Touring

[Jenna281093]

Ok so I want to get on a tour (sooner rather than later) but I have a few questions that I hope somebody can answer. :P

 

- Is there a certain age that you have to be to work on a tour, I know that you have to be 16 to work backstage but is there a certain age before you can go on tour?

 

- When touring can a production team member live in digs? And do you have to pay for it or does the tour company?

 

- Who is best to contact if you wish to join a tour as part of the production/technical team?

 

Thanks

Jenna x

[paulears]

It depends on the production company, but I'm not aware of any who will take a 16 year old on tour - especially a girl. I know that seems a bit chauvinistic, but it's not. If you are under 18, then legally, they'd probably be responsible for you, and living on your own in a strange town in maybe a dodgy area is a big step for anyone. My own son tried to get an ASM job when he was under 18 and even with the production company knowing me, they wouldn't take the risk. Now, at 19, he's going off on one soon - and will be sharing with the DSM.

 

Theatre tours usually mean you get the digs list for each venue and sort it yourself. £60-100 a week is typical for something OK, and depending on your contract, you'll probably get a subsistence payment that might meet most of it - but probably not all. Some tours will stick you in a cheap hotel sharing with somebody else, and either pick up the tab or make you share the room cost with the other person. A few music tours may have a crew bus even if they're basically a theatre show - while proper music tours have a crew bus as standard, although I've always hated this kind of thing and never did them through choice. They're often smelly, noisy and just unpleasant.

 

If you can, look for a comedy tour rather than a serious play - something like Allo Allo or Dads Army would be more fun than a tour of Metamorphosis. I hate Shakespeare with a passion and in my youth did lots of it and really hated it - trouble was the jobs came up and I needed the money - but a tour of National Trust Castles did my head in - never again!

 

Getting a job will be tricky. In most cases they're not advertised and it's word of mouth. So you need to get your face known by doing some casual work, and you can tap up the company managers as they come through, then by gentle reminding them of you, jobs get picked up.

 

What they all want are people who are trained. They don't have time to train you, apart from what you pick up as you go along yourself. So to get work you must have had work - catch 22.

 

There's nothing stopping you trying now, but you won't be terribly useful yet - so maybe a couple of years at college first? BTECs are popular at the bigger colleges. Where I am in East Anglia, Norwich City College seems to offer the best options at the moment - and they're drawing from probably a 30 mile radius of Norwich - so travel for most people is a necessity. Production, rather than Performance is not offered at every college - it needs lots of shows to work on.

 

I'd strongly advise you to go to college until you're 18 if you want to tour, but if somebody offers you one while you're at college - clear off and do it!

[Jenna281093]

Cheers Paul,

 

I did have the worry that I may have to be 18 *sigh*

 

My head of department @ the national youth theatre said to never give up on trying just to get work experience on shows that come round my way, so may just do that.

 

Living in Huddersfield also isn't the best place to live for theatre, the college's really don't do much apart from drama and theatre studies but thats about it and as for work experience we have leeds, bradford and sheffield but thats about it. So may just try and get experience with the companies that come to the theatres around there.

 

Thanks Again

Jenna x

[gareth]

You've got the Lawrence Batley Theatre right on your doorstep if you live in Huddersfield. Why don't you see about the possibility of getting some casual work there? They have a pretty busy programme of incoming shows - it would be a good way to start making contact with some of the smaller-scale touring companies who visit the venue, and getting your face known by people who might be looking for an extra pair of hands on a small tour at some point in the future.

[Big Jay]

I just echo what Paul and Gareth have said.

 

The fact is (and it's a sad one), most tours will employ regulars, and friends of those regulars so trying to get on your first tour is really hard. A good thing is what Gareth said, get some casual work and meet those people and try to keep in contact with them. Another sad fact is when jobs get advertised in places like the stage, especially with big tours, the jobs has already been given to someone even when the advert has just gone up (down to equality for all) but theirs no harm sending speculative CV's to touring companies, especially people UK Production's who reagually give chances to new blood!

