By Jill Randall, Blog Director

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As young dancers, it takes time to figure out all of the right questions to ask about a job, and the questions to ask yourself before saying yes. These ten ideas can help you, whether you are considering teaching two more after school dance classes, taking on a 20 hour a week nanny position, signing onto a dance company for 10 hours a week, or saying "yes" to a full-time job outside of the dance world.

1. Security vs Flexibility

What will your weekly schedule look like? Is there the option to take time off for an artist in residence opportunity or touring out of town? Many full-time positions have set amounts of time for vacation, while part-time contractual work might be seasonal and have more "open time" to fit in travel and artistic projects. (Both have many benefits….consider both options!) When considering any full-time position, whether teaching or nannying, what is your salary and set of benefits? Weigh this job security with the flexibility you need right now to be an artist.

2. Time Each Week for Dancing

If you take on this job, look at your whole weekly schedule (especially if you have multiple jobs). When is there time to take class, crosstrain, and rehearse? Pencil those times in as well. Consider the travel time it will take from your new job site to get to classes and rehearsals. 

3. Perks

Besides the paycheck, what other perks do you get? Looking at non-dance jobs (waitressing, nannying, retail, etc) – do you get free meals, discounts on clothing, etc? Looking at dance-related work (teaching, Pilates, etc) – do you get free classes, rehearsal space, a gym membership? Do you have options for health insurance and a retirement fund?

4. Total Commute Time

Whether you have one full-time position or several jobs, spend some time looking at an average week and how much time it will take to get to and from the various sites. This can be shocking when you really stop and calculate time, especially when teaching dance at various sites even within the same town.

5. Total Prep Time

For those who will be teaching dance, Pilates, yoga, etc. – look at how many different lessons you will lead during a week. How many times a week can you repeat the same lesson? Calculate the average number of hours you will need each week to prepare. If you are very new to teaching, ask a friend or mentor to estimate how much time it might take. Pencil "prep time blocks" into your weekly calendar.

6. Total Number of Classes You Will Teach in a Week

Whether teaching dance, yoga, or Pilates – look at how many you can physically handle teaching each week. Is it 10, 15, 20? It is easy to get lured into taking on more classes when you need to make more money, but take time to consider if you can physically handle teaching that many in a week, and still have time for your own training.

7. Health Insurance

Will you get health insurance? Does your job completely pay for it or do you pay a monthly fee? If not, how will you get an individual plan? What low cost health clinic options are in your city?

8. Pros and Cons of Dance and Non-Dance Related Work

There are great benefits to both kinds of work in your life – dance jobs teaching, rehearsing, performing, and arts administration as well as non-dance jobs in retail, food, nannying, business, and education. Reflect on this question for yourself and right now in your life. Talk it through with a friend and a mentor. 

9. Income and Expenses 

This is the perfect time, if you don't already have this, to make a spreadsheet of your average monthly expenses and the income to support it. If you don't know how to make an Excel spreadsheet, find a friend or relative to teach you. Consider the expenses of taking class and potentially paying for health insurance out of pocket.

10. Can you leave it at the end of the day?

This question is related to #8. What jobs have work that "stays at work?" Consider if you will need to be doing email in the evenings and prep work in the evenings and on weekends. 

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These ten questions are a great starting point when considering a new job and adding it to your plate. Take some time to consider all aspects of this job and how it relates to your life as a dancer as well as how it helps pay the monthly bills.

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