In order to take a career in the theatre, you really have to like the artform, because the hours are odd and the money can be spotty.
That said, there's plenty of work in this city as a stagehand. Wages range from $13/h at the smallest venues, up to $30/h in "A" size union houses. Interstingly, the difficuly seems to go down as the wages go up. Most of the non-profit theatres here in Toronto pay $15/h. The trick is knowing someone who will recommend you, and the best place to get hooked in, is through one of the local college theatre programs (2yr diploma, or 4yr BFA). A lot of beginners also start in the production rental houses, organizing and maintaining lighting, sound and staging gear.
In theatre you work on a show to show basis and are "self employed" in the eyes of Revenue Canada, though that could change in the near future. Most are on a call list for the producing companies, rather than the venues. Essential tools include a crescent wrench, steel toes, knife, and (if you're a carpenter) a cordless drill gun.
In a similar vein, conference and event venues use armies of less skilled workers to put in trade shows and the like. The work is mostly physical and not very satisfying, but can be steadier than theatre and concerts.
Generally everyone who works in 'the biz' was bitten by the bug early on, or fell into it.
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Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life
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