 

Good luck!

J

[Jenna281093]

You've got the Lawrence Batley Theatre right on your doorstep if you live in Huddersfield. Why don't you see about the possibility of getting some casual work there? They have a pretty busy programme of incoming shows - it would be a good way to start making contact with some of the smaller-scale touring companies who visit the venue, and getting your face known by people who might be looking for an extra pair of hands on a small tour at some point in the future.

 

Of Course I have the LBT... Legendary People Work There! They've helped me out alot. I do work there with the Amatuer theatre companies there infact thats where I'm working as a DSM on half a sixpence in october, but I'm just getting fustrated and want to work in some others places aswell.

 

Cheers for the advice :P

Jenna x

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

I just echo what Paul and Gareth have said.

 

The fact is (and it's a sad one), most tours will employ regulars, and friends of those regulars so trying to get on your first tour is really hard. A good thing is what Gareth said, get some casual work and meet those people and try to keep in contact with them. Another sad fact is when jobs get advertised in places like the stage, especially with big tours, the jobs has already been given to someone even when the advert has just gone up (down to equality for all) but theirs no harm sending speculative CV's to touring companies, especially people UK Production's who reagually give chances to new blood!

 

Good luck!

J

 

Thanks Jay, some really helpful advice there :P

I just really want 2 be in theatre now! I'm so passionate about theatre but think I may have found a solution, as my auntie knows someone who works with disney on ice and she said she may be able to help me out.

Fingers crossed eh?

Thanks,

Jenna x

[neilalexrose]

Getting a job in touring can be difficult unless you know the right people. Getting into stage management is also quite difficult, and one thing you need to be aware of is the Stage Management Association (SMA) freelist. It is basically a list of stage management people who are not working/nearing the end of contracts, and will be available for work from a certain date. If a member of stage management is needed, quite often at short notice, Rather than advertising, which can be costly and time consuming, production companies tend to look at the freelist for available people, and call them directly. As your previous job history is listed, they can see very quickly who you've worked with, and they can get an idea of whether you may be suitable. Chances are, with the industry being so small, they will make a call to someone you've worked with, and get their recommendation.

If I remember, in order to join the SMA and get onto the freelist, you need to have a recommendation or two from current members.

 

It's may also be useful to join stagejobspro, as they sometimes advertise jobs at short notice. In terms of gaining more experience, there are a lot of no pay/low pay jobs, which once you sift through them, may be of some benefit. I've seen quite a lot of last minute Edinburgh jobs advertised. May be useful for you for next year.

 

My advice, to you at age 16, is stay in education, college, university, drama school, whichever takes your fancy, and do as many extra curricular shows as you can (without affecting your studies). You'll meet more people that way. If you're close to leeds, then you have the stage management department at West Yorkshire Playhouse to contact for work experience.

 

An example of how not to do it; my girlfriend is company manager on a large scale national tour, and was left a business card at stage door one week by a drama school stage management student. Possibly good initiative you might think, but the card was so badly produced that the name and number was illedgable against the over colourful background, and the font was too fancy to read. There was no explanation about what they specialised in, or what they hoped to achieve by leaving the business card. A letter or note explaining that they would like to come in a shadow the ASM/DSM/CSM would have been useful. Consequently that business card went straight in the bin. I know they say that getting your name out there is the way to do it, but I at least make the name readable!

 

 

Neil

[ramdram]

I note your enthusiasm, Jenna. It might also be worth bearing in mind than your age is very much against you and the advice to stay in (full time) education is well worth considering.

 

I do some volunteer stuff at a large Plymouth theatre and a couple of years ago asked the "Management" about the possibility of my son, then aged 16, getting casual work as an usher or similar. Their policy at the time was nobody under the age of eighteen was employed owing to the late hours worked, or time of going home if on an evening show. It seems they would not just release anyone that age onto the streets at night on their own.

 

If you worked in the theatre proper, as a part of the crew, then it may involve very late nights or long hours and there are laws which govern how long you are able to work. Your view, not being discourteous in any way, simply has no relevance whatsoever.

