"Gettin' our sun stroke on..."
Title stolen from my darling friend Rav's quote about all our lacking mental condition coming home in the car last night. I'm still quite out of it, blah.
Long weekend. Hot. Sunny. I'm not too burnt, other than my retinas. They really, really hurt for some reason. My eyes do, at least, that's all I can assume it is. 3 weeks down, 4 to go. Woo.
Anyway. This is one of those horrible posts I make on occasion asking people for some dearly needed advice, because I'm not sure what to do. So... advice I could certainly use. =/ This falls under the job category as well. Le sigh.
Anyway. So, the theatre south of Pittsburgh found the money to hire me. Someone actually donated it all. Specifically for my salary, and my salary alone. It's not much. Not much at all. Here's the nitty gritty, it's barely over minimum wage full time. I know one isn't suppose to share how much they make, but it's very much an issue in this decision. 1,000 a month. So it would be 12,000 US a year. THat is well below the poverty line.
Now, I'd also get almost 50% cut from any classes I teach at the theatre. Which could be another 1-2,000 every 9 week. It helps, but not much. However, I'll be living in my grandfather's house. No rent to pay. That just has to cover food, gas, and insurance. I probably won't be able to afford health insurance. Ah well =/ Cross your fingers and hope on something like that.
Now I know you're saying why the HELL would I take that job? Well, it has some good sides too which I've relayed in previous posts. I love the theatre, it's a great space, we have some real potential to do some really amazing work there. But the people on the board are horrible and it's barely survivable income.
Now, I was going to take the job. However. Just last week, I got called for an interview with a teaching program in Florida. Essentially, it's a great program. If I get accepted, which I think I can pull off a good interview, I'll start in mid-november my teaching training. We train for 6 weeks intensively, then start teaching in our own classrooms in mid Janurary. I'd probably be teaching middle or highschool english and drama supplementals. It also pays well. At lowest, I'd start 32,000 US a year. No, it's not riches, but it's good for a start.
However, these schools are in "high needs" areas. Essentially, it's going to be very urban and potentially very dangerous. At least mentally and emotionally, if not physically at times. This is the school district where the cops felt justified in handcuffing and tazaring a KINDERGARTENER last year. So... it won't be easy, not by far.
So, I'm torn as to what to do. Forget the teaching interview and go with the artistic directing job? Or try and tell the theatre that I need more time to decide and do the teaching thing? Do I realize that the theatre does NOT pay enough to survive, despite the work I've done for them already, and just try to teach or find something else. Well, at least they are jobs. One is even in my field. I'm just torn now. ANy suggestions?
Long weekend. Hot. Sunny. I'm not too burnt, other than my retinas. They really, really hurt for some reason. My eyes do, at least, that's all I can assume it is. 3 weeks down, 4 to go. Woo.
Anyway. This is one of those horrible posts I make on occasion asking people for some dearly needed advice, because I'm not sure what to do. So... advice I could certainly use. =/ This falls under the job category as well. Le sigh.
Anyway. So, the theatre south of Pittsburgh found the money to hire me. Someone actually donated it all. Specifically for my salary, and my salary alone. It's not much. Not much at all. Here's the nitty gritty, it's barely over minimum wage full time. I know one isn't suppose to share how much they make, but it's very much an issue in this decision. 1,000 a month. So it would be 12,000 US a year. THat is well below the poverty line.
Now, I'd also get almost 50% cut from any classes I teach at the theatre. Which could be another 1-2,000 every 9 week. It helps, but not much. However, I'll be living in my grandfather's house. No rent to pay. That just has to cover food, gas, and insurance. I probably won't be able to afford health insurance. Ah well =/ Cross your fingers and hope on something like that.
Now I know you're saying why the HELL would I take that job? Well, it has some good sides too which I've relayed in previous posts. I love the theatre, it's a great space, we have some real potential to do some really amazing work there. But the people on the board are horrible and it's barely survivable income.
Now, I was going to take the job. However. Just last week, I got called for an interview with a teaching program in Florida. Essentially, it's a great program. If I get accepted, which I think I can pull off a good interview, I'll start in mid-november my teaching training. We train for 6 weeks intensively, then start teaching in our own classrooms in mid Janurary. I'd probably be teaching middle or highschool english and drama supplementals. It also pays well. At lowest, I'd start 32,000 US a year. No, it's not riches, but it's good for a start.
However, these schools are in "high needs" areas. Essentially, it's going to be very urban and potentially very dangerous. At least mentally and emotionally, if not physically at times. This is the school district where the cops felt justified in handcuffing and tazaring a KINDERGARTENER last year. So... it won't be easy, not by far.
So, I'm torn as to what to do. Forget the teaching interview and go with the artistic directing job? Or try and tell the theatre that I need more time to decide and do the teaching thing? Do I realize that the theatre does NOT pay enough to survive, despite the work I've done for them already, and just try to teach or find something else. Well, at least they are jobs. One is even in my field. I'm just torn now. ANy suggestions?