SUMMER 2017 www.equity.org.uk Can social media boost your career? Jimmy Cricket joins Celebrate Variety 2017 Update from the Stop Arts Cuts campaign The art of self-taping UNION LAUNCHES GUIDE TO HELP MEMBERS AUDITION First Act Insurance is delighted to introduce Contents 10 News 04 Training scheme agreed 06 Unknown funds Success stories 14 10 Equity wins award 12 PMPP signs another A range of insurances that complement the established Cover star 18> Equity cover: 14 Self-taping tips 24 Features • Employers’/Public Liability (when employing others and distinct from the Equity members PLI cover). 18 Social media guide • Sets, scenery, props and costumes. 24 TUC round-up • Portable, technical equipment and instruments. • Hired in equipment cover. Campaigns 26 Stop Arts Cuts • Buildings and contents. 28 Celebrate Variety 2017 • Business interruption. 08> Key features include Plus 08 Meet the membership Competitive online quote and buy cover provided by HISCOX. • 30 Letters • Annual or short period cover available. 32 Branch update 32> Scan this QR > code with your Visit www.showtimeinsurance.co.uk smartphone or tablet device to Tel 020 8686 5050 be taken directly 32 there Where and when you need it! David Cotter First Act Insurance* is the preferred insurance intermediary to *First Act Insurance is a trading name of Hencilla Canworth Ltd Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 226263 Cover image: FRONT OF HOUSE UPFRONT Christine Payne EQUITY AND SPOTLIGHT AGREE NI contributions General Secretary NEW TRAINING STRUCTURE set to increase THERE WAS GOOD NEWS following the FOLLOWING THE DEMISE government’s U-turn on the Class 4 National As the daughter of a club performer, the 50-year OF DRAMA UK, EQUITY AND Insurance hike; however, the abolition of Class 2 celebrations of the Variety Artistes’ Federation SPOTLIGHT STEP IN TO HELP National Insurance is still in the pipeline. This is joining Equity is particularly special to me STUDENTS PROGRESS CAREERS alongside increases in the cost of voluntary national insurance payments for those who are below the Small Profits Threshold (SPT), THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE 50 years position in theatre and defending those FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS Equity has currently £6,025. These changes are due from since the Variety Artistes’ Federation rights except through, and by, one single recognised that graduates from a number of April 2018 and would mean that members who (VAF) and Equity became one union. At powerful organisation.” performing arts courses can join Equity as full wish to make voluntary contributions would pay the London Palladium on Tuesday 16 May, A brief history of the VAF and Equity is members without the need for evidence of Class 3s at £14.25 per week rather than Class Jimmy Cricket and Amy Lamé will host an being prepared by Louise Grainger, Equity’s paid professional work. 2s at £2.85 per week (based on current rates), event that will bring variety branches and marketing, events and training officer, and This recognition has largely been made a huge increase which the union has strongly members, former VAF members and will be launched at the event at the London on the basis of external accreditation by opposed and continues to lobby on. stalwarts of variety entertainment together Palladium. However, what is perfectly clear other bodies such as Drama UK, the Council From 2018 benefit entitlement will accrue to reminisce and rejoice that variety is still for Dance Education & Training (CDET) and mainly through Class 4 contributions for the very much alive and kicking in Equity. Conservatoires UK. self-employed. We will be posting a briefing on The VAF and Equity were trade unions However, the demise of Drama UK in national insurance on Equity’s website soon. started by the leading performers – the 2016 removed that external accreditation stars – of the day. In 1907 the VAF Music from most UK drama courses, and while Hall strike sought to get improvements to The VAF and Equity continued to recognise the historical basic terms and conditions. These included list of courses, the situation facing students improvements to barring clauses, matinee Equity were trade created a good deal of uncertainty. payments, transferring performers to In addition to Equity, Spotlight also relied different music halls and towns and to stop unions started by on Drama UK accreditation to define the the practice of commission being taken courses whose graduates are eligible for when no agent was involved in the booking leading performers” their graduate and professional directories. – the managers deducted the 5% and kept In order to remove the uncertainty for it themselves. is that a strong trade union for performers students and to create a clear universal Marie