The One Page Stop for Artist Resources and Arcade Opportunities!

Looking for answers? Comedy resources? A chance to pitch in or just want to stay in the loop? You’re in the right place!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Anniversary Weekend Details

Arcade is about to mark our 11th anniversary with a weekend of laughing, learning, playing, and growing together — which is only right. We’ve invited Rick Andrews and Louis Kornfeld of the Magnet Theater (and other places) to come to town to teach, perform, and coach, so that’s a fun addition.

I hope you’ll consider spending some of next weekend (November 15-17) downtown at Arcade. We’ll laugh, we’ll hug, we’ll get each others’ backs.

For all the details, you can checkout the community email linked below.

(Also, if you didn’t already get this email in your inbox, you can sign up to get them here: https://mailchi.mp/…/sign-up-for-arcade-community-emails)
Click Here to read the email

ARTIST RESOURCES

Growing as an Artist at Arcade

Arcade Comedy Theater offers pathways for individuals to develop as comedic artists. This involves a combination of Arcade’s offerings, external opportunities, and independent study. The guidance here is intended to help artists learn, practice, and refine their skills, leading to various opportunities within and beyond the theater.  Below is an incomplete list of opportunities for learning.  New items added regularly

Artists’ Pathway (coming soon)

Arcade Programs

Other opportunities in Pittsburgh

Independent Study (Coming soon)

  • Reading List
  • Podcast List
  • Theaters to Visit List

Producing Shows at Arcade

Arcade Comedy Theater’s shows are a mix of shows that Arcade produces directly and others that are produced by artists in the community.  Producing a show is an endeavor with many moving pieces and details to be considered.  Growing as a producer is similar to growing as a performer–learning from others and getting experience in small and large ways will make you better at this.

Show Production Pathway  (coming soon)

Producer Resources & Links

    House Team Resources

    Arcade House Team Members can use these links for reference throughout their time on a House Team.

        Working at Arcade

        Arcade Comedy Theater employs many people as contractors in very part-time roles to deliver classes, shows, and private events.  The links below are resources for people already hired for these roles.  We hire these roles in different cadences, and the open application form is below.

        Current Contractor Links:

        • House Manager Scheduling Tool
        • Stage Manager Scheduling Tool (Coming Soon)

        Apply for Contract Positions at Arcade with this form (coming soon)

        • House Manager
        • Stage Manager
        • Substitute House Team Coach
        • Academy Teacher
        • Corporate Workshop Facilitator
        • Private Events Cast Member

        Who do I contact about...?

        Arcade Comedy Theater is a community-driven organization with a small, part-time staff who work asynchronously.  We are working to provide answers to frequently asked questions on this website.  Please review the content here (CTRL+F helps!) before sending an email to protect your own time as well as that of the people you are emailing.

        Topic Point Person
        Arcade Academy, Workshops Robin Hitchcock
        Facilities and Operations Madi Estep/Kevin O’Brien
        Internship Program Madi Estep/Kevin O’Brien
        Private Events Katie Tarara
        Booking a Show or Producer Questions Nia Johnson
        Sketch Lab Questions Mindy Cooper
        Board of Director Questions Board of Directors
        Not Sure the Topic? Info@

        State of the Arcade Archive

        Periodically, since 2023 we’ve shared the State of the Arcade with the community through in person events or video messages.  The transcripts of those messages are available here for your reference, with the most recent at the top.

        September 29, 2024 State of the Arcade Transcript

        (Prior messages coming soon)

        VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

        Marketing Volunteer Opportunities

        Marketing is the area most in need of helpers!  The work is recurring, but can often be completed in advance. We are looking for a pool of people who can learn a few different tasks and share the load.  We will train you in new skills that translate into other jobs.

         

        • Building and send weekly emails with MailChimp
        • Managing Arcade’s Facebook Account
        • Managing Arcade’s Instagram Account
        • Launching Arcade on Tiktok
        • Post show information onto the website
        • Process show video for producer and marketing use
        • Organize volunteer photographers for shows
        • Edit submitted photos for use in social, web, & email
        • Design graphics for social media and other Arcade use
        • Write press releases
        • Hang posters around the city

        Fundraising Volunteer Opportunities

        Currently, most of Arcade’s fundraising efforts happen in the last few months of the year.  We are looking for people to help to coordinate these efforts as well as people who will be peer fundraisers.

         

        • GiveBig 2025 Committee [project management, design, communications efforts]
        • GiveBig 2025 Peer Fundraisers
        • End of Year Thanking Campaign help
        • Researching potential grant opportunities for 2025
        • Planning 2025 efforts
        • Building a donor database

        Academy Volunteer Opportunities

        The Arcade Academy is many people’s first introduction to Arcade, so we love to make sure new students feel welcomed to class at the start of the session and to the community at the end of the session.  To that end, we could use volunteers to help at the start and end of each session to

         

        • Sign In Students on the first night of class from 6-7 pm
        • Host the Class Show Receptions during class show week

        Community Volunteer Opportunities

        Arcade Comedy Theater is a community-driven arts organization, and we love to do things to connect our community to one another.  Looking for people who would like to help plan and execute these opportunities!

         

        • Anniversary Weekend Party Planning Committee
        • Fifth Sunday Socials Committee
        • Arcade Book Group Leaders

        Leadership Volunteer Opportunities

        The various programs at Arcade that provide unique opportunities for artists to grow require committed leaders to handle their administration.  Several programs are already volunteer-led (Sketch Lab, Stand Up Lab, Beta Stage, Improv In Development, Gallery Crawl) but there are some current and future opportunities that we are looking for individuals or teams to lead.  These roles are not available by sign-up alone, but anyone who is interested will have the opportunity to interview for the roles with the corresponding staff person.  These positions are unpaid, but may provide access to other opportunities.

         

        • Volunteer Coordinator
        • House Team Coordinator
        • Group Sales Coordinator
        • Private Events Coordinator
        • Workshop Coordinator
        • Board Member (for 2025 start)

        One-Off Volunteer Opportunities

        If you’d like to help with something at Arcade every once in a while, but don’t want to commit to a recurring commitment, we understand and we still want your help!  Below are one-off volunteer needs that you can consider:

        • Working the box office or ushering for a show
        • Helping with a painting or cleaning project at Arcade
        • Setting up or Cleaning up big events
        • Staffing a table to represent Arcade at a community event
        Volunteer Interest Form

        Share your feedback with Arcade

        Tell us what’s working and what isn’t.  Share your great ideas. Brag about good ideas other people have.  Report any issues or concerns.

        Form here!