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Advice From Current K-State Theatre Seniors (Class of 2020)

By September 17, 2019Uncategorized

Along with a previous post featuring advice from former students of the K-State Theatre program, I have gathered advice from this year’s crop of Seniors. Please read carefully. Thank you Seniors for contributing your insight. – Shannon

ADVICE FROM CURRENT SENIORS (Class of 2020)

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

  1. Please, if you don’t get cast the first semester or even the first year, just keep pushing. Get involved in a different way! You may find a hidden interest.
  2. Check your K-State email at least once a day! It’s how most people on campus will communicate with you.
  3. Check the MTD blog regularly! (kstatemtd.com)
  4. Take advantage of the Writing Center and tutoring.
  5. Try a little bit of everything in Theatre, even if you don’t know if you’ll be good at it or like it.
  6. Be kind to each other. We’re all going through the same stuff, and everyone will be stressed and busy at some point.
  7. Say yes to everything you can, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Just because it’s physically possible doesn’t mean it’s healthy.
  8. Learn how to say no when you need to.
  9. Use a planner or a calendar; anything that means that you’re not just trying to keep you need to remember in your head.
  10. Do some things that AREN’T Theatre; sometimes it’s nice to have a place where you can take a break.
  11. Set a time every night to be a cut off for working on homework, answering emails, etc. You’ll burn out quickly if you don’t set aside some time to unwind.
  12. Plan out papers and projects, even just regular reading assignments and homework. Especially because we’re busy at night, when most people do homework, it’s important to know what you’re doing and when . . . it wasn’t until my junior year that I really started planning out my assignments, and I regret waiting so long because I could have saved myself so much headache and stress.
  13. GET INVOLVED!!!!
  14. Don’t be afraid to talk to people and ask questions.
  15. Get your foot in the door in any way that you can. If you don’t get cast then get on a crew or shadow the director.
  16. Go to your classes, complete homework .
  17. Go to the KSTO events. That is where you will make connections.
  18. Apply for things that excite you. Don’t just do it because it looks good on a resume. If it makes you come alive, feel happy, and you want it to be a part of your life, do it.
  19. Be open to criticism and get out of your comfort zone and you will grow immensely.
  20. College is hard. And scary. But you’re stronger than you know. As artists, we haven’t chosen the easiest path, and it can be easy to doubt yourself. But your time here is special. This program will show you that you can make a living in the arts, and teach you how to pursue your goals. That’s why you have to be kind, and do good work, and you’ll get where you need to be.
  21. Do not stick yourself into a corner. You may identify as an actor, but you should absolutely learn everything you can about every specific field. There are tons of theatre jobs, but only a handful are acting gigs. Make yourself hirable.
  22. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time through college. Don’t waste time, but there’s nothing wrong with taking more than 4 years to get your degree. Have fun and enjoy it because it goes by way too fast!

BIG LESSONS LEARNED

  1. Try everything once.
  2. A ‘no’ doesn’t mean you should stop trying.
  3. Life will be a lot better if you were positive toward your peers.
  4. Be open to change. I’m in a completely different place now than I was four years ago. I never would have expected my life to be the way it is, but I’m ultimately happy with it.
  5. Don’t just force your way through college; if you’re not learning something that you enjoy or at least find useful, find a way to do the things you actually want to be doing. We’re not in theater because we think we’re going to be hugely successful (for the most part), we’re here because we love what we do.
  6. Stay on top of your homework. When you are in a show things can really start to pile up, don’t let yourself be overwhelmed. When you get an assignment, just sit down and do it.
  7. I learned just how much I care about Theatre. I learned to be brave and that I’m stronger than I know.
  8. I learned just how important kindness is to the artistic process.
  9. It’s tough to work and do Theatre at the time. Find a job that respects your time and interest and go to KSTO events and talk to new people. A board game is a good way to bond with new folks.

PEER INTERACTIONS

  1. Draw a line between personal and professional. This manifests in several ways. If you need to talk about something with a director or designer or stage manager, send an email or set up a meeting instead of stopping them in the hall or the atrium.
  2. Understand that your peers who are in leadership roles need to be treated with respect and understand that they can’t (or shouldn’t) give you special treatment even if your relationship is really casual outside of rehearsal.
  3. Go to KSTO events! They’re a great way to hang out with theater friends and unwind.
  4. We are all here to learn. Give your peers the benefit of the doubt and try to work with them before getting angry with them.
  5. Be honest and sincere. If you have and idea that excites you, tell people!!!
  6. Take care of each other. You’re all in the same boat and college is hard. Everyone is busy but make time for the ones you care about. You’ll be happier in the long run.
  7. Having good relationships with the people you work with is so important. It allows for creativity to flourish. Leave any drama at the door and come ready to work!
  8. Hang out in Nichols lobby, go get lunch with someone in one of your classes. Find little bits of time to really get to know the people that you will be working very closely with for the next 4(+) years.

WORKING/LEARNING WITH FACULTY/STAFF

  1. Don’t try too hard to impress them. They know this is a learning environment. So ask questions.
  2. Don’t be scared of faculty.
  3. Communicate! If you’re having trouble with an assignment, communicate with your professor. If you might need to turn something in late, communicate. If you’re sick, let them know and stay home and rest.
  4. People can do so much more with “I need help” than they can with silence and unexplained absence.
  5. Understand that your professors have lives too. Give them time to respond to emails.
  6. Most professors are friendly and happy to make time for you if you need it. All you have to do is ask.
  7. Be respectful to your professors, they decide your future in the department. If you make a bad first impression by either being lazy or rude the professors are less likely to want to work with you in a show later on.
  8. Don’t be scared of asking questions or asking for help! Theatre is a hard life and if you don’t ask for help it will be even harder.
  9. The professors are there to teach and help you, use them and their knowledge!
  10. It can be very intimidating at first. But always remember that they are here for your success. They have professional experience and are fantastic resources in and out of class.
  11. They are people too! They make mistakes too. They don’t always have the one perfect answer and that’s okay. Sometimes you can provide an idea that they never thought of. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion when working with the faculty.
  12. What you have with this program is special. Everyone wants to see you succeed and elevate you. Invest in your time with the teachers and your work and you will not regret it.