Anyone like a helping hand in Sydney?

This might sound a bit strange, but I'm looking for a theatre company or anything I can do some volunteer work for and just get involved.

Anything from helping out building sets, backstage work, on-hand understudy... anything. I'm fairly experienced with all round theatre sorts of stuff and performing, but have no formal education in it. I work mostly in the evenings so have plenty of spare time on my hands -aside from the two days a week I train in theatre and puppetry.

I've contacted a couple of companys, but there seems to be concerns with liability of injury of volunteers. Hmmm, how on earth are those like myself going to gain any experience in the field then?

If anyone has any suggestions, please, let me know. I need to do more!

My e-mail is: mizapie@hotmail.com

Thanks,

Miriam Spring

Don't give up Miriam - this is exactly how I got started with GRADS. I put a notice on these very pages and was adopted by Grant.

PS If the director ever turns to you, two days before opening night and says, "We still haven't found a sound operator and we were wondering....", run. Run fast.

Pamela.

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Hi Miriam,

I am in the process of setting up a brand new theatre called Aha! A Chinatown Production.It quarantees to be fun & "chop suey",different to your Beijing Chinese Opera ,we aim to promote some unknown but successful musicals from Asia,all in English,of course.

I am drowning in paper work & management.I would like any help you can give to this projects!

Cheers,
Cindy

My first involvement with a professional company was as a volunteer, helping to rig lights at the Subi Theatre centre. No thought of liability back then - in fact I was helping out because the lighting designer I knew had hurt himself falling off a ladder!

I'm sure you'll be able to find a company that will be willing to accept volunteer help. Many of them have a history of accepting work experience students, which is a good opportunity to help out, observe, hang around people and ask questions.
Of course, they can't be seen to be accepting this free labour at the expense of skilled working professionals, so often you get delegated to non-skilled tasks like stuffing envelopes or making coffee, but it's still a foot in the door if you make it your task to learn.

I know of several individuals in Perth who simply approached a director or production manager and asked if they could be an observer on a specific project. Eventually, some of these individuals achieved some creative and/or technical input, and for some it lead to later employment.

While I don't approve of devaluing your skills or the industry by working for less than award wages at the expense of an industry professional; I don't have a problem with creating your own learning and networking opportunity by inventing a (redundant) position and following alongside someone who is paid to do that job.

In this capacity, maybe if you got a company to agree to pay you just a couple of dollars, it might include you in their workers' compensation scheme, relieving them of the worry of 'volunteer liability'?

Cheers,
Craig

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Most proffessional companies have insurance for volunteers (or Volunteers are covered by their insurance).

I have always strongly advocated the voluntary route as a way of getting opportunity and experience and also to get you seen by a company.

Worked for me!