Taking control
Performers report that they often feel they have very little control over their own career and this is a trigger for anxiety or depression. They find they are continually chasing employment or worrying about finding the next job whilst at the same time trying to give their best in their current work. This results in what feels like a non-stop and exhausting spiral. Some people succeed in breaking this pattern by creating their own work or setting up their own company; others take a look at their skills and consider using them to gain work in different creative areas; others try to get more active about finding work rather than purely relying on agents; some decide to do more self-marketing.
Here are some suggestions and resources which may be of help in breaking out of the cycle. Some of these come from FEU Training. This is the Federation of Entertainment Unions’ initiative comprising workshops and online resources all of which are free for members of Equity, the Musicians Union, National Union of Journalists and the Writers Guild of Great Britain. In Wales there is the CULT Cymru programme which is free to members of BECTU, Equity, Musicians Union and the Writers Guild of Great Britain.
“Everything is scary and seems beyond my control.”
“A regular conversation is how I am failing at this career as I feel very shut off from it and never quite in it with a chance. There seems to be a lot of closed doors and a lot of frustration on trying to open them. I have good days and bad days with it but it is never stable.”
Goal Setting
FEU TrainingResilience
FEU TrainingDon't Take it Personally
The StageLines2Memory -Tool for Helping Actors Commit Lines to Memory and Learn Scripts
The Guardian15 Tips to Setting Up a Theatre Company
EquityGuide to Combatting Low Pay and No Pay Work
FEU TrainingDiversifying Your Portfolio
FEU TrainingNetworking
FEU TrainingConfidence Boosting
NHSReturning to Work After Mental Health Issues