I've been very lucky to get a steady 3 courses a year at one undergrad school in New York, but it helped that I went there as a student, which was how I got my foot in the door. Hard work and being able to pick up a third class when a fellow teacher was no longer available were also crucial factors.
It's tough; a lot of theater students ask me if they should go to grad school to further their training, and I'm torn on what to tell them. On the one hand, grad school was an invaluable part of my life and I'm using what I learned in my professional career. On the other hand, the expense is hugely disproportionate to what jobs actually pay, and even getting those jobs in the first place takes hard work, luck, and being very, very good at what you do... there were numerous times over the past few years where I thought I wouldn't be able to keep working in the theater and teaching because I wasn't making much more per month than my rent. All praise to my husband, who's kept us afloat while I've been slowly gaining a foothold... |
