tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post1561635113228284660..comments2023-03-25T14:09:08.045+00:00Comments on Professionally Resting: TrainspottingMiss Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02939362519591444568noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-18278390818674808182012-12-27T17:03:09.876+00:002012-12-27T17:03:09.876+00:00I'm an aspiring Actor (about to begin a short ...I'm an aspiring Actor (about to begin a short course at a Drama school and auditioning to possibly do a Degree Drama school course this year) and also someone who has been in YMBBT.<br /><br />I am very worried about all these no-pay or low-pay acting jobs but the sad fact is that it also isn't just the Acting industry that is suffering from this. I am leaving a career in IT to go into the acting profession. I was lucky enough to start in the IT industry just before all this malarky (for want of another word) became the norm. Even then, despite having a Computing degree, I was offered an unpaid, expenses only "experience" internship, contracted for 6 months. I turned this down as I was also offered a proper, paid, permanent job. It's appalling that trained professionals are being asked to work for nothing.<br /><br />I'm sure the acting industry is much worse because jobs are in demand. I should stress here that I am not excusing this, just looking at causes.<br /><br />Having said that, I did really enjoy participating in YMBBT and it *was* a great experience and very enjoyable. Also there is that question of if they can only make this happen by paying everyone and can't afford to pay everyone, will that mean that YMBBT will not be able to go ahead next year?<br /><br />Personally, I think what they *are* doing wrong is that they are approaching professional actors through industry sites (and through agents?) for this. I also think that the funding aspect is a little cheeky if they aren't paying. Not paying untrained amateurs (albeit one aspiring to be professional) like myself for something that is getting no industry sponsorship is one thing. Approaching trained professionals and asking them to work for free on an industry sponsored project is indeed another thing entirely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-82410076042526281322012-09-18T16:33:58.746+01:002012-09-18T16:33:58.746+01:00I've followed the YMBBT/EQUITY arguments/discu...I've followed the YMBBT/EQUITY arguments/discussions and, while I can see both sides of the argument and know people who have been involved and loved the experience, as an actress and theatre producer who's scrabbling for funding and going broke in order to pay a single actor who is getting a fair amount of exposure from doing my shows anyway I also find it very hard to ultimately support this set up. Much more so now that the leaked accounts show that there has apparently been dishonesty on the side of YMBBT. Perhaps, since it is a unique project and obviously entertaining people, we should be careful about quite how clearly we express our antipathy towards it due to the fact that we can't truly argue with all the volunteers and audience members who are adoring it. This is a pain in the ass but as a one-off we may just have to suck it up. That doesn't mean the company itself shouldn't have to be honest and be careful with future projects, and that we shouldn't be continuing to work on cutting down on unpaid professional acting work as much as possible. <br /><br />I wrote a blog today about a 'job' I was recently asked to take part in where I was simply amazed by the actors I met who were happy to not only work for free but pretty much pay for the privilege Your thoughts are welcomed: <br /><br />TheatreWatch: Unpaid Work: How did such an oxymoron become the norm? http://tinydanser-mytheatreblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/unpaid-work-how-did-such-oxymoron.htmltinydanserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413192855054429358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-67549255885586638452012-07-20T10:45:02.304+01:002012-07-20T10:45:02.304+01:00Sounds to me like Jon SLack is a plant.
The leake...Sounds to me like Jon SLack is a plant.<br /><br />The leaked accounts can be found here <br />https://www.facebook.com/pages/Actors-Minimum-Wage/106881459367426<br /><br />Nice work Miss L<br />xAnnie Actorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03304450429533117987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-85972778871103438632012-07-20T10:08:56.093+01:002012-07-20T10:08:56.093+01:00Hi Jo
Thanks for your comments. I do appreciate p...Hi Jo<br /><br />Thanks for your comments. I do appreciate people taking the time to read my post and comment on it.<br /><br />It's very difficult to not repeat what I said to Jon about my issues with this show. However, it's very upsetting to see such a show, which is gaining a lot of media exposure and sells out so quickly, choosing to use volumteers rather than actors as this then sets a precedent for other theatre companies. Unpaid work is a massive problem within the acting industry as it is so seeing a company do it on such a large scale is worrying for actors. <br /><br />Also, the accounts for the show have now been leaked and the level of funding and the fact that 20 crew members (including the two Artistic Directors who have said to the press that they're not receiving any money) have taken a fee from themselves.<br /><br />I'm glad to hear that it's such a great show to watch and I'm glad you've enjoyed it. However, this is a company that I'm unable to support.<br /><br />Thanks again for your comments.<br /><br />Miss LMiss Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939362519591444568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-1330383927753236042012-07-20T10:06:27.738+01:002012-07-20T10:06:27.738+01:00No problem!
