How my 9 to 5 job helped my theatre career

(Photo: ticklishpanda123)

When I first moved to Toronto, I knew finding a job in the arts sector was going to be difficult. It was a new city. I hardly knew anyone. But I had tons of theatre experience in Montreal, so how hard could it be? 

I applied to any and all theatre-related jobs I could find and received zero response (“Refresh my email browser… Nope, nothing”). And after a month, I needed ‘a job’. Any job. After all, living in a city like Toronto was quite expensive. 

I eventually landed a job as a part-time administrator in a completely different industry, far away from the arts. I was slightly frustrated that my theatre career would come to a halt. I was wrong. Totally wrong. I had no idea how much I was going to learn from my boss, Donny who showed me the entrepreneurial mindset. 

How to Lead

Donny was a true mentor. From day one, he emphasized the importance of the ‘why’. Every form I filled out had a reason. Every seemingly menial task had intention. He took his time to explain the ‘why’ and made sure I understood why it was important to do it. By understanding the intent behind the task that I was working on, I knew how to approach a new project.

He was also patient. I was a newly graduate with no knowledge in this particular industry and he was willing to teach me how to run a business.

Every week we had a team meeting to go over real-life scenarios that each person was going through with their clients. Some were complicated situations. And he would say, “You have to own up to it. Lead that difficult conversation. I know, it gets awkward. But you know what, you need to be there during the lows. Be their rock”.

I witnessed that in action too. When something was not working with a client, he would initiate the conversation.

“I want it to work for both of us, but it feels like it’s not working right now. Let’s chat.”

He also focused on solving the problem - not dwell on the negative emotions associated with it.

He walked the talk.

After I assembled my production team for Toronto Fringe he asked me how I was doing. I said, “The sense of responsibility is getting to me”. He smiled and nodded.

Sharing Work Online

Donny made an effort to be present on social media. Every new project we worked on, he would take a video of himself talking about it. If there were new municipal regulations that would affect the business and his clients, he explained it in a video. He posted funny Instagram stories.

He preached that ‘likes’ did not matter.

“It’s about showing what you’re up to. Document it and let them know you work in your industry. Be consistent about it. Yeah, it’s hard but try making it into a habit. People will know you’re the person in the industry just by seeing your posts. And they’ll think of you when they need you. Probably the same for your theatre stuff too.”

I took his advice. For my play Decaying Tongue, which I wrote, produced, and directed, I documented the process (with the permission from the entire cast, crew, and designers). Right from when I started writing the play to the last day of performance, I posted rehearsal photos, designer meetings via Instagram stories, headshots with bios, the cast joking around with the prop...

As I posted, I received messages from acquaintances that I had not talked to in a long time. It was the classic we-don’t-talk-anymore-but-we’re-connected-on-social-media relationship. I reconnected with people from my childhood as they asked me what I was working on. Yes, social media can get quite toxic at times, there is no denying in that. But in this case, I experienced the positive side of social media. Friends who I had not talked to in years came to see my show. It led to artistic collaborations the following year. An acquaintance asked me to join their project…

And the possibility continues. I know that people have different opinions when it comes to use of social media. I get it. But I shall continue posting my artistic endeavors.

Always ‘On’

Donny was passionate about his business and the people he worked with. I could tell that he loved what he did. He was always ‘on’, meaning his mind was busy thinking about the next project for his business.

Often enough, he would call me to pitch an idea. The phone call would start with a “What if...” and would end with “I think [insert website/app/platform/etc.] offers this service and maybe we can utilize that. Can you look into it?”

I wrote it down. I researched. I reported back. He thought about it. He brainstormed. He talked to the team. Sometimes nothing would come of it. But there were times when it was his next big business plan. I witnessed how a single phone call transitioned from a mere ‘what if’ to research, to development, to advertisement, and finally to service. The process was gradual, but it happened.

When it’s your passion, you care. You have fun with your ideas. You want to think about it 24/7... And at the same time, if you want to excel in your field, you have to be eager. You have to hustle.

How do I want to advance my theatre career? What’s my next project? How can I continue creating during these odd corona times?

Who would have thought that my 9 to 5 administrator job would teach me how to advance as an artist? But here we are.

Thank you, Donny.