Real work before going to college

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paulears
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Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

When I was teaching in college, I ran across many students (and parents) who had rather 'pink' views of the industry the kids want a career in, and I spent ages trying to convince some that a proper job might suit them better. My teaching style became much more like an employer rather than teacher, and I'd make sure they all experienced the more unpleasant jobs - both mentally and physically unpleasant. I think it worked quite well, and as long term members here are aware, I'm usually the first to attempt to throw spanners into the works, perhaps in the hope it might put people off - because I firmly believe you cannot make the right decisions without all the facts.

I've had the daughter of one of the members here working for me over the summer, and I've made no special arrangements and she's paid the same as others, expected to do the same things as the others and as a result has experienced as wide a range of activities and productions as we could manage. I've yelled at her when it was warranted and had some good laughs too. I'm pretty certain that at many points she has hated it, and perhaps even hated me too! She's nearly at the end, and still with us. She's worked some stupidly long days, suffered the usual poor pay, and also managed her other stuff too. She's discovered that nobody tells here what to do, nobody makes exceptions, and that some people are just plain awkward to deal with. She's learned to look busy when she really isn't, and she's discovered she can climb ladders and be responsible. She's learned to work independently and get on with it.

Most importantly she's learned how to cope with working with people of all ages and abilities, and how to work around the 'names'. She's discovered some are nicer than others, and that real work is different from school work experience, where you're essentially a passenger. She coped with an unplanned theatre evacuation of 1000 old folk in wheelchairs and walkers - being calm and sensible, and she's had unexpected stupid late hours! A big show, that was a real headache, and everyone very tired, yet at quarter past midnight, on the way home, we came across two of the trucks still unloaded because the two guys could not do it on their own. We put our coats down, and helped them - the humane thing to do, even though not really our job. Offered the chance to go, she refused and stayed to help.

She's discovered what a real team is - and even though she's a dancer, she now knows what goes on, and most importantly it hasn't put her off. She's off to college soon, and I must admit at first I wondered if she'd cope being away from home, but she has stuck with us and not given up - and that speaks loudly about her character. She is 16, but has been treated as if she was 18, and an adult. Two of us are old fossils, the others between 20 and 40. It's a big age range and she's come out of her shell and holds her head up. I always tell dancer jokes - in the way we used to tell Irish jokes which she hates, but the point is she stands up for herself.

She's also been accidentally exposed to performance material we didn't expect, and she coped very well - as did the other female we work with. I think that had we known, I'd probably (as a parent) have not asked her to do this show, but too late.

Pretty well most of her duties were out of her comfort zone, and I hope she's learned a huge amount about how it works, and I always think that performers need to experience production to get a proper balanced feel for the whole thing.

I'd urge anyone who has a child just turned 16 to try to get some real work like this if at all possible in their area. If they hated it, and it put them off - I think this would be good to know early on - the same as my old students. Get the rose tinted specs off and show them the bad bits. If they still want to do it - they have the right stuff!

For me, the best bit was that she did all of this herself - and mum and dad left her to it, although the late night taxi service they provided must have been a pain.

She's now got a fairly impressive list of real shows she can stick on a CV, and genuine experience in things other than dance. She has also seen truly dire shows, and knows exactly how not to do it! She's been on the end of sexism too, the nice kind from older performers. She's had the odd roasting and handled it well too.

The only thing she hasn't handled well are the all day king sized breakfasts. It takes a bit of courage for the order to be 3 all day breakfasts and a pannini!
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Flosmom
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by Flosmom »

This made me smile and made me very proud of your young protege - whoever she is =D> =D> =D>

I agree - the world of work is very different from the world of school. I love to give young people a first step so I have first hand experience of the baffled look in their eyes when they find out that, sometimes, saying 'I did my best...' just doesn't cut the mustard.

In my experience, young people are always good value. I learn so much from having them around. They get a raw deal in the media and elsewhere but if they are given a chance they'll repay it many times over.

This week I wished a happy 21st birthday to a young man who first joined us in work experience at 15. He is working through an apprenticeship with us now. I have no idea where the years have gone, but I'm so proud of him I could burst.

Well done to you, paulears, for making these opportunities possible. It sounds as though you might have enjoyed it too =D> =D>

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islandofsodor
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by islandofsodor »

What a lovely post paulears

I feel I know the young lady in question although I've only briefly met her once when I introduced myself at a workshop as "one of her mums random friends from the Internet". I've followed her ups & downs for several years now.

I too wish her all the best at college (& now I know I've you to thank for having to explain to my husband why I was watching youtube male stripper promo videos)'
paulears
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

I'm a firm believer in encouraging dancers to try other things, just in case. She's also pretty horrified at how bad some professional dancers she's bumped into actually are - so I think she's now got a handle on exactly how dancers fit in. She's also seen the problems they can cause, and how their laziness often means more work for others, which when she is working professionally will be remembered.