 

You may find that some "homework" on google may be useful to you so can I suggest you research "Working Time Regulations". Very, very briefly, they define how many hours you may work in a week AND more importantly for yourself, WHEN those hours can be.

[Jenna281093]

I note your enthusiasm, Jenna. It might also be worth bearing in mind than your age is very much against you and the advice to stay in (full time) education is well worth considering.

 

I do some volunteer stuff at a large Plymouth theatre and a couple of years ago asked the "Management" about the possibility of my son, then aged 16, getting casual work as an usher or similar. Their policy at the time was nobody under the age of eighteen was employed owing to the late hours worked, or time of going home if on an evening show. It seems they would not just release anyone that age onto the streets at night on their own.

 

If you worked in the theatre proper, as a part of the crew, then it may involve very late nights or long hours and there are laws which govern how long you are able to work. Your view, not being discourteous in any way, simply has no relevance whatsoever.

 

You may find that some "homework" on google may be useful to you so can I suggest you research "Working Time Regulations". Very, very briefly, they define how many hours you may work in a week AND more importantly for yourself, WHEN those hours can be.

 

Hey Ramdram,

 

I realise that staying in full time education is a must for some people but not for all.

I have spoken to others in the forum and they have suggested to stay in education and doing part time work aswell but they also said if I happen to get on a tour go off and do it.

I'm staying in college until I get offered tour work or theatre work then I'll obviously take the place on the production.

 

Thanks for the head up,

Jenna x

[Jivemaster]

Touring means that they need someone with all the skills ready to do the job, there is never a seat for an understudy. They also need someone who can support themselves during the tour, and be a social member of the touring team (especially if it's a bus based tour).

 

As a legal minor the company have to accept responsibility for your welfare, and may suddenly need to CRB check all the staff just because you will be in close proximity for a very long time.

 

My suggestion is to find some casual or festival work -even at volunteer run festivals. Do something specific and do it so well that people actually want you to work for them. A bit of self promotion always helps and haveing some saleable skills always helps.

 

Sidmouth, Broadstairs and Whitby all have festivals for a week in august so do some research and see if there is a work place at one or two of these for next year.

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

Also

"want 2 be "

 

avoid text speak like the plague, it tends to be the end of an interview or the reading of a letter of application. In theatre people are surrounded by the sound of some of the best wordsmiths in the language, it usually jarrs badly if your language shows you up. Get your school or college to assist you with english language and literature.

[woodbutcher]

Hey Jenna,

Just my twopenneth, I toured for six years, with a company already mentioned in this thread. They do get bad press, but in my experience, and that of the majority of people who work for them, they are a good starting company, because they will employ new blood, but alot of the time, will spend time, and show them the ways of the touring world. Also they are incredibly loyal. With regards getting into touring, I got a job at a theatre in my local town, where the full time staff were brilliant, and taught me alot. I believe on of them is now Tech Manager at the LBT in Huddersfield, and if so, is an excellent teacher! Getting Casual work in local theatres, of all sizes, is the best way of getting on a tour, alot of the time, someone leaves, and they need someone there and then. always keep a stack of CV's and business cards at work ready for that just in case moment, but the trick is getting the balance right. Visiting companies aren't too keen with people running up to them before the wagon is open gooing "Got any jobs, got any jobs, got any jobs?" Give it a couple of days to see how the land lies, a little bit of groundwork like this can stop potential embarrasment. unfortunately, your age is against you, you won't be able to get on a professional tour until you are 18, but be patient, use the time to build your skill base, employers like people with broad skills base.

Just a thought, it might be worth looking at the local panto producers, in case they need ASM's, you might just strike it lucky, you never know! if you have experience, and are local, they might look at you.

Hope this helps, and good luck with it all, don't get dis heartened, use the time productively, and once you reach the age, do a big mail shot, there are specific times of the year which are better for doing this, normally a couple of months before the spring tours or autumn tours go out.

