Life After Graduation: Auditions, Jobs, and Building Sustainable Momentum.
Skene Staff
Navigate life after theatre graduation with practical guidance on auditions, survival jobs, financial planning, and sustainable momentum.
Navigate life after theatre graduation with practical guidance on auditions, survival jobs, financial planning, and sustainable momentum.
Nia Safarr Banks is a costume designer whose work translates character and inner life into clothing that tells honest, human stories.
Scenic and production designer Alex Peña on world building, immersive environments, and crafting story driven spaces for stage and film.
Kendall Bas is a Filipino scenographer whose work on La Perle and beyond treats every space as a stage where story and action meet.
Josafath Reynoso PQ Symposium flash talk explores digital platforms as scenographic spaces, living archives, and sites of performance and collective memory.
I have been going to USITT conference since grad school, and still every time I go, I learn something new. This year we are all looking forward to an extra special USITT 2026 in Long Beach. Long Beach is a vibrant city with a thriving live entertainment scene, great spots to explore, and a convention center that puts the ocean practically at your doorstep. It is a genuinely fun place to land for a week, and the conference itself is delivering one of its strongest lineups in years: a packed slate of professional development workshops, hands-on labs, career resources, and networking events that span every discipline in live entertainment.
That said, if this is your first time attending, USITT can feel overwhelming. Between the panels, the expo floor, the workshops, the people — it can be a lot to take in. That’s definitely how I felt at my first convention, having no idea where to start. But by the end of that week, I had mentors, friendships, and opportunities I never expected. That first conference eventually led me to win the Rose Brand Scenic Design Award in 2015, represent USITT at Stage|Set|Scenery in Germany, and to join the International Activities Committee. The investment is worth it, and here is how to make the most of it without losing your mind.
Before anything else, go to the First Timers’ Conference Orientation at the Terrace Theatre. USITT leadership will walk you through the conference structure, the commissions, and the culture of the organization. It is the single best thing you can do to make the rest of the week feel less like a maze.
On Wednesday, head over to the Meet the Commissions session — we’ll be there!
Commissions are the backbone of USITT: dedicated groups organized around specific disciplines like scenic design, lighting, sound, costumes, technical production, architecture, engineering, management, digital media, and more. Each commission has its own “Homeroom” where most of its sessions take place throughout the week. The post-orientation speed-round format lets you visit several in a short window, so go in with an open mind and introduce yourself to as many commissioners as you can.
First Timer’s Pro Tip: This is where long-term USITT involvement begins. And it’s a great eye-opener for all the things that USITT does and you didn’t know about. Do not skip it!
The PDW lineup this year is exceptional. These are hands-on, expert-led sessions that go far beyond what you will find in any classroom. Highlights include a tour of Ben Nye, Western Costume, and the LA Fabric District; a behind-the-scenes visit to the Disney Live Entertainment Miller Warehouse; a full-day foam carving class at Cal State Long Beach; the Hollywood Bowl management tour; TouchDesigner essentials for live performance; and a two-day foundations of rigging course with ETCP credits. Most require advance registration and an additional fee, and several are already close to capacity.
PDW Pro Tip: Browse the full list and register here. Some PDWs fill up early, but it’s still worth checking. If you can’t get into your preferred one, sign up for your second or third option. You might learn something new, and it looks terrific on a resumé as additional or supplemental training.
One of the most underused resources at USITT is PRIMP — Portfolio Reviews and Interview Materials Prep. Industry professionals sit down with you and give real, actionable feedback on your design portfolio, resume, or CV. If you are a student or early-career artist, this is a must. Sign up early, as slots go fast!
Portfolio Reviewer Pro Tip: Don’t skip these sessions because your portfolio is not “ready-ready”, the whole point is to find out what is and isn’t working. Feel free to let the reviewer know it is a work in progress and you’re seeking some guidance to take it to the next level!
Stage Expo is the heartbeat of the conference. Hundreds of companies showcasing the latest in lighting, sound, scenery, automation, rigging, and costuming — and you can actually touch and try most of it. Walk slowly, ask questions, and get to the floor early on opening day if you want the best merch. Companies bring branded gear, samples, and giveaways, and the good stuff disappears fast.
