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cold calling at theatres for work


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David is totally correct in that on the rare occasions I see written applications and CV's it is the only thing on which to judge an applicant and I make instant decisions based on that judgement. Even if the qualifications and experience are precisely what is required, a slapdash approach is not acceptable.

 

It is always better to have the name and position of those you write to and better yet if you can speak to them to ask if they will accept a CV for their records. With the huge numbers of very well qualified and experienced people applying and the relatively miniscule numbers of jobs, even getting someones job title wrong can result in the filing of the letter in Box 13.

 

Check out the search function above and you will find this is not an isolated or minority view and that there are plenty of topics regarding applying for work from which you may learn good advice.

To add to Ynots' post, we are after all guardians of Shakespeares English and words and meanings are our trade.

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With spelling and grammer aside, I have found that aproaching each venue personally, armed with a CV, will likely be more sucessfull than just posting them. Also, as Kerry sugests, its far better to have the name of the person that you need to aproach rather than turning up and asking to speak to "blah"... Also be sure to find out who is going to be choosing prospective candidates. Sometimes its the tech manager, other times it may be down to a management team rather than one individual.

 

One word of advice though... With the current state of employment and cut-backs, it may be some time before you are called upon. However, having ties with the RCS, as your profile states, may help your chances.

 

 

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With spelling and grammer aside, I have found that aproaching each venue personally, armed with a CV, will likely be more sucessfull than just posting them. Also, as Kerry sugests, its far better to have the name of the person that you need to aproach rather than turning up and asking to speak to "blah"... Also be sure to find out who is going to be choosing prospective candidates. Sometimes its the tech manager, other times it may be down to a management team rather than one individual.

 

One word of advice though... With the current state of employment and cut-backs, it may be some time before you are called upon. However, having ties with the RCS, as your profile states, may help your chances.

 

 

 

 

Thanks mate. I am also a qulified Electrician triained to the 17th edition bs 7671 so who knows, maybe that will also help

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has anyone ever got work from cold calling theatres.

 

or

 

has anyone ever given work to someone that has cold called

 

is there any point before I print off 200 cvs and covering letters

 

Having worked in venue where we have taken a CVs and called people back and now work in a venue, where it is unlike we will keep your CV, here my top tips for droping off your CV:

 


  1.  
  2. Know the venue: do some research on the venue and what jobs could be available. Over the last couple of weeks I had a lot of CVs and covering letters for jobs that just don't happen in my venue and they are NOT kept.
     
  3. Get personnel: back to point one, find out the name and job title of the person you should be writing too.
     
  4. Tell me why I should employ you: a list of jobs and performances does not tell why I should employ you over anyone else. Sell yourself, you need to tell why you want to work at my venue and why you would be good for the venue.
     
  5. Make your CV and Letter stand out: a coloured paper that is well presented gets remember better than all the CV and letters on white paper.
     
  6. Proofing reading: I know several post have been hidden about Spelling & Grammar but I do judge your CV and letter. If you can't spell and write I will not be keeping yor CV. This is coming from someone who has dyslexic and who gets someone to do proof reading on his important documents.
     
  7. Arrange a meeting: Find out when the person your giving your CV and Covering letter will be at the venue and see if you can arrange to meet them.

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From your profile it appears you are already in work. Without going into detail it looks as if you may have to make alternative arrangements.

 

I read above you have some useful qualification. It may be that you have to diversify for a while so it might be useful to seek employment in the electrical contractor sphere and consider "signing on" with specialised job agencies; apologies if you have done this already.

 

Possibly you might be able to continue your professional education by seeing if you can gain additional qualifications and again apologies if I appear to be teaching granny to suck eggs.

 

The other alternative is to set up as a small business (sole trader sort of thing). I appreciate this is not quite the direction you are looking at, but, the bottom line is you have to eat...

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As someone who regularly receives CVs (my "Resumes" folder in outlook currently holds 8 CVs from the last 2 months), here's my perspective:

 

I have, on occasion, hired people from CVs they've sent. But often not until long after that CV was sent. When people say 'they'll keep your CV on file" that doesn't mean "No" - it means "not now".

 

Do, indeed, find out the right person. Resumes sent to "The Roundhouse" or "To whom it may concern" go in the bin. My name is on the website for all to see.

 

Shallow as it is, presentation (which includes spelling, grammar and the general "look" of the resume) does matter. If it's 8 pages long, I won't read it. If it's spelled badly, I won't read it. If it's crumpled up, I won't read it. If it's in Courier, I won't read it. I'm looking for excuses to throw it away - don't give me any.

