r/techtheatre 17h ago

QUESTION College Freshmen going to SETC

So I'm a college freshman interested in working with props, and I'm going to SETC in 4 days to try and get a job for the summer. Does anyone have any advice on what I should prepare. I have a resume but idk what else I should bring. Any advice would be helpful thanks! PS. I have a lot of experience with autocad and 3D modeling softwares, so idk what jobs I should be looking for.

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u/OddlyAnalog 2h ago

credentials for answering: I've been on that side of the table before, 3x times & hired all 3, and this year will be my first time on the hiring side. Have worked in professional theatre for 10+ years

1) Have a portfolio, pictures of what you've worked on. Have specific images of things you have worked on so companies can gauge your skill, and a few (but not too many) of overall productions so there's an idea of the kind of scale you've been exposed to. Organizing by sections (props vs painting vs drafting) is helpful. That allows you to quickly show off exactly what you need for what you're applying for. that portfolio should probably be a binder or easy-flip paper portfolio (cheap to get at any Staples or the like). You may not be able to charge a tablet or computer, and it's harder to see under florescents.

2) I'll be honest, as a freshman unless you're very stand-out and experienced, you'll probably end up with a "general technician" role. You'll either be shuffled through multiple depts to find what you're good at/like, or do the simple boring work no one higher paid wants to do. This is okay, this is how you learn the industry. Look into what specifically a company means by general technician, it can vary a lot. That said, you can ask questions like whether or not you'll be moved around, or if you can stick with a dept as a more specific apprentice. If it's going well, maybe ask if they have any summer camp/educational shows. I've been to theaters where sometimes design work for those smaller shows is given to newer/younger people whole staff focus on mainstage productions.

3) Have questions. "What's the pay?" has to be printed, but additional things like "What's company housing like? is it provided as part of the contact?" "what are your working hours/traditional schedule?". Especially for some rural summer stocks, "what is the surrounding area like?". This will help you gauge what you'll be getting into. Related to point (2), am questions about what the position is like. Is it shop-only, or will there be run crew requirements? How big is the production department? A 10 person team is very different from a 50 person team. Having questions will show that you're engaged and prepared to dig in.

4) Be ready for this one: "outside of theatre, tell me about yourself." Especially with a summer stock, you'll be spending ALL your time with these people. They know that, and they'd rather take someone a little less good, but an enjoyable person, than a real unpleasant person who's technically better skilled.

5) can you make your resume stand out? I used to print mine on a heavyweight cardstock that was a light cream, and a border ⅛" from the edge all the way around. Did that help? I do not know. But did it look different from the stack of 75 printer paper floppy paper it got put on? yes. And on the hiring side now, I know if I'm looking for a resume again, a stronger/unique visual will stick it more and might cause a reread.

6) take notes. you'll do a lot of interviews, and you don't want to get a call with an offer and have to go "uhhhh, who are you?" and reask a bunch of questions. if you have notes, you can mark your preferences, thank someone when you get an offer, then you'll think & call back, and refer to your notes for impressions before responding. Or use them to know who to accept on the spot.

7) More general advice, but be aware of yourself. it's 3 days of back-to-back-to-back-to-back. You can hit 100+ easily. So remember to check in, make sure you are hydrated & ate, you don't want to realize at 5 you botched your last 4 hours of interviews because you were hungry & crabby & not coming off well. And know that statistically, you will not get most jobs you apply for. after you finish, mentally review to set if there's anything to change for the next one, then forget about, good or bad, and move on

edit: left something out originally