Hi. I’m Mel. I’m a thirty something stage manager just trying to keep my bills paid and see the world.
When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was doing with my money. I realize I’m pretty lucky. I had a tiny bit left to pay off on a school loan, no real credit card debt, a full time job and no big bills.
So I had a little extra cash… and no idea what you do with it.
This is my journey to suck at investing a little less. Because I’m scared of retiring to a cardboard box under an overpass in 40 years.
And maybe I might want to buy a house in the next 5 years. And I would like to be financially prepared to be able to do that, too.
This blog is really just the story of a girl with a stage management degree, trying to not starve to death.
great post about SM kit! what do you keep in yours, I’d love to see the list…
So here I am reading articles on your website thinking I should bookmark it (and I have) when I see a photo of people I recognize. Then and only then do I realize I know you from ships – hope you’re well!
jt
Ack. Awkward. You’re the first real person to find me. š Let’s pretend like you didn’t and speak of this to no one. Although you might get a kick out of the day in the life of a cruise ship stage manager… I bet you’d recognize which ship it was immediately.
Hi,
You have a nice site, full of thoughtful content. At ages 29/30 I was debt free, shoveling cash into retirement accounts and saving for a house. I remained debt free until age 33 when I took on a mortgage that was a little less than 3x my annual salary at the time.
Then I changed employers for a big raise, harder work and strenuous travel.
I was able to pay off the mortgage in 13 years and I am once again shoveling cash into retirement accounts and taxable investment accounts. I now actually am starting to believe I have a decent chance at not living in poverty when I leave the workforce!
If I can do it, you can do it.
All the best to you!
-Jon
I just hopped over from the post you guest-wrote about life on a cruise ship, and I was wondering if you could share a bit about life after the cruises?
I’m about to embark on my first contract as a Purser, but I wanted to know what’s it like after the ships as well.
Hey there! Well, I worked onboard for several years as a stage manager, so our lives there are probably pretty different. But shiplife as a whole is insane and when you move back to land after a while at sea, everything just seems too slow and boring for a very long time. I’ve been on land for 3 years and I’m used to it, but I still miss the good times on ships and occasionally have to fight the urge to go back. It’s also difficult transitioning work-wise. Most of the people I know (and me) wound up unemployed for a few months when transitioning off ships and back to land. But I wouldn’t trade the time I spent at sea for anything.
A great blog to check out about life after cruise ships is http://mackenzieames.com – she doesn’t update often, but she wrote a lot right after she got off ships, so go back to her earlier posts. They’re hilarious and very accurate.
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Hi Melissa! I can’t tell you how much your website has helped and comforted me over the years! Similar to you, I am in my early 30s, did the touring and cruise ship things, now back for a few years and trying to find more permanent, steady work. I’m thinking of transitioning to more Production Manager type jobs where work is more full time and has, dare I say, benefits? I need the time of stipends, short term work and financial instability to be behind me! haha
So, if you have any advice, websites (I use playbill and mandy a lot) or opportunities to share, I would so appreciate it!
Lastly, I had one specific question regarding SM resumes vs Prod Mgr resumes. I know that the majority of my work experience as a PSM/SM is applicable and relevant to a Prod Mgr position but I wonder if I need to create a different resume to send for PM jobs. Do you find that people send their SM resume when applying for Prod Mgr jobs or do they create a separate resume that illustrates more Prod Mgr skills (administrative, financial) and less SM (calling a show, technical skills)?
Thank you so much!
Deidre, NY, a long time reader š
Hi Deidre,
I feel you on the whole craving more stability thing. I actually hated Production Management the one year I did it, but it was a lot more stable.
As far as job searches, this post has every theatre related job board I could find: http://brokegirlrich.com/where-to-find-jobs-as-a-stage-manager/
And for resumes, I guess it depends on how you format them in the first place. If you do the position – show – director – year type, you may want to do another for Production Management gigs. If you do more of a job and then a breakdown of responsibilities, that’s probably best. If you have enough experience to be able to tailor your resume entirely towards Production Management, I’d say go for it and use your cover letter to talk about how your years of experience as an SM apply really well.
Good luck!!
Hi Mel!
I am a BFA Stage Management student at the University of Central Florida. I found your blog through an article that was published about your time as a cruise ship stage manager. For an assignment this semester, I have to interview professional stage managers on their experiences, and I have been looking for a stage manager with experience on a cruise ship because cruises are something that I am interested in doing once I graduate. Would you be willing to interview with me about your experiences? It can be done via email if you do not have time to speak on the phone.
Thanks!!!
Hi Kathleen,
Sure, you can send over your questions to brokegirlrich@gmail.com – I’m happy to help!
Thanks,
Mel
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Hey, how long have you had this blog? I’ve been wanting to start my own one for years now but I feel like I don’t have anything interesting to talk about or that I’m not qualified to talk about things that I want to talk about. Do you have any advice?
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