 

Don't list every damn show you've ever worked on. If I did that, it would be a book, so your 3 pages dont impress me. Pick good representative ones: ie: demonstrate a range of experience, and show off the big shows where you did a low job as well as the small shows where you did a big job. Both are interesting to me. A huge list of LX Tech, LX Tech, Lx Tech... will bore me. Oh, and make sure it's all true. I might know someone who knows someone who did the same show.*

 

Email works better for me than paper. I hate paper. Other people have the opposite opinion. YMMV.

 

If you know someone who already works for me and they'll vouch for you, that's an immediate +++ for your application.

 

Please don't try and arrange a meeting with me. I might have nothing to give you, even if I thought your CV was amazing. A meeting would just be awkward. I'll call you if I think you warrant meeting. And for God's sake, don't just turn up without an arranged meeting. Nothing is more irritating that drop-ins. I'm busy.

 

 

I know this all makes me sound like a grumpy old man, but the job does it to you - and the people you're trying to get a job from will share many of these opinions.

 

 

 

* = True story: I was once interviewing for a job and one of the applicants claimed to be the Production manager of a local festival. Unfortunately, one of our Board Members was also on the interview panel and he was the Executive Director of that festival...and had never heard of the interviewee. He tore him apart. It was ugly.

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Thank you all for your replies. I have read them with great interest and have picked up some good tips.

 

I hold qualifications as a theatre technician as well as an electrician. I am currently working for the RSC’s maintenance department but would like to move back or work in London as a lx tech once again.

 

 

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I would also add, while not as fully productive as the afore mentioned ways to aproach a new workplace, for me in a hires/ events company I'd definately say that it does not hurt at all to be familiar with the techs already there.

This I admit is easier for someone in my position, I'll be on site with other tech, visit their warehouse and they mine...

 

We have tried a few people out on various jobs from "word of mouth" description by techs.. Fact is if a tech says another is good and is willing to go to work with that person.. Surely it must help sway a decison makers opinion.

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As someone who employs technicians it is difficult to get on my list.

 

I have the people that I "always use".

 

If they are not available, then I have another group of technicians that I will use.

 

If none of those are available then I may take a punt on someone new.

 

And if that person impresses then they may well jump to the front of the queue.

 

Keep plugging away, it cannot do you any harm.

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As someone who employs technicians it is difficult to get on my list.

 

I have the people that I "always use".

 

If they are not available, then I have another group of technicians that I will use.

 

If none of those are available then I may take a punt on someone new.

 

And if that person impresses then they may well jump to the front of the queue.

 

Keep plugging away, it cannot do you any harm.

 

 

thanks

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As someone who employs technicians it is difficult to get on my list.

 

I have the people that I "always use".

 

If they are not available, then I have another group of technicians that I will use.

 

If none of those are available then I may take a punt on someone new.

 

And if that person impresses then they may well jump to the front of the queue.

 

Keep plugging away, it cannot do you any harm.

 

That pretty much sums up our company better than I put too..

 

Just keep pushing forward.. then something will always appear.

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I know that we don't normally like "me too" posts here on the Blue Room, but I really think it's useful for you to know that Bryson's post above is exactly what I would have written had he not already done it! :)

 

If I'm looking for someone to do a job the order my brain works is:

 

1) Someone I already know and trust

2) Someone I've used before, has been OK and I'm willing to have another look at

3) Someone recommended by someone I know and trust

4) Someone with a stunningly good cv that looks believable and is well presented

5) Someone who sounds really keen and intelligent

6) Someone who is available on that day!

 

I too get far more CVs than I could ever use so look for reasons to bin as many as possible, as I've already got a stack of CVs from people I have't tried yet but sound eminently employable. Your spelling, punctuation and grammar in real life may be awful for any reason at all (you're dyslexic, you weren't taught it at school, you didn't take any notice in class and have never read a book or newspaper, you're just thick etc.) but if you really wanted the job you'd have got someone who did know about SPaG to proof-read the letter for you.

 

One final point: you wouldn't believe how many CVs we get sent to the theatre with no covering letter. If you don't say what type of job you want then how can we possibly know if you want to work as a technician, stage door keeper, dresser, wig technician, FOH steward, box office, bar staff, cleaner, administrator, manager, security guard or freelance ass-kisser. Again, this shows that you weren't that bothered and the CV goes straight in the bin.

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