5 Skills All Artists Should Be Adding to Their Resumes (Plus a list of online jobs for unemployed artists)
NOTe: This post has been updated May 31, 2020
About ten years ago I sat nervously in the administration office of the performing arts building at Pennsylvania State University, asking questions about their incredibly selective musical theater program, of which I so desperately wanted to become a part of. I asked my final question, with visions of my supportive, practical parents in my head.
Look at all that potential
“And is it possible to double major? Like Musical Theater and… Communications, for instance?”
The answer from the cheerful administrator was a resounding, “No. This program requires 100% of your commitment, as do all of the best programs in the country. Why admit failure before you’ve even begun?”
Damn.
To be honest, I happily accepted that answer like a big, ol’ “DUH!” and proceeded not to go to Penn State (oops), but to Pace University, where I spent four years getting my BFA in Musical Theater, with 20 incredibly talented, committed artists. And while I can regale you with stories of being a theater student in New York City later, what I’d like to focus on now is what that degree means, now that I’ve entered a field completely different than what I studied.
You see, when I was first faced with the prospect of changing career paths to accommodate my dreams to move to Portugal, I was nervous. What were my qualifications to do anything besides sing and dance?
Well, here I am, a solid 12 months+ into the business world (lol. Basically an expert.) and I’ve got news for ya. I’m hella qualified. I’ve got a cool job. I’m working with role-model-y (it’s a new term) type people who continuously inspire me. And I’d like to tell you why my artsy-fartsy degree, which so many people are baffled by, has done more for me in this new field than any sort of number-y, business-y nonsense.
Shall we dive into why a fine arts degree has accelerated my chances of success? Yes, yes we shall!
*Please note that under each skill, you’ll find a list of jobs to consider applying for, whenever you’re in a rough spot, or looking to try something new. In light of COVID-19 I hope this is seen as a helpful gesture, and not a nudge to step off stage. Theaters are closed, at the moment, so do whatever you need to do to stay inspired. If that’s finding an online job to help you feel more financially secure, I hope this helps.
1. Communication
Need a person who can sell clients on a new product or service? Need somebody who’s comfortable on camera, to represent your business during a TV show or interview? Need an employee who can talk to anyone and not be intimidated by their position or status?
Find a theater kid.
For four years I had to stand, sing, or dance ALONE in front of a classroom full of people. It was normal. No class has ever seemed as pointless to me as the basic, university Public Speaking course. Every week when I entered the room, I was amazed at how many students recoiled and shrunk when they had to address a room of their sleepy-eyed peers. What was so intimidating? This was their turn to SHINE! (At least that’s what a theater kid thinks…) We’re a breed of expert communicators, and I will say it’s these skills that can help you nail a job interview, regardless of what’s listed on your CV.
Jobs to consider if you’re a skilled communicator: Remote Customer Service (Call focused), Copywriting, Teaching English Online
2. Creativity
For an entire semester, I started every Tuesday and Thursday lying on the floor in a dark, boxy room, eyes closed, pretending I was:
a. Strolling the streets of Moscow (never been there)
b. Blending in with the peasants in a Monet painting
c. Taking on the body of an undiscovered animal
I could go on and on. But I felt, and believed, that I was whole-heartedly in all of the above scenarios. Did it make me a better actor? Honestly, I have my doubts. But what I really took away from this class was the power of creativity. Knowing that nothing is too silly, too outlandish, or too “out of reach” to bring to life.
Need good copy that feels fresh for the next marketing campaign? I’ve probably got 15 wacky ideas, and two that are solid gold, thanks to good, old-fashioned imagination (and some hefty student loans).
So when it came to crafting a CV, did I label myself as your typical waitress in New York? Absolutely not. I was the manager (this is not a lie), responsible for motivating and leading a diverse team at one of Manhattan’s most Instagram-worthy eateries.
A little creativity never hurt anyone…
Jobs for creatives: Copywriting, Social Media Managing
3. Commitment
If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late. That’s what I was told at my first theater camp, circa age 12, and I never forgot it. Ten years later, I found myself arriving 15 minutes early for rehearsals of a new musical that barely paid my grocery bill for the month. But I knew there were 1,000+ other girls who would do it for free if I didn’t show up. I was committed. There was no other choice.
Add to this the fact that most performing contracts last less than six months, and you end up with one human very motivated to land, thrive within, and keep their job. I was amazed by the stability that came with my first copywriting job, and showed up every single day so grateful for the eight hours of guaranteed work. No additional restaurant job. No unpaid showcase audition to queue up for at 6 am. Just me. Employed. Doing what I love. (And clutching on to this elusive thing known as stability.)
Jobs for committed and über timely people: Virtual Assistant, Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant
4. Confidence
As a performer in New York, it is literally your daily duty to walk into a room of strangers (occasionally there may be casting directors you already know), plant your feet, and make those people behind a generic folding table feel something so strongly with your 90-second performance, that they want to hire you more than the 200+ other super talented folks about to do the exact same thing. You have no choice but to be confident. (If you’re not, the rejection and uncertainty can hurt you in a very ugly way.)
And in a world where being a Social Media Manager is a legitimate job (with zero degree requirements), innovative startups are multiplying like Hamilton tours, and nobody knows what the heck kind of degree you actually need for anything, confidence will carry you to some pretty incredible places.*
*I want to broach this topic carefully, as the theater world can both feed and kill your confidence, due to the constant competition. Coupled with inherent biases and a heavy focus on “perfect” chorus girl/boy bodies, it can be really unhealthy. I’m not celebrating that here, and I’d like to make that clear.
Job opportunities: Sales, Customer Service, Social Media Managing, Entry-level Marketing Positions
5. Connection
Photo by Emily Lambert
Now this is the real humdinger (what a glorious word). Don’t think this is merely a fluffy placeholder on this list. No no. In my opinion, this is the most important quality of a creative (noun. Not adjective). As artists, you’re taught to feel things. No, really feel them. While 99.9% of college students are learning algorithms, theater students are discovering why certain scenes make them cry, what common human elements lie within even the darkest of characters, and most importantly, what moves an audience so much that they jump to their feet with joy, applauding and demanding more.
It’s a human connection.
While the average person suppresses their feelings, an artist opens the floodgates to discover the root of them. We get people. All kinds of people. Your customers. Your affiliates. Your investors. Even if we’re not like them. We get them.
Jobs for you: Brand Ambassador, Brand Manager, Customer Success
This list could go on and on.
And not in a “wow, I’m so amazing” way, but in the sense that there are inherent qualifications within every human being who’s ever followed their passion. After all, most artists spend years justifying the pursuit of their own talent and skill, with little understanding from the “normal world.” Their conviction is strong, and their potential is limitless.
So yes, I needed about 15x more patience from my boss when it came to learning the functions of Excel spreadsheets. (Excel and I still have an abusive relationship.) And during the first marketing meeting I was secretly taking notes of all of the “real-world” terms I needed to Google, like, yesterday. But when it came time for me to present the work I’d been doing, and talk about why it was important, I commanded that Skype call with every ounce of conviction that I brought into the windowless Actor’s Equity audition room in Times Square, New York City. And while nobody remembers the statistics I reported, the Google docs I’m proud of (it’s the little things), or my copy ideas that crashed and burned, they do remember one thing:
That girl with a wacky CV
who’s just been promoted.
Want to read and see more?
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Websites to use for finding Online jobs:
Facebook Groups for “Digital Nomads” or “Remote Work”
For English Teaching- VIP Kid or Cambly.com