What got me my
current position, as M.E., in addition to my degree, was 5 years of
overhire at the
Pageant, some decent carpentry skills, (Thats right. I said carpentry.), and applying for full time work elsewhere. Of course, I made sure the
Pageant knew I was applying to other venues. I was enough of an asset to them, that when they learned that they might lose me, they offered me a full time staff position which I have now held for the better part of 9 years.
Learn as much as you can in school, but don't specialize to the
point where you're only good for one particular job. Having multiple skill sets at your disposal makes you far more valuable to any potential employer. Also, getting out in the field and working is every
bit as important as your education. This is where you will get to know people who may offer you work in the future, or
point people your way when they are looking to hire someone. Networking is important in this industry. This is where the vast majority of my work has come from. Be diligent, work hard, and always try to have a good attitude towards whatever it is you're doing, even if its not your favorite job. As the people you work with and for get to know you and your capabilities, work will either be sent to you or away from you depending on whether you have a good or a bad reputation. Always be an asset to your employers and the reputation will take care of itself.
Finally, be patient.
Theatre is a tough industry to break into. You may spend several years barely scraping by before you find your niche. This was true for me, and was likely true of most of the other posters on this site who have been doing
theatre for any length of time.
As far as entry
level tech positions go, its really going to vary. Most of your work, early on, is going to be of an hourly and temporary nature. Some will pay $10.00 an hour, while others may pay $50.00 per hour. Even as you move farther along in your career, there will be a considerable discrepancy in salaries from one
venue to another. As an example, while I'm not going to go into specifics here, the M.E. at the
theatre right next door to the
Pageant earns considerably less than I do, and likely works harder for his money. They put on 12 shows a year, where my company puts on 1. Do I earn more because I'm better than him? No. I earn more because I work for a company that can afford to pay more. Often that's the only reason one job pays better than a comparable position elsewhere. Don't get discouraged if you're not making what you feel you should. Other opportunities will present themselves. You just need to be prepared to act when they do.
Will it be an easy
road?
Probably not.
Will it be worth it?
If theatre is where you belong, yes.