Dancers Contract

Congratulations on becoming a member of The Miskin Theatre Company. While you are here you will have the opportunity to experience an environment which is as close to professional theatre as we can safely make it. We are here to support you in becoming a well-trained, clear thinking performer. We expect a lot from you and trust that you will quickly develop a professional attitude whatever your age or experience. The theatre demands collaboration, you can rely on us and we will rely on you to maintain and develop the unprecedented success and reputation of The Miskin Theatre. I wish you well in your training, look forward to working with you and hope you enjoy your time with us. Robbie McGovan Artistic Director

THREE Ps Prepared Punctual Professional

Professional discipline is a vital part of every actors daily life. It is The Miskin Theatre's job to ensure that your training is underpinned by a clear understanding of the needs of the industry for which you are preparing yourself. Major emphasis will be placed on the importance of self discipline, appearance, punctuality, courtesy and respect for colleagues, unselfishness and a great deal of common sense. This contract represents a way of working that is about your course and your industry and is designed to reinforce your own sense of responsibility to your training, to your craft and to your company. Its important that you read and understand it and that you show willing to undertake the responsibilities needed to achieve success in your chosen field and make the most of your training here. You will also sign a learning agreement with NWK College, please note that your contract with The Miskin augments all similar agreements.

Keeping Theatre Alive

You are now part of a working theatre, which is a commercial organisation. In order to keep working and producing we are dependent on bringing audiences into all our events. Its in everyones interest to encourage new audiences to see live theatre, dance and music - that way the industry will stay alive long enough for you to benefit from it. You are a dancer so it goes without saying you are passionate about seeing a range of performance material. The wider Miskin Company includes artists of all kinds including musicians, designers, photographers, visual artists and actors. You will be expected to see and review ALL the work of your wider company as they will yours. This will include performances by the actors and musicians in The Miskin Theatre and exhibitions by the designers and visual artists as well as performances by the other companies working at The Miskin. We offer a ticket formula which allows all company members to enjoy all these performances as economically as possible. The costs of all shows are subject to budgets but the airline ticketing system means that the earlier you buy your tickets the cheaper they will be. Those of you who are smart and follow Tumblr daily will be able to take advantage of ticket offers. On some shows you may be able to get in free yourself if you bring two paying non-Miskin Company members of the public with you. Of course, if you dont take advantage of these offers you will need to buy your own tickets, which, over two years could cost around 150.00.

PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PRACTICE

Please be aware that you will be putting professional practice into action within The Miskin Theatre, which is a publicly licensed professional environment in which you are effectively an intern being given the opportunity to publicly test your skills and gain creditable industrial experience. BE ON TIME There are no excuses for lateness to rehearsals and performances. Its your job to get yourself in and ready by the time stated on your schedule. Avoid the awkwardness of not being allowed on the rehearsal floor by planning ahead and allowing yourself extra time to travel. SIGN IN When you get to V block, make sure you sign in. I forgot is not a valid excuse and will probably be followed by and I forgot to cast you from the directors. Signing in tells us who is here and who is not. If you are in and havent signed in, then legally youre not here and will have taken yourself off the floor. If there is a fire or other emergency and you have not signed in, you are not here and will not be rescued. If you are ill or an absence is unavoidable, you need to call the theatre before 9.30am on 01322 629472. Writing a post on Tumblr saying that you wont be in today is not acceptable. HOLIDAYS Holidays taken without prior consent will have a serious impact on your training and casting. We work like a repertory theatre and are always in production, which means we dont work to school term dates. However, you will still be allocated holidays but these will be arranged around the rehearsal and performance schedule. Holidays cannot be taken during company time.

Other costs:
We try to keep additional costs as minimal as possible and we will give you as much notice as possible if you have any costs coming. Costumes, books, visits and workshops - You may occasionally be required to buy/hire costumes for productions and additionally may be required to pay for theatre visits and occasional attendance at professional workshops and auditions. Lockers - Please label your equipment clearly and indelibly and make sure you get a locker from us. There is a small charge for your locker key. If you are planning to leave your belongings at college you do so at your own risk, as we cannot accept responsibility for equipment lost or stolen.

It is your responsibility to keep your equipment and clothing safe and in good order. This is part of your professional preparation as an actor. You must arrive at rehearsal equipped and ready to work and take notes.

PROFESSIONAL COURTESY
Telephones - Do not bring them into the theatre or rehearsal rooms unless the ringer and the vibrate are turned OFF. Phones are a distraction and can seriously disrupt the work. Switch to airplane mode if you want to use your Iphone for notes or recording in the rehearsal space. If you would rather use a notepad and pen, put them in your locker. Rest assured, Facebook and Candy Crush will still be there at lunch time. You must make sure you don't take calls or texts in rehearsal. Taking a ringing or vibrating phone into the rehearsal room means youve taken yourself off the floor. Dont disappear from the rehearsal room or performance venue without being given explicit permission from the productions director or DSM. You need to ensure you are ready and available at a moments notice. Commit fully to each process, behave responsibly and carry out, to the best of your ability, all direction given. If you dont commit you will be re-cast or replaced. You will only get out of your training what you choose to put in. Make yourself available for rehearsal/gigs/workshops and F.O.H as required. Dont expect to be excused for other employment.

