Transcript Employment agents

Employment
The industry You need to make yourself aware of:
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Where to go or whom to contact for advice
What will be expected of you as an employee
What laws you will have to comply with
What working conditions to expect
How to make sure you are prepared and ready
to apply for work
How to make contact with agents
Preparing a CV
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A performer's CV should be only one side of A4
A portfolio can be useful demonstrating your
experience (posters, reviews etc) to take to an
interview or to link to from a web site in your CV.
Be prepared to audition during an interview.
Choose your material (and clothes) carefully!
Photograph
• This should be head and shoulders
Be a semi-side on view, with careful attention to
lighting etc.
• It is usually a black and white photo but now
colour is also widely used
• Be of a good, or if you can afford it, a very high
professional standard
• Be an honest and clear representation of yourself
Kiera Daily
Contact: 21a Crescent Road,
Canterbury CT2 5JZ
Phone: (01227) 346987
Mobile: 07961 152 349
Email: [email protected]
Agent:
Joan Trollope Personal Management
124 Wardour Street, London W1
3PU.
(01234) 222 233
Location: South East England
You need to include a
photograph (which is much
better than a passport photo!
Your personal contact details
Include the name and contact
details of your agent if you
have one.
Pay to be in Spotlight if possible
Spotlight number: 1236
Equity number: M3111 55456
Height: 6'1" Build: slim
Hair: Brown Eyes: Green
Accents: UK South East RP,
Geordie, London, Standard
American, French,
Role Playing Ages 17- 24
Spotlight
www.spotlight.com/artists.html
is the photographic directory of
all actors in UK and is the first
place directors look when
casting. You can put your CV
there.
On your CV put your Spotlight
page number and also if you are
an Equity member.
Your height, colour of hair,
eye colour and accents you
can speak and sing in are
important.
Skills:
Skills
Full Driving Licence,
BADC intermediate
certificate in Stage Fighting,
It’s very important
to list any other
practical
skills/training you
may have
Horse Riding,
Workshop Leader,
Chorus Dancing,
Skiing, Tennis, Scuba Diving,
Computing
Music Skills:
It is very desirable for an actor
to have some musical skills
(Singers need a brief profile to
Singing: Soprano. Chorus
explain their style of singing:
and Solo Singing
Instruments: Versatile
Guitarist, Piano Grade 4.
opera, musical theatre, popular,
plus voice type: soprano, mezzo,
baritone or bass.)
Specify what you want to do and
why.
You can include a well produced
& brief CD of your work or it can
be linked from a web site.
These should be one or two
minute samples of your best
work. The first should be the best
as this may be the only one
listened to.
Training:
2008 - 2009 Mountview Theatre
School:
Postgraduate Diploma - Acting
2004 - 2008 University of Kent :
BA (Hons.) Drama 2:1
Note in this CV there is no
mention of GCSEs or A
Levels.
Generally that will depend
on your age and experience.
A younger candidate might
include these
But very important you
should mention the
professional training you
have received.
Performance Experience
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List what experience you have: all the
productions you have been in, usually
divided into film and TV and theatre.
Where you have performed: year,
type, role, director and venue
Year
Type
Role
Production
Company
Director
Godot
Waiting for
Godot
Marlowe
Theatre,
Canterbury,
Jason
Brown
Play
Juliet
Romeo and
Juliet
Gulbenkian
Theatre,
Canterbury
Student
Production
Pantomime
Dick
chorus
Whittington
Gulbenkian
Theatre,
Canterbury
Jenny
harrison
The Search
for Dick and
Harry
Puerile
Productions
Alan
Dawson
Theatre
2008
2008
2006
Play
TV &
Film
2009
Short Film
Tom
Showreels
A Showreel gives a taster of your skills
and can be placed on-line and/or on a
DVD. Make sure this is of a good
professional standard
 Tell the viewer how long it will last in case
they have limited time (or patience!).
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Employer
Should follow employment law regarding
 Contract stating your responsibilities and
hours of work – rate of pay etc
 Provide a safe working environment
 Follow any other regulations relating to
equal opportunities and disability rights
and required training
Contracts – read them carefully!
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Read your contract carefully to know the terms
and conditions of your employment
Required length of service ( how long you will be
employed) – ( how long you sign with an agent)
Rate of pay
Working hours
Holiday pay
Procedures for resigning or dismissal
Any agreements re royalties secondary
payments
Legal Requirements
for tax and other deductions
Pay and deductions
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Income Tax
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National Insurance
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Private Pension
Types of deductions
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The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system
Your employer does all deductions directly from
your wage
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Self Employed – do your own national insurance
and fill in your own tax form
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You can have a combination
National Insurance
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You pay National Insurance contributions to build up
your entitlement to certain social security benefits,
including the State Pension.
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The type and level of National Insurance
contributions you pay depends on how much you
earn and whether you're employed or self employed.
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You stop paying National Insurance contributions in
the year you reach State Pension age.
Who uses your National Insurance number?
You must give your National Insurance number to:
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HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Your employer
Department for work and Pensions (DWP), if you claim
benefits
Your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit
The Student Loan Company if you apply for a student loan
You will also be required to provide your National Insurance
number if you open and Individual Savings Account (ISA).
