Having worked in summer stock myself, I’m here to pass on some wisdom to make it easier for those who are just starting out in this field. Here’s my advice:

1. Research Where You Are Going

This is very important. Not only do you need to know about the theatre you’ll be working for, but you also need to know about the city or town you’ll be living in. You won’t have a lot of time to explore once you get there, so it’s nice to research where you can hang out and get groceries ahead of time.

Also, check on what kind of weather you’ll be dealing with. How hot does the area get? Is it a different altitude than you’re used to? Does it see any extreme weather? If it’s a new area, you could be facing a lot of crazy changes.

You should also look into the theatre you’ll be working at to see the styles and sizes of the shows it typically produces. You never want to be blindsided by these things. For example, I was used to doing smaller shows in a black-box theatre, but my first summer stock theatre produced very large musicals on a stage at least twice the size as the biggest one I’d ever worked on. Had I not researched its past shows and theatre space, I would have been in for a huge shock.

2. Make Friends

One of the best things you can do is make friends with the people you work with. Summer stock can get lonely, and it’s always nice to have at least one person you can hang out with outside of work so you can blow off steam. Also, it’s always a good idea to network in the small world of theatre. You never know who is going to end up where, and it’s always good to make connections in your field.

For example, the people I worked with in Georgia had connections with the people I worked with in both Oklahoma and Michigan. These places are thousands of miles apart, but these people had still worked together in the past. The more connections you make, the more jobs you’re likely to get in the future.

3. Be Comfortable

When you’re working long hours, it’s always important to wear comfortable clothes. There’s nothing worse than dealing with tight clothes, itchy tags or being pinched mid-show.

Before starting your summer stock position, find a comfortable work wardrobe. Shoes are especially important. It’s best to get something with steel toes so that you don’t hurt yourself if you drop something or a piece of scenery rolls over your feet.

Also, try to get something with thick or hard soles, especially if you’re working in a scene shop. Stepping on nails, staples or screws is something that happens way too often, and getting a tetanus shot is never fun.

4. Stay Clean

We’re all friends here, so I’ll be straightforward with you: It’s “summer” stock. That means hot weather, a lot of sweat and a lot of smells. There are some good ways to handle this, though. Keep an extra stick of deodorant on hand and use it whenever you’re on break. It’s not weird, trust me — I do this every summer. Also, keep an extra shirt with you. If you find you’re getting too sweaty, just change.

Another thing you should always do is keep up with your laundry and avoid wearing anything that hasn’t been washed. You don’t want to be that guy who avoids doing laundry the entire summer — it’s not good for anyone. Follow the rules, and your colleagues will thank you.

5. Stay Hydrated

I have never worked in a shop for the summer that had air-conditioning. Even in the extreme heat in Oklahoma City, we only had a few fans placed around the shop. So, keep a water bottle with you at all times and make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This even goes for people who are working indoors in air-conditioning.

Odds are, whether you’re inside or outside, you’ll be on the go for most of the day and can easily get dehydrated. I know that as technicians we tend to get busy and forget to take care of ourselves, but remember that the show needs you to be alive and well.

6. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Onstage work is fast-paced and can be dangerous if you’re not careful. During summer stock shows, everything can move faster than you’re used to. You may be working long hours and not getting as much sleep as you’d like. No matter what is going on, you always need to take time to keep an eye on your surroundings. Keep an eye out for anything dangerous, such as cords or rope in the grid, tools left on top of ladders or moving pipes.

7. Make a Summer Survival Kit

Every year, I like to put together a few things that will make my summer easier and help me relax in my downtime. My survival kit generally includes some things for work, including a water bottle, a multi-tool, lots of hair ties and extra deodorant, along with things for my downtime, such as a map of the area, sunscreen, insect repellent and my favorite books.

What you put in your kit may depend on the area you’re in as well — for instance, it rains a lot in the summer in Michigan, so I’d always keep an umbrella or poncho with me. On the other hand, Oklahoma was very dry, so I always kept lotion and chap-stick with me. It’s always nice to be prepared.

8. Enjoy Yourself

So, cards on the table, summer stock can be tough, but you can also have an amazing time. Go in with a good attitude and expect a challenge. Gain theatre experience and allow yourself to grow as a professional. This is a chance to really experience theatre in a whole new way. You get to meet lots of new people from all over the country who are just as passionate about theatre as you are.

And let’s face it, you get some of the best stories from summer stock. Don’t go in assuming you know everything, but be open to learning new things. So, be careful, be confident and take care of yourself, and you’ll nail it.

What advice would you give someone doing summer stock? Let us know in the comments below…

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1. Format

Theatre resumes should only be one page long, with nothing on the back. Begin crafting your resume by putting your header at the top. It should look like this:

Below this should be your experience in this specific area:

Once you’ve added all your experience in that area, add in your other experiences, such as carpentry, welding or costuming. Whatever your experience is, add it in using the same format.

Next, add in your education level:

Then, add in awards and honors in the same format and your other skills in their own column:

At the very bottom of your resume should be the names and contact information for your three references.

2. Cover Letter

Most theatres ask you to send a cover letter with your resume when you apply for a job. A cover letter is just an overview of your skills and a little bit about why the theatre should hire you specifically. The first thing to remember is that you need to modify the letter for each position, because different theatres are asking for different things. This may sound like a crazy, impossible task, but there’s a secret to it. Write the base for the letter, then fill in the specifics for each job as you go along. It will save you a ton of time.

3. Portfolio

The first thing you need to remember when it comes to building your portfolio is that you need to take pictures of what you’re working on. Take pictures of props as you build them, take process shots of the set you’re working on or take pictures of the lighting effects on the set. You get the idea. However, if you’re a stage manager, you will need to have different excerpts of your call scripts, blocking scripts and research.

An easy way to make a portfolio is to just make a PowerPoint with all your pictures. Just make sure to put titles on each page so that the person reading it will know what’s being shown. You need to add in the show name and what the piece is in each picture.

It’s also a good idea generally to separate out the shows. Have one piece per page and group pieces from specific shows together. This shows you’re organized and that you have a well-thought-out portfolio.

4. Get an Outside Opinion

It’s always good to get someone else to look at your resume, cover letter and portfolio before you submit them to anyone. Good choices include professors or someone who has written up resumes like this before. If nothing else, have a friend look it over. After writing so much, you may miss some small mistakes that could easily be spotted by someone who hasn’t been staring at it for a long time.

Writing resumes and applying for jobs doesn’t have to be complicated. If you have any tips for resumes, cover letters or portfolios, let us know in the comments below…

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A true Technician will get everything right!

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