As another school year races to an end (or perhaps drags on like a slug in mud), many high school and
college students begin their search for a summer job. When I was in this
position, I decided my incredibly boring job as a K-Mart cashier was not for me
and set off in search of something better. I didn’t want to dread my summer
work, I wanted to learn something and enjoy it. I also wasn't big on summer stock or being far away from friends and family, so my theatre options were limited. Fortunately, the skills I
learned in theatre classes were able to guide me down a path filled with
satisfying and unusual jobs, even if they weren't in direct alignment with my major. In my case, most were perfect for short-term
employment, but what I found amazing is that there were always opportunities for
good workers to move into long-term positions if I had decided to pursue them.
Here are a few of the temporary jobs I’ve held that I credit with helping me to
develop my skills.
During college, I spent a summer traveling to many different
county fairs in Kentucky, working as a face painter. A local realtor wanted to attract people to their booth through the use of a face painter. She didn’t know
any, so I got roped in through a mutual contact. I am not what one would call
“an artist” by any stretch of the imagination, but my costume design class had taught
me passable drawing and painting skills and I had a good handle on make-up,
thanks to my stage make-up class. I spent that summer outdoors, eating free
funnel cakes and painting flowers and cats on kids’ faces. Note: Most of the
people reading this could work as a face painter. You will undoubtedly be a
better artist than the children and they will think you are amazing, even if
your butterfly looks like this (yes, that’s a capital B with antennae):
Another incredible opportunity came up when they decided to
open a new attraction in Cincinnati, the Purple People Bridge Climb. There was
an ad in the paper for “climb guides.” Rather than the standard interview
process, they asked applicants to come up with their own audition. They
encouraged you to do something creative to make yourself stand out. I possess a
talent for rhyming, so I composed a song and dance, had it approved by my
parents and auditioned for the job. They loved it and I was hired on the spot,
despite the fact that I am not a singer or a dancer. Theatre gave me the
confidence to try. I spent a year climbing over the top of a bridge multiple
times a day, sharing the rich history of Cincinnati with fellow adventurers.
Later on, the Cincinnati Museum Center decided to do a
Halloween themed exhibit called Shocktober
(obvious, I know, but bear with me). They hired me to be a “tour guide.”
The premise was that prehistoric, deadly insects had been brought back to life
by an eccentric curator. We memorized true facts about every single object we walked
by so that we would seem legit and our guests wouldn’t suspect us as fear
inducers. I learned more about history than I will ever care to know, but had
great fun scaring the socks off the visitors throughout the tour.
We have a decent amount of enjoyable attractions in the Cincinnati
area and by now, you might notice that I’ve pretty much worked at all of them
in some capacity. The Newport Aquarium also hired me for various assignments. Theatre
has made me comfortable in a multitude of situations and with a multitude of
distractions… Not only could I easily interact with guests, but I could do it
as a snake crawled over my shoulders and arms or as I played with spider crabs
and starfish. I could simultaneously feed lorikeets and give speeches about
alligators and sea otters, NOT an easy task if you’ve been around lorikeets for
longer than 5 minutes (cute but deadly).
Lorikeet tip: Don’t wear anything shiny or with buttons! Bring
band-aids!
Photo via
http://www.wbeph.com/
If you’re looking for extra income or maybe a first job over
the summer, check out the places that most people don’t even think about. Don’t
settle for serving tables or cashiering at Wal-Mart if that’s not what you want
to do. Take advantage of those theatre skills and check out local
museums, zoos, and attractions. Make connections and consider every
opportunity. Don't limit yourself due to lack of experience, just know how to sell it and be willing to learn. It will make your resume stand out and color your life with rich
details and fascinating conversation starters.
Had an unusual job that involved your theatre skills? Share
it in the comments below! If you’ve got a really good story, submit a blog
about it.
Fun Fact: The aquarium isn’t the only place I’ve had
to handle live snakes, I did it onstage too! Can you guess what show?