It's also handy for some of those jobs where everyone is expected to muck in and help. Learning the right and wrong way to coil a cable, for instance. Seems very simple, but isn't!

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Katymac
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by Katymac »

Thanks Paul, I am very proud of her

But without your job she would have had just a week's work experience at a bigger theatre (& you have to admit Westside Story is more her thing that the Chuckle Brothers or that awful strip show) where I do not doubt she will make the tea and run errands ;) ; as it is she has earnt enough money for fund her 'spending' money at college, learnt loads & really, really enjoyed it - she is going to miss it terribly (the late finishes followed by early starts)

She has learnt, she has been in a team, she has listened (& repeated.....some in horror & some in amusement) - we didn't hear about the evacuation until days later and she had been worried about getting them all out safely - we talked it through.

Some shows she loved (Chuckle Bros & Jethro), some she was amused by & some she really didn't like - I'm just grateful she won't be there for some of the next ones & I was so close to asking her not to work on that strip show.....she posted on facebook she had seen more willies than ever before in her life!

& as you say she has seen what bad dancing looks like

Thank you for the opportunity, your patience and what a fabulous reference she has been given by you!
paulears
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

She'll find it interesting at the Theatre Royal because they differences (and rules) will be a good contrast.

I must admit we had no idea about the latest show - we assumed it was Chippendales/here come the boys stuff, which was suggestive but stopped short. The actual content was a shock - but she dealt with it very well - just ignoring things, which is a good skill to learn so early.

So many times we do talk on here about where our limits are, and it's good to see a young person knowing how to cope. She's head follow spot op tonight, as I'm typing - for Dominic Kirwan the Irish singer.
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Flosmom
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by Flosmom »

Katymac wrote:Thanks Paul, I am very proud of her...
So this was your lovely DD? I am sooo not surprised! What an amazing young person she is =D> =D> =D>

I saw a lot of willies at her age - in nursing, I should add - and it did me no harm!

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als17
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by als17 »

It sounds like an amazing experience for your DD Katymac, I know my DD would have loved the opportunity to work in a theatre. We don't have many in our city so I sent my DD waitressing for the summer. She has been working for a catering company, waitressing at functions, such as weddings. She is also learning some valuable life lessons. She has had to deal with unwanted attention from men old enough to be her father, and some obnoxious drunken women screaming at her. She is, however, well looked after by the management and has conducted herself admirably in these situations, I'm very proud of her. It is a handy job for an actor, and she will carry it on when she starts at college, as it can fit in around her college work and her performances.
paulears
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

I really believe that this kind of activity builds a bit of character - that comes from within. Almost every performing arts job now involves more than the core skills. You might be a dancer or singer, but have to sell merchandise, or repair costumes or even do the washing. Many technical tasks get bolted on, and employers get their money's worth. The performing arts colleges and units often blank this out - because they have students on different programmes who specialise in these areas.

What's the old term? A well rounded education. I'm just a bit worried some are just narrow, and while one job may only need you to dance, the next might expect a lot more - and I guess when I was a teacher I figured myself a bit like a life guard. It also helps with work between contracts too!
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by francescasmum »

I was interested that when we went to see Matilda, it was mainly the children who brought on the props, TV set, Chair, tables, gym equipment etc
paulears
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

Some productions prefer to use people they're already paying for, rather than use the stage crew - who might want performance money for going on stage. Many of the crew hate going on stage, and it's rarely part of their contract, so if they go on stage, they want paying. This prompts the producers to use people who are not busy - so the kids are first port of call - and of course, they quite like it!
Hecouldshine
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by Hecouldshine »

What a great thread Paulears, and well done to your dd Katymac =D> =D> =D>
He could go and he could shine, not just stay here counting time,
Son, we've got the chance to let him live

from Billy Elliot the Musical
islandofsodor
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by islandofsodor »

I also think it can be an artistic decision to have members if the cast bringing on the props.

I've also seen productions (Railway Children & South Pacific) where the stage hands were costumes similar to cast members (as railway workers & sailors respectively.
paulears
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by paulears »

Small point - stage hand is a long dead term now. It doesn't really matter, I guess, but it is often used to denote untrained, low skilled roles, which nowadays is rarely the case. Some theatres require payment for appearing, some don't. Some of the stage crew members like going on and always volunteer, others hate it. If they have to wear a costume, then money is usually the case.
Dwafffamily
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Re: Real work before going to college

Post by Dwafffamily »

It's very much an artistic direction with Matilda with all the children being involved every step of the way and not because they don't want to pay others. Can't speak for other shows as haven't seen them but the children being responsible for props etc in Matilda worked really well.
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