in these spaces. You mentioned event planning as well - another occupation that is about building experiences and more often than not a key aspect of many marketing organizations.
Matthew recommends the following next steps:
Michelle Lowe
Sr Director of Marketing
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Look for companies that sell products or services to Theatres or people in theatre occupations. You have first-hand knowledge of the target audience because you've been in their shoes!
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
295
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
That is an excellent question, Ray, and you have already gotten sound advice. My children (and some of their friends) have parlayed lots of theater experience into non-theatrical roles so I thought I would share insights from that. Note: Both worked primarily back stage which may be different from your experience.
As Michelle suggested to you, events planning is a big part of both their jobs. One is a production manager for a very large children's choir, and the other runs educational programs for a land-use organization. One of their friends plans and runs large meetings for a corporation, and another manages production at an aquarium. Just as they found, events planning can give you a lot of choice in type of organization and job content. All were able to use examples from theater to highlight their organizational skills, ability to stay calm under pressure, and creativity to meet changing situations.
People with more of a focus on performance have migrated to teaching (not just drama), consulting, and law. As others have mentioned the ability to engage and persuade that acting gives you is relevant to these other professions. From theater, you could also highlight the ability to work in a team, integrate data (lines and blocking), and problem solve.
Finally, as the other Michelle mentioned, being in a theater-adjacent role can be enjoyable while also being more stable. Good luck!
As Michelle suggested to you, events planning is a big part of both their jobs. One is a production manager for a very large children's choir, and the other runs educational programs for a land-use organization. One of their friends plans and runs large meetings for a corporation, and another manages production at an aquarium. Just as they found, events planning can give you a lot of choice in type of organization and job content. All were able to use examples from theater to highlight their organizational skills, ability to stay calm under pressure, and creativity to meet changing situations.
People with more of a focus on performance have migrated to teaching (not just drama), consulting, and law. As others have mentioned the ability to engage and persuade that acting gives you is relevant to these other professions. From theater, you could also highlight the ability to work in a team, integrate data (lines and blocking), and problem solve.
Finally, as the other Michelle mentioned, being in a theater-adjacent role can be enjoyable while also being more stable. Good luck!