Merch Hunter’s Pro tip: Visit a vendor that is giving away tote bags first, that will help you haul brochures, stickers, and mugs later. Also don’t “come back later” for tshirts and totes. The best swag goes fast and the vendors have limited supplies. It’s worth waiting in line!
USITT’s Career Campus is a full career fair embedded inside the conference. Employers from regional theatres, cruise lines, theme parks, touring companies, and universities are all looking for talent. Use SmartMatch to connect with employers based on your skills and interests, and check JobsUSITT for open listings going in. If you are an undergrad thinking about graduate school, this is also one of the best places in the country to compare programs side by side. Schools recruit here specifically to meet prospective students, so come with your portfolio and your questions.
And if you want to keep exploring opportunities beyond the conference, Skene’s Callboard is our running resource for job listings, calls for submissions, and opportunities across the performing arts around the world.
Job Hunter’s Pro Tip: Don’t get discouraged if you’re not picked for your choice position. Organizations make hiring decisions on lots of different factors, including where you are in your plan of studies (some programs that run into the Fall semester might not hire someone who needs to go back to school early). It’s still worth sitting with people, get your name out there and share your resume with them. It builds confidence and makes it easier to apply again next year!
Make time for the International Activities events. This year’s lineup includes a session on building a theatre career abroad with speakers from OISTAT, a presentation by lighting and scenic designer Alita Escobedo on her public-space project Light Up, and a roundtable introducing RISE Together, a community for Asian American, Asian, and Pacific Islander professionals and students presented. If your work or ambitions extend beyond the US, these sessions are where you will find your people and your next opportunity.
Look also for affinity groups built around your community, like REM or LaGente for Latinx designers and technicians. And when the day is done, do not miss the Opening Night Reception and Celebration on Wednesday evening. It is the best possible start to the week: great company, the latest tech on display, and the energy of thousands of live entertainment professionals all in one room.
International Student Pro Tip: From the perspective of someone who was VERY self-conscious about his English at my first USITT, International Activities panels and affinity groups are a great way to connect with people who can respond to your questions in your first language. And that is HUGE!
Long Beach is not just a backdrop. You are a short drive from some of the most legendary entertainment venues in the world: the Hollywood Bowl, the Dolby Theatre, Disney Concert Hall, Disneyland. Several PDWs this year are built around exactly that, including tours of LA-area venues and the Disneyland Resort. Even if you do not do a formal tour, carve out time to explore. The city is a big part of the experience.
After-Hours Pro Tip: For some, USITT conference is the one time of the year where we get to hang out with colleagues, and is very common for people to hang out after hours. This is a great opportunity to meet people in a less imposing space. It’s a great idea to say hi to people and say: Hey, I loved your panel! or Thank you for your feedback today! You’ll catch people at their most relaxed, and you might gain some valuable contacts!
Last year, after we presented REM at the conference, I had the chance to hang out with the folks from La Gente for the first time, and met so many artists I had only known through their work. That kind of encounter does not happen on a schedule. It happens because you showed up.
In the end, the best thing you can do at USITT is meet as many new people as you possibly can. Some will become mentors. Some will become collaborators. Some will become long-time friends. And some you will keep crossing paths with, again and again, out there on the many stages.
So if you see me on the floor, stop me and introduce yourself! I will see you in Long Beach!
One Last Pro tip: Check the full conference schedule and block out the sessions that matter most to you before you arrive. It’ll save you from decision fatigue!
USITT 2026 runs March 18 to 21 at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA.
Skene is a proud presenting partner of USITT 2026. Interested in reaching the Skene community? Partner with us.
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One Response
This is a really valuable guide for first-time attendees, especially how it breaks down where to focus your time—from orientation sessions to networking and hands-on workshops. Events like USITT can feel overwhelming at first, but having a clear approach makes the experience far more impactful and rewarding. Thoughtful planning, combined with the right environment, plays a huge role in making these gatherings meaningful, and concepts like Piovra group reflect how curated spaces can enhance both connection and overall experience. A very practical and insightful read for anyone stepping into large-scale industry events for the first time!