Looking for work? Read this

I'm going to repost this blog entry every now and then, so it catches the eye of newcomers and wannabe performers/techs.

This is what I have been and will post on every 'work wanted' thread/post:

Nobody on this site can give you work. If they have roles available, they will be advertised here, or elsewhere. Big name directors and producers don't visit this site, and won't read your work wanted ad. So if you think by posting two sentences about how you want to get into the industry is going to work; it's not. IF YOU EXPECT THAT ONCE YOU POST A WANNABE ACTOR THREAD SOMEONE WILL CALL YOU WITH A MOVIE/TV ROLE, YOU ARE SEVERELY MISTAKEN. Hard work, good research, time and effort will get you into the industry, so do yourself a favour and follow the below advice.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE use the links at the top of the page (companies, auditions, FAQs), before posting a "work wanted/how do I get into theatre" thread. There are lists and lists of companies, all over Australia, as well as auditions. The SEARCH function is the best way to find what you need to know, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE.

Take a look at our FAQ section for an excellent article on how to get an agent and what to expect from them. Furthermore, please see these threads, which lists some excellent points on how to get started in this industry.

http://www.theatre.asn.au/green_room_gossip/hallo_lovely_peoples_nathan_is_in_the_lounge_im_new

http://www.theatre.asn.au/book_page/best_places_to_look_for_professional_theatre_auditions_and_tech_admin_work

You may also want to read this thread, which discusses why your 'work wanted' posts will not help you get a role:

http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/2032

And another excellent discussion on young actors looking for work, and how best to tackle it:

http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/8867

And this thread shows you just what happens with your work wanted posts - nobody replies to them!

http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/8701

If you want to get noticed, do your research!

The link to the best places to look for pro work is in particular a good one for both techies and actors; it contains my list of links to hundreds of Aussie theatre-related sites, as well as sections clearly marked for job hunting.

If you insist on posting a 'work wanted' thread: PLEASE list your location, your age, and your level of experience, so we can offer more specific and relevant advice to you. The more info you give, the more we can help you.

Don't forget, if no one is willing to give you work, there's nothing wrong with creating your own. Get a group of friends, fellow students, colleagues, or townsfolk together - put on your own show. Write your own plays. Learn choreography, music, or whatever skills you can. Even if you're an actor, do some tech roles; they will add to your CV, give you a new outlook on how a show runs, and allow you to do more. The wider the variety of roles you take on, the more you can produce your own work, and have it run into a profit (though, of course, not a guarantee that it will). If you don't know how to do it, do it anyway (unless of course, it's one that requires a certificate/licence to do so). Everybody in this industry is creating their own work because there's not enough to go around. If you're really keen, it won't stop you from finding a way to create a show.

For those techies out there, some of the above may not apply. Feel free to contact me for more specific advice about getting tech roles, as there are a number of things I can suggest.

... Anyway, I'll re-post this again once it falls off the latest blog post list.

(Improved version, updated 29/3/08)