Theatre and entrepreneurship are two distinct fields that can intersect in various ways. Starting a theatre business can be challenging because the industry is highly competitive and often requires significant investment in talent, production and marketing. Success in the theatre industry requires a combination of creative and business skills, a deep understanding of the target audience, and a willingness to take risks.
Entrepreneurial ventures pursued by theatre majors include running your own theatre company, producing shows, creating online jobs (such as a virtual assistant to YouTubers and influencers) and using your theatre experience to promote products or services.
Entrepreneurs who wish to learn how to build a social media following with a theatre degree background can accomplish this using several strategies:
- Define your niche: Identify what sets you apart from others in the theatre industry and focus on sharing content related to your unique perspective.
- Create compelling content: Utilize your theatre background to create engaging posts, videos or livestreams that showcase your talents and share your knowledge.
- Network and collaborate: Connect with other theatre professionals and work together to create and promote content.
- Leverage your existing audience: Reach out to friends, family, and former classmates to help spread the word about your social media presence.
- Utilize hashtags: Use relevant and popular hashtags to increase visibility and attract new followers.
- Engage with your followers: Respond to comments and messages, ask for feedback and share user-generated content to foster a sense of community.
- Consistency is key: Regularly post high-quality content and engage with your followers to keep them interested and build a strong following.
In fact, 90% of U.S. marketing experts and entrepreneurs plan to increase their influencer cooperation on Instagram in the future.1 Because theatre majors are creators within their own niche, a theatre degree will help you stand out in today’s competitive marketplace.
Adapting to new technologies may not be the first thing you think of when pursuing a theatre degree, but it is a huge part of the industry. Theatre majors use technology tools in various ways to enhance their practice, including lighting and sound design software, video editing software, digital script analysis tools and more.
How can social media help your career? It can help by providing you with a powerful tool to network, showcase your skills and experience, and stay up-to-date with industry trends and news. For theatre professionals who want to blend their talents with social media marketing, there are several technologies that are commonly used for a career in social media, including:
- Social media management tools: Schedule posts, monitor engagement and analyze performance data. (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Buffer)
- Analytics tools: Helps you measure the success of your social media accounts, including insight into clicks, conversions, engagement and reach. (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social and Facebook Insights)
- Content creation tools: Create high-quality content with photo and video software, graphic design tools and content management systems (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva and WordPress)
- Collaboration tools: Helps teams work together more efficiently (e.g., Slack, Trello and Google Drive)
- Social listening tools: Monitor social media channels for brand competitors, identifying trends, customer sentiment and opportunity (e.g., Brandwatch, Mention and Hootsuite Insights)
Modern technology has brought many new tools and techniques to the field of theatre, and theatre majors who are proficient in these technologies may also have a significant advantage in the social media industry.