Lloyd, a huge star who demanded is as necessary now as it ever was and that standard, Equity and Spotlight have been major fees supported the strike, performed for it to be the single organisation working together to define an agreed set of on picket lines and took part in fundraising performers need it must involve and be led criteria that will be used to identify the activities for which she donated her entire by its members. courses whose graduates will be eligible for fee to strike funds. She said: “We the stars I believe the pioneers of the VAF and both Equity and Spotlight membership. The can dictate our own terms. We are fighting Equity would be proud that the following following criteria were endorsed by the rather than theoretical Course offers Professional Development not for ourselves but for the poorer generations of performers have worked Council and will define Equivalent to NQF level 4 / SQF level 6 programme with industry engagement members of the profession earning 30 together to build the union we now have the recognised Qualification issued by a ‘recognised body’ Access to professional facilities Referendum result shillings to £3 a week. For this they have to and the agreements and benefits of courses: Contact hours in excess of 30 hours per week Clear commitments on safeguarding, do double turns, and now matinees have membership we are able to provide. Vocational No more than 35 students in a class, bullying/harassment and diversity THE RESULTS OF THE REFERENDUM been added as well. These poor things have I have a very personal interest in training courses 30 weeks in a year of instruction Equity and Spotlight will now jointly write to to determine whether three of Equity’s rules should been compelled to submit to unfair terms celebrating variety because this was my for performers, Course offers a professional showcase other industry partners, including the BBC, ITV be changed has been announced. of employment and I mean to back the first experience of live performance. My practical opportunity – attended by industry and UK Theatre/SOLT, to endorse the criteria. The first proposed change dealt with Equity’s Federation in whatever steps are taken.” dad was a welder who at night sang in the election processes and will allow Equity branches The strike lasted two weeks and ended clubs in the north west of England. He to nominate candidates for election to the Council; in arbitration that satisfied most of the had a great voice and got lots of bookings. 69% of voters were in favour of this. VAF’s main demands. I remember sitting with him while he The second change allows the Equity Council to In September 1929 a musical comedy, rehearsed with his drummer and pianist. determine the upper age limit for a member wanting Open your Eyes, collapsed on tour in When I got good enough I would play the Union appoints new Scotland to stand for election to the Young Members seat on Glasgow with the promoter ‘doing a runner’ piano and he would sing. He later became Council; 81% of voters were in favour of this. with the takings and leaving the actors a trade union official and I know that his & Northern Ireland organiser The third change is the rule governing the penniless and stranded. In October, leading years on the club circuit were one of the EQUITY HAS APPOINTED Adam Adnyana (pictured) as the new Scotland & retirement of the Equity General Secretary. The rule actress Marie Burke, who had been in the drivers that motivated him to want to Northern Ireland organiser. He will replace Drew McFarlane, who will retire change was needed because the previous rule cast, organised a meeting at the Duke of improve the lives of working people. after 25 years’ service with Equity. Adam’s previous employment includes as regarding retirement age was no longer legal; 91% York’s Theatre at which more than 1,500 So at the event on the 16 May I will be a case worker for Unison and regional officer/assistant secretary for of voters were in favour of this. actors attended and the foundations of reminiscing as both a trade unionist and as Accord. Adam will work alongside his fellow organiser Lorne Boswell and The number of members who voted was 2314; Equity were set. The meeting was also the daughter of a club act. I know it will Marlene Curran, recruitment and retention organiser, in the union’s 6% of the total who were eligible. Download the attended by John Emerson from American recharge my determination to work to Glasgow office, which you can reach on 0141 248 2472. full results of the Referendum from Equity’s website: Actors’ Equity, who said that: “There is no improve the professional working lives of www.equity.org.uk/referendum2017 chance whatever of maintaining an actors’ our members – all 42,000 of you! www.equity.org.uk SUMMER 2017 / 05 FRONT OF HOUSE In brief..