It's definitely a conundrum, I d...No problem! <br /><br />It's definitely a conundrum, I do agree in general there is a bit of a worrying trend towards more and more unpaid work (with more professional expectations) for actors, and this is massively amplified in such a creative place like London and a bit more broadly in the UK, where so much amazing work is being staged but almost beyond the capacity that actually exists... <br /><br />I can only afford it myself because I work solidly for 9/10 hours in the daytime, and then switch over and put my BBT hat on. It's a bit draining but so far, so good! <br /><br />Will be interesting to see how things progress (on the whole) from here. <br /><br />xJon Slacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-80203165863860637822012-07-20T02:08:27.546+01:002012-07-20T02:08:27.546+01:00Hi Miss L, interesting to read your post - you do ...Hi Miss L, interesting to read your post - you do realise that there is no rehearsal time involved for performers in YMBBT? You can turn up one evening, be 'in' one of the scenes an hour later, and then three hours after that your involvement with the project can be entirely over. (Unless you want to come back and do the show another day.) It's not exactly the same as working unpaid for 2 months of rehearsals and performance. No one has to work in a call centre or flog ice creams in order to support their performing in YMBBT. <br /><br />So that experience issue - you might suck up working for free to play a lead at Southwark Playhouse, for example, in the hope that casting directors etc will see you - which is one of the problems with the indsutry - , but that isn't equivalent to what performers do in YMBBT. As Jon Slack says, a lot of the performers in the show are not actors, but just people participating for the fun of it. People's ire against this project is very misplaced, especially when most of them haven't seen it and obviously don't realise the scale of it or what the roles of the performers within it are. <br /><br />I haven't performed in the show, by the way, but I have been an audience member in it, and I hugely appreciated the enthusiasm of the performers. They give their time because they are interested in the project - there are lots of places actors are being exploited, but I honestly don't think this project is one of the culprits.Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-48934050661940132802012-07-18T15:42:52.096+01:002012-07-18T15:42:52.096+01:00Hello Jon
Thank you very much for your comment, i...Hello Jon<br /><br />Thank you very much for your comment, it's great to hear from someone that has actually taken part and enjoyed being a part of it.<br /><br />I haven't myself been part of it as I have no intentions, as a professional actor, to give my work up for free like that. Acting is my living and I simply can't afford to give up my time like that. If you can afford to do that, then great but many actors can't.<br /><br />The problem as a professional actor, is that so many unpaid jobs will keep using the term 'experience' as if that somehow makes up for not paying. Now, as someone who doesn't act and is happy to give up their time as a volunteer then that's great but when you want to make a living from your profession, it simply isn't practical. When there are more and more 'acting' jobs out there that ask people to work for free, all it does is price out those who are unable to afford to take on such work. Meaming that you find yourself in ridiculous position where you have to be able to afford to act. <br /><br />I apologise for getting some of the figures wrong and I'm sorry if my views on the matter have offended you.<br /><br />I'm glad that there are people out there who enjoy this work and I hope that the next set of shows is just as fun for you all. But, as this is a blog written by an actor, please understand the viewpoint I'm taking and how projects like this can be damaging to our profession.<br /><br />Thanks again for taking the time to read my post and for commenting.<br /><br />Miss L xMiss Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02939362519591444568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-27248045880861843322012-07-18T15:32:22.955+01:002012-07-18T15:32:22.955+01:00On the surface it may appear Miss L has a point, b...On the surface it may appear Miss L has a point, but I write as someone who participates as a volunteer for YMBBT and who is also a freelancer/self-employed type. It's very clear to me that she hasn't actually taken part in the event. <br /><br />For a start, the audience/performer ratio is 250 to 80, not 16 as she says here, even though that is still completely bonkers. <br /><br />She keeps referring derisively to the "experience", yet has not in fact attempted this very experience herself. <br /><br />And all this neatly avoids the fact that something in the region of at least 2000 people volunteered in the last run (Kate has been quoted as saying as high as 4000). Does that not say something about what is making this project special? <br /><br />I'm not a professional actor, nor am I even an aspiring one, but I love events and I love innovative theatre. I would say at least half of those I have met while on set fit this particular category. <br /><br />The organisers are totally upfront about the volunteering bit, and people can literally leave WHENEVER they wish. Volunteering is precisely that: you come and go as you please, at your own will. <br /><br />The only thing that bothers me in fact, is that the organisers themselves do not get paid. For it's surely justified that those who are committed to the project for months day in and day out, and who need bread on the table too, can at least keep this amazing ship sailing. <br /><br />Needless to say I watch this space with interest. <br /><br />And in the meantime, I shall be there volunteering my heart out over the coming weeks while juggling all my other commitments, and absolutely loving it! <br /><br />I would suggest Miss L try the same. <br /><br />xJon Slacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-88290039550186757272012-07-15T13:36:24.234+01:002012-07-15T13:36:24.234+01:00I was contacted by these jokers via a wee-known ca...I was contacted by these jokers via a wee-known casting website. My emailed reply was 3-fold 1. I'll mention you to my agent 2. I'll let Equity about your 'offer' 3. See you next Thursday you firkin drunkardsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372081736393587830.post-33885641587073034742012-07-15T12:59:51.041+01:002012-07-15T12:59:51.041+01:00I work with a (pretty well known) TV and film char...I work with a (pretty well known) TV and film charity who are desperate to make the industry more diverse - they're focussing on encouraging young people from poorer backgrounds to get involved in the arts. What they don't seem to realise is that since about 1/10 jobs is actually paid, you're setting them up for a fall, reminding everyone that the only people who can get a break are those who can afford to do it for free.<br /><br />When I asked about this, they looked blank, mumbled something about "living with parents" and "if you want something, you have to work hard" and then carried on their original tack. <br /><br />Urgh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com