RESPECT
For Each other - you have a responsibility to your fellow company members. For Directors - they can make your life miserable For Designers - they can make you look stupid For Crew - they can hurt you For Yourself - that means, value your contribution by taking care of yourself when rehearsing and performing - keep healthy. For Your Theatre its your theatre so look after it. It is up to you to ensure that the rehearsal spaces, dressing rooms and all other spaces relating to the theatre and around the theatre are kept clean and in working order. Take pride in the exceptional and unique facilities you have. Dont chew gum, smoke or eat anywhere inside the theatre buildings. Keep it out and away from the buildings. Dont hang around the entrance to the theatre. Theres a canteen for eating and a pigsty for smoking. Drinking water is permitted in a sealed container. Not adhering to the above means you will have taken yourself off the floor.

Remember that your contract with The Miskin is based on a Dancers Equity Contract and is rooted in industry practice.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Piercings in the tongue or on the face are not permitted. Its important to make yourself as castable as possible. Sticking metal objects in vital parts of your anatomy can seriously narrow down your choice of roles; punk or human magnet. Your body, face and voice are your primary tools as a perfomer. If these arent removed permanently, it will be impossible to train you to your full potential. Tattoos and coloured hair are inadvisable for dancers who are serious about being cast in the widest possible choice of jobs. This is the same at The Miskin as it is in the industry. False nails are not permitted in rehearsals, these can cause injury and there have been some nasty incidents where whole nails have been removed due to the highly physical nature of the work you are doing.

Personal hygiene must be maintained from day to day. Youre working closely with other people so make sure you have enough rehearsal blacks to last the week. Be Eau for men and Isineeyukky are not fine fragrances. Your reputation precedes you. A good reputation makes for good casting. The performance industries are small universes. Directors talk to each other and will make important casting decisions based on what they know and hear about you.

CASTING
The following are understood to be reasons for not casting or dismissing an actor from a process: Persistent absence - unless we are looking for The Invisible Man we cannot cast you it is up to you to be here. Repeated lateness - set your alarm and stop relying on your mum to get you out of bed. You cannot enter sessions late, and information wont be repeated. If you care, be there. Disruption to the work of others - If you want to act like a child, go back to school. We are looking for dancers not distracters.

You will only get out of your training what you put into it
FRONT OF HOUSE - You will undertake Front of House Duties during your training as an actor. You are part of a larger company and have a responsibility to the other companies as they do yours. Doing FOH for each other enables us to keep working and producing. You will need to dress smartly and elegantly and behave responsibly on FOH you are representing the theatre to the public and it is a major responsibility. Remember that lateness or absence seriously compromises the safety of the public and could compromise your theatre license. If there arent enough FOH staff, it means that the theatre wont be able to open, which means no shows, which means we are back at school. LICENSING - Enjoy your theatre and all the facilities at The Miskin. However, its important to note that the public bars at The Miskin Theatre

are subject to national licensing laws. If youre over 18 have ID ready. Dont be offended if you look younger than your years. It wont always be the case - ask your director. CONSENT research is intrinsic to your development as an actor. This may mean watching films and footage that have been categorised for an older age group. By signing the declaration below you are consenting to viewing material which is appropriate to the work you are undertaking on the floor. COPYRIGHT- photographic, film and recorded evidence taken during auditions, rehearsals and performances, remains the sole property of The Miskin Theatre. By signing the declaration you are consenting to your image & voice being used throughout and following your training. PLAGIARISM your work as a dancer will require independent research. Copying from the internet and additional sources is not appropriate and violates copyright and will be classed as plagiarism unless fully annotated and credited. You must make your work your own. We need to see that you have an understanding of the areas that you have researched. Copying work directly from ANY source will not be tolerated. If you quote ANY existing material you must put it in quotation marks and in brackets, attribute the source and author. For example: Copying is cheating (Robbie McGovan, 2013, Miskin Theatre) THE MISKIN NAME - Our name is important to us and will become very important to you. To this end you need to be aware that use of "The Miskin" on the net or on social media is seen by everyone and we expect it to be used with care and respect. Bringing The Miskin into disrepute is taken seriously by us. OUTSIDE PROJECTS There may be opportunities during your training to attend castings, workshops and other activities which take place off campus. By signing this declaration you as a dancer are indicating that you are aware that it is your responsibility to get there on time and behave professionally at all times.

MISKIN EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY: We believe that all individuals training with us should have the opportunity to maximize their full potential. It is the aim of The Miskin to make sure that: There is respect for and protection of each individuals human rights There is respect for the dignity and worth of each individual Each individual has an equal opportunity to participate in society, and there is mutual respect between groups based on understanding and valuing of diversity and on shared respect for equality and human rights The ability to achieve each individuals potential is not limited by prejudice or discrimination

We are committed to equality, diversity, social inclusion and social justice. We oppose discrimination in any form, including inappropriate conduct, bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment and discrimination.

DECLARATION
I the undersigned have read, understood and accepted the contract as laid out in this document/ I the undersigned have read, understood and accepted the contract as laid out on The Miskin website:

Signed:________________________________________ Print name:________________________________________ Course:_____________________________________________ Date: Parent or Guardian (please sign below if the named dancer is under 18) I have read, understood and support the above contract Signed:_________________________________________ Date: (Keep this copy for your records)

DECLARATION
I the undersigned have read, understood and accepted the contract as laid out in this document/ I the undersigned have read, understood and accepted the contract as laid out on The Miskin website:

Signed:________________________________________ Print name:________________________________________ Course:_____________________________________________ Date: Parent or Guardian (please sign below if the named dancer is under 18) I have read, understood and support the above contract Signed:_________________________________________ Date:

(return this copy to The Miskin Theatre office)