Finally, as a word of warning, our theatre won't employ casual staff under the age of 18, but some do, perseverance is the key, try and get involved with the amateur circuit is a good way, theatres will then know your face!!

Regards

Dan

 

Edit to add:

If you do get a tour, just be aware, that its not for everyone. the majority of the time you have to live work and socialise with the same people 24/7, for months at a time. any one can do the job, but if you can cope with this then your onto a winner!

[ramdram]

Ref staying at college until you get a tour...sincerely hope you mean to leave college AFTER you gain a piece of paper with your name on it. If you don't then the next piece of paper you gain might have UB40 on it...

[paulears]

I think she meant she'd go to college, but would consider leaving if a plum job came along. When I worked in a college, for us, this was really annoying - but let's be honest, there's no guarantee of a job with the paper, so if a job comes along, I reckon it's silly not to take it - and you can always drop back into college the year after (if they're short of numbers!)

[rossmck]

I think she meant she'd go to college, but would consider leaving if a plum job came along. When I worked in a college, for us, this was really annoying - but let's be honest, there's no guarantee of a job with the paper, so if a job comes along, I reckon it's silly not to take it - and you can always drop back into college the year after (if they're short of numbers!)

 

I know several people who've done this - at the end of the day the piece of paper doesn't guarantee much now and I know more people with degrees working in part-time retail roles etc because they're finding it very hard to get work without having some experience.... of course they can't get the experience without some work...

 

Personally in that situation if I was offered work I'd take it then go back to college/uni if need be... then when you leave you have experience AND a bit of paper :)

[ramdram]

Granted the qualification AND the work experience is the best situation, but, my earlier illustration was for a non tour type job and the lower age limit (to gain employment in that particular theatre) was 18, working fixed hours. Getting a position working who knows how many hours at who knows what time of the day or night...under 18yrs of age, is not going to be easy.

 

Jenna is 17, just about; I have pasted what I feel "may" be part of the relevant section here, (from the "Working Time Regulations" ), my italics:

 

For young workers aged 16-17, additional rules apply:-

 

* Young workers may not ordinarily be employed for more that 8 hours per day, or for more than 40 hours per week

 

* Young workers are entitled to 12 consecutive hours of rest in each 24 hour period and a minimum of 30 minutes rest break when they work for more than four and a half hours

 

* At night, young workers will usually be prohibited from working between 10pm- 6am or 11pm-7am although some sectors are exempt (these include hospitals, hotels, catering businesses and postal or newspaper deliveries).

 

Now, 99.9% of us who have worked in the theatre, be it pro or volunteer or even amdram, know the notion of finishing the performance "tidy up" for want of a better expression (collecting radio mics, etc etc ), before ten pm is almost unheard of, and, if you are involved in a get out, even eleven pm is almost considered early evening.

 

I know nothing about very early morning get ins but will presume for sake of argument they must occur owing to restrictions in loading/unloading times/zones in towns/cities.

 

Jenna may want to be in the stage management side but, from my limited experience of visiting companies to our venue, every member of the visiting company helps whether they be the leading actress or the tour manager/driver/dogsbody, in unloading and building the set...and putting it all away again.

 

So being entirely realistic the chances of going on a tour before the age of eighteen is so unlikely it is not going to happen. Jenna may find that some companies could be concerned about the "running away to join the circus" scenario so they may want Parental Consent type agreements before the age of majority so to speak???

 

We have a very strict policy for young actors at our venue and any prospective actor must have consent and the parents are expected to have a chat with the Director (of their production) so they are aware that their child will be "working" until at least 10pm and they must be collected by a "known" adult.

 

Also that "we" are not a babysitting service...

 

To my mind and to echo the advice given already, if the opportunity presents itself, I would suggest Jenna should sign up for every "stage" production/position she can in her immediate area and just get ANY experience doing "anything". (And if you have your own transport that would have to be a definite plus.)

 

So when that dream job does come along Jenna will have the experience already and talk the language...not to mention the paper with her name on it.