Creative Freelancers: Shaping London's Recovery

I'm very proud to be acting as the representative for WeMakeEvents as part of the Creative Freelancers: Shaping London's Recovery initiative. WME is one of the partner organisations helping to shape the programme and to provide a voice for all of us behind the scenes as well as in full view.

Over six months, 50 freelancers in the performing arts will collaborate with cultural organisations on how to improve working practice. The programme is designed to improve future working conditions as well as provide employment now. 

Creative freelancers, particularly those in the performing arts, have been hit hard by COVID-19. From the very start of restrictions, up to 60% of freelancers had lost all of their work, and it is estimated that at least 200,000 Londoners have been excluded from any Government support. The pandemic has also highlighted existing inequalities facing creative freelancers – including a lack of security at work, unequal access to freelance opportunities, and a lack of a basic safety net. 

This programme will enable a diverse group of freelancers in the culture sector to come together to explore and make recommendations on the future of freelancing. It will support ambitions to improve working conditions and training, as well as advocating for the statutory changes needed for freelancers. 

Creative Freelancers: Shaping London’s Recovery will amplify the voices of the self-employed in the culture sector, giving space for freelancers to shape and demonstrate their role in the recovery of London’s creative and cultural industries, as well as in wider civic spaces. 

The programme brings together up to 50 diverse freelancers from across the performing arts, including performers, directors, writers and designers, with up to 50 leaders of partner organisations, funders, councils and other key decision makers 

For more information on everyone involved and to sign up for information on how to apply for the freelance cohort see https://fueltheatre.com/cfslr-announcement/

#CreativeFreelancers #CFSLR #WeMakeEvents

A recce!

We’re going on a recce

We’re going to find a venue. 

What a beautiful day!

We’re not scared. 

Oh oh! A train!

A long, busy train!

Can’t get a bus there. 

Can’t even walk there. 

We’ve got to get on it!

Clickety clack, clickety clack. 

We’re going on a recce. 

We’re going to meet a client. 

What a beautiful day!

We’re not scared. 

Oh no! A stage door!

And a grumpy man in uniform!

Can’t go over it. 

Can’t go under it. 

I remember! We have to go through it. 

“What you want, mate? Who you meetin’?”

WHAT’S THAT?

One shiny flat floor. 

Two big black curtains

Two line arrays hanging

Oh no! It’s a stage!

Back through the stage door. 

“Done already?”

Quick cup of coffee. 

Slurp slurp gulp. 

Knock up a budget. 

Guess, lie, estimate. 

Draw up a ground plan

Shift alt drag click. 

Sign off the graphics. 

“Not yet, get real”

Oh no! We forgot to book the truck!

Back on the phone, quick. 

On its way now. 

Under the covers. 

Yikes, I’ve missed this. 

__________________________

With apologies to Michael Rosen, who finds rhythms no one else can imagine. 

if - then - so

If you can see the stage when all the crowd

Are leaping up and blocking out the view.

If you can hear the band, despite the row:

The bass drum kick, the voices clear and true.

If you can get the meaning of the show

The words, the tunes, the dance, the gags - the fun.

If we can make you care and lift you when you’re low

And give you joy and peace, and laughs, and song.

Then why can’t you see Mark, who rigged the lights?

He hasn’t worked since March, when gigs got binned.

And why can’t you hear Colin with the mics?

His rent is due, but nothing’s coming in.

Why can’t you all just simply understand

We’ve got no work - but worse, we’ve got no hope.

Why don’t you care? Not just about the band

But all the crew who help to make the show?

So

     Open up the doors and let us in!

We’ll wash the stage and wear our gloves and mask.

So many of us want to work again

We’ll give you shows; you only have to ask.

So far we’ve kept our heads.  Let’s not pretend;

We’re slipping now.  We know it’s coming back.

So what do we do next? How can we help?

We will be back - don’t make us wait too long.

#govcantseeus