‘A beginning wage? There isn’t any such factor’: What it is actually like being a West Finish performer

Every Monday, our Cash group speaks to somebody from a distinct occupation to find what it is actually like. This week, we chat to Aaron Archer from Joseph And The Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat and Mamma Mia! about life as a West Finish performer…

There isn’t any such factor as a beginning wage within the performing arts… A job could also be an fairness contract with a union that units out minimal salaries relying on the dimensions of the theatre or the quantity of labor and plenty of different various components. Or it could possibly be a privately/commercially financed job, which means the wage can range massively. All fairness minimal figures might be discovered on-line however it could possibly vary between £600-900 roughly every week for an ensemble member in a West Finish present. Once more, this determine can range beneath or above this. The principals will earn the next wage in addition to individuals who cowl different roles or have further tasks resembling being the dance captain.

You do not essentially have a secure revenue to depend on… Contracts can differ in size from only a few days to a 12 months or extra.

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Folks would possibly look down at a cruise ship contract… however these performers are extraordinarily gifted and incomes cash doing the job they love simply the identical as anyone in a present within the West Finish, with the cruise ship job paying greater than a West Finish contract generally.

A normal week consists of eight reveals… however over busy intervals further reveals might be added. With most reveals being round two and half hours, in addition to any further rehearsals, we’re working between 35-40 hours every week with sooner or later off.

It’s extremely arduous to plan forward... You by no means know what you are going to be doing or the place you will be from one 12 months to the subsequent. I went from engaged on a cruise as a dancer travelling the world, to then the subsequent 12 months making my West Finish debut in Mamma Mia.

A very powerful talent to do that job effectively is… to simply be a pleasant particular person. Clearly your expertise and arduous work and dedication shall be an enormous think about getting jobs however if you’re a pleasant, pleasant particular person then that can make you 10x extra employable.

My favorite a part of my job is… figuring out that six-year-old me would have by no means imagined I would be doing this as my profession and getting to satisfy so many superb folks.

You meet superb folks on the stage door… who wish to meet the solid members and generally get an image or signature after the present. However stage door is not obligatory and generally you just do wish to get house to relaxation and you may be made to really feel responsible if persons are sad that they did not get the prospect to see you afterwards.

Learn extra from this collection:
What it is actually wish to be a… bodyguard
What it is actually wish to be a… zookeeper
What it is actually wish to be a… driving teacher

My thoughts has gone clean for break up seconds… and there have been a number of events the place in a scene carrying bagpipes the pipes have fallen off or damaged on stage. I’ve simply needed to stick with it whereas holding a snapped pipe in my hand, in some way managing to maintain a straight face.

Rejection is an everyday factor to take care of… It is regular to get emotionally hooked up to alternatives that you’ve put a lot effort and time into, after rounds and rounds of auditions for a job and ready weeks to listen to should you’ve booked the job or not. It’s emotionally draining.

For one function I needed to pretend tan twice every week… and one other I needed to put on a wetsuit and flippers on stage whereas dancing.

Coping with burnout from a really bodily and mentally demanding schedule… could make it tougher to produce other commitments exterior of labor and seeing family and friends.

Theatre is nice worth for cash while you take a look at… how a lot work goes into what the viewers members are seeing on the stage. The sheer quantity of people who it takes to placed on a present, from the manufacturing group to the backstage group, solid, creatives, wardrobe, wigs, make-up, sound, theatre entrance of home workers and plenty of different groups of people who make it potential. I do assume that some ticket costs for some reveals have grow to be not as simply accessible, however apps like TodayTiks are nice for locating reasonably priced tickets for varied reveals.