Working in Theatres
Posted on 13. Nov, 2010 by Jason Gold in Stage Shows
You’ve refined your act and now you’re ready for the bright lights, the special effects and the big stage. Performing in a theatre is one of the most exhilarating experiences you’ll ever have. Having performed your act in pubs and clubs for a time there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t take it to the next level, is there?
Many people said I was mad when I went to book theatres without an agent but it really isn’t difficult. You’ll tend to find that the people with the least knowledge on a subject are the ones shouting about it. I ignored anyone who said these things to me. So by this point I’d been working the pub scene for some time, making great money, and using other hypnotic ventures to pull in even more, plus I had a member of staff working for me. Paul, my right hand man asked what he was to do, I said, “Research theatres, and book them for me”. A day later he came back and said that of the five he’d contacted, one of them had given a solid agreement.
With theatres, the contract usually comes from their end as it’s their service you are hiring. I encourage you to read the small print and know what you’re getting into before you sign. You must also research an area/location thoroughly before putting on a show. Many times I learned the hard way by booking a venue and having little or no tickets sell, then someone local would say to me “Shows like this don’t sell out here anyway”. Well thanks for that information, two months too late. It’s nobody else’s responsibility but yours. Ask around, look at the other events and find out how well they are selling, and make your decisions from there.
Paul booked our first theatre, we signed the necessary contracts, asked their advice on marketing and advertising and how they could help us, then we had our posters printed and got to work promoting the event. Theatres usually have a lot of good information and contacts at local radio stations and newspapers they can put you in touch with, but you’ll rarely find out unless you ask them. Theatres also have their own box office so the tickets are professionally taken care off. The way a direct hire of a theatre works is simple; you agree to their terms and costs, then you do your thing and pay their invoice after the show, usually with a small deposit upfront. Nice and simple!