Entitlement to many benefits depends on your
National Insurance contribution record
Employment law and tax
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Tax --Most actors etc are self-employed –
this means they have to have accounts
and complete their own tax return
It generally works in favour as you can
claim many deductions / expenses if they
are ‘incurred wholly and exclusively for
work’
e.g – TV rental – union fees – stage
make-up- cost of attendance at auditions
 For national insurance purposes you pay
more if you wish to receive benefits
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Dual Status
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Equity has negotiated a dual status for actors
You can have some tax registered and
calculated as self employed
But when an actor etc get a contract they can
pay as you earn -- P.A.Y.E
This means your tax is calculated and taken
from your pay
Dual employment status
It’s very good
 This is important as it means you can
claim Job Seekers Allowance should you
have times of long unemployment
 Self employed people may have access to
less benefits as they pay less contribution
and they may earn over the accepted level
of money
Citizens advice Bureau
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http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/wo
rk_e/work_selfemployed_or_looking_for_work_e/selfemployment_checklist.htm
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This gives very general advice about all
kinds of work but has useful information
Conditions of work
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Rehearsal /performance space should be warm
and adequately equipped
Facilities reasonable ( access to toilet )
Health and safety issues – risk correctly
assessed and meets legal requirements and is
within the terms of your contract
Any special requirements may need training and
support
Hours
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The hours can sometimes be very long
Licensing Act – any place presenting
entertainment needs a licence.
Under new laws venues stay open later
particularly clubs and this means still an early
set up but a later finish time.
Problem does the pay reflect this – possibly not!
Rates of pay
There can be many different circumstances
depending on the
 nature of the work
 size of the company or particular project
 Status and type of company
 your relationship to the people you are
working with – e.g are you a group of
friends putting on one show
Rates of pay
Profit share – everyone in the company
gets an equal share of any profits after all
expenses and/or loans are paid
 Agreed Fee for the project or work
 Full contract with a regional theatre or
TV /film company
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Rates of Pay
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Theatrical Management Association
http://www.tmauk.org/ratesofpay/tmaequity
subsidisedrepertory.aspx
 Has main list of rates of pay for most roles
in theatre
directors /actors /stage
managers/choreographers
Acting
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Refer to equity rates of pay and conditions
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These will also include any repeat fees or
royalties regarding film or TV
performances
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Insurance and public liability
Equity is The Main Union for
Actors
 Directors
 Stage managers
 Dancers and choreographers
 Light Entertainment – e.g cabaret – circus
comedy
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Equity negotiates across the industry
the best conditions, terms and wages
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Basic salary
Rehearsal salary
Holiday pay
Royalties or secondary payments (about repeats in TV
– depends if broadcast off peak 50% of fee or prime
time same as original fee.
Repeat fee rates for walk on extras is classed in three
rates
e.g. 1=crowd no fees 2 = featured but not speaking
3= featured and speak
Equity recommended agreement
Performers Minimum Salary –
 MRSL Grade 1 and 2
£400.00 Minimum Salary –
 MRSL Grade 3
£372.00
 MRSL Grade 1
£459.00
 MRSL Grade 2
£406.00
 MRSL Grade 3
£379.00
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Equity agreements
http://www.actorsandextras.co.uk/3.html
ITV.
 Walk on 1 £66.55 per day.
or £57.10 where 41 or more extras are used.
 Walk on 2 non speaking £86 per day. Walk
on 3 speaking £102.60
BBC
 Walk on £93.50 per recording day (£75.50
rehearsal)
Theatrical pay equity site
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http://www.tmauk.org/ratesofpay/tmaequity
subsidisedrepertory.aspx
Only generally accessible to members
Employment disputes
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Will negotiate in disputes with your employer –
Late payments
Advice on tax returns
Free legal advice
Contracts- Pay, hours of work, travel payments
Accommodation
Breaks / holiday or leave
Health and safety
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Helps to negotiate safe working environments
Insurance to full members is free
Will give advice on Personal injury Insurance
and
Back stage cover and public liability, which many
performers are expected to have especially if
working in clubs, holiday centres, schools,
community centres
Employment agents
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Equity campaigns against those that charge up front fees
Best to check agency with equity PMA listings
( Production Managers Association http://www.pma.org.uk)
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Most agents based in London but there are 6 Yorkshire ones
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Several based in Manchester
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Equity says local theatres should do local auditions but they tend
not to and still do them in London
PCR publication tells you when the castings are coming up
( Production Casting Report http://www.pcrnewsletter.com/pcr)
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Also there is information in The Stage and Equity Journal
Web sites
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http://www.spotlight.com/
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http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/otherres
ources/agents/agents.htm
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http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/
Appendix of tables re
tax information
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/it.htm
Income Tax allowances table
Income Tax allowances
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
Personal Allowance (1)
Up to £100
£6,475
£7,475
£8,105
Personal Allowance for people
£9,490
aged 65-74 (1)(2)
£9,940
£10,500
Personal Allowance for people
£9,640
aged 75 and over (1)(2)
£10,090
£10,660
Married Couple's Allowance aged 75 and over (2)(3)
£6,965
£7,295
£7,705
Blind Person's Allowance
£1,800
£1,890
£1,890
Income Tax rates and taxable bands
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
Starting rate for
savings: 10%*
£0-£2,440
£0-£2,560
£0-£2,710
Basic rate: 20%
£0-£37,400
£0-£35,000
£0-£34,370
Higher rate: 40%
£37,401£150,000
£35,001£150,000
£34,371-£150,000
Additional rate:
50%
Over £150,000
Over £150,000 Over £150,000