Theatre Kid Superpowers (and why you should hire one)
If you know anyone who has spent any amount of time in theatre performance, they’re likely one of the most well-rounded people you’ve ever met. There has been some discourse ringing through the modern job market about theatre kids and how they make the best employees, especially for start ups. And while some may be a little eccentric in their style or personality, the skills they bring to the table in the workplace can be called supernatural. Instead of asking “what can this theatre kid bring to my business and bottom line?” you should be asking “what CAN’T this theatre kid do?” because that answer would be shorter and easier to digest.
STICKS TO A PLAN, MEETS DEADLINES
Theatre kids, whether working on the stage or behind the scenes, respect and follow a timeline. Actors must be “off book” with their lines and blocking well before the show goes up, so that directors can focus on coaching and ironing out the performance kinks without the actors needing to look down at a book to read off their lines. Technicians need to have the light and sound cues programmed weeks before the show opens for the same reason. There’s no such thing as “rescheduling a show because it’s not ready” (unless your Adele) - people paid tickets and booked babysitters to show up to the performance, and theatre kids owe it to their audience to respect their dollar and time by meeting their deadlines.
ULTIMATE PROBLEM SOLVER, NO ONE MORE RESOURCEFUL
Imagine, it’s 5 minutes before the curtain goes up, and the zipper on your costume breaks, leaving your ready to give the audience a show they certainly weren’t expecting. Every theatre kid knows to keep an emergency “fix it” kit near by, complete with safety pins and duct tape. Maybe there is a door on the set that won’t stay closed - that one tech kid fastens a quick magnet on the door in between scene changes - fixing the problem before the audience has a chance to notice. To a theatre kid, every problem has a many solutions - and knows which is best to employ given the unique circumstance, and can do so under pressure.
EMBRACES BEING A TEAM PLAYER
The cast and crew of any performance is going to include a wide range of personalities and attitudes, and theatre kids have experience with navigating the complex landscape. Instead of seeing it a another challenge to tackle in the way of putting on the show, they understand that the magic experienced by the audience is because each person brought their best to their respective role, and were assigned that role based on their special strengths. Every leading actor knows their performance is sub par at best without the technical crew - for without them, they would be in the dark and hard to hear. Every technician knows that their magic with sound, lights, and set is brought to life by the actors, and gives their art and expertise purpose.
RESPECTS CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
Theatre kids all have a desire to put on the best show they possibly can - and a necessary part of actualizing that is having the capacity to handle receiving and applying constructive feedback to their art. They recognize that feedback is not personal, it’s business, and it’s given for the benefit of the final product. They’re also proactive in seeking it out before it’s given - actors will run their lines with fellow cast mates or workshop it with the director - technicians will test different layers for lights and ask for opinions from fellow technicians and the director to determine what enhances the scene and the actors’ performance the most.
SHOWING UP + SHINING BRIGHT
A performance only makes it opening night and finishes it’s run because each person on the cast and crew chose to show up and shine bright in their role day after day. Of course emergencies happen, but theatre kids are the ultimate problem solvers and will figure out how to overcome any challenges they may have in getting to rehearsal on time. The show must and will go on because theatre kids are tenacious by default. The joy (or target emotion) felt by the audience during and following the performance is only felt because each person in the cast and crew showed and up shined in their respective role.
If you’re looking to bring on help for your business, you want someone with all the qualities I’ve listed here - you need a theatre kid on your team - and it would be my honor to help you bring your magic to life. Let’s talk shop and see what roles I could play for your business.
