Thread by @Michellicopter, Hey here's a fun* game! As someone who became a freelancer too [...]

Hey here's a fun* game! As someone who became a freelancer too recently to have qualified for any government support, how much money do you think I have made from being a professional performer so far this tax year?

*nope

Ding ding ding! Most of you guessed correctly that I made less than £5000 this year from professional performance. Sadly I think this is because many of you are also performers and guessed based on your experiences. So, are you ready for round two? How much did I make this year?

Got a lot fewer votes on round two, probably a combination of British people feeling uncomfortable about discussing income in anything other than broad strokes and the fact that US news is rightfully dominating attention now. But I started discussing this issue so I'll finish.

Everyone was in the ballpark here and most of you correctly guessed that so far this tax year I have made less than £1,000 from performing! This is despite having about one gig a month that paid something. Here's a list. All done remotely from home, in order to remain safe.

One commercial. By far the biggest payment I have received this year, but also paid far less than industry standards. I was ignorant at the time of what kind of pay to expect and now know better. I would not sign that contract now.

One corporate job, a short intro to a mental health training video. After confirming they were happy with my takes, I sent my invoice and they ghosted me. I am still chasing my (very, very low) fee. They let me know I could keep the t-shirt they sent me to wear, though. Ka-ching.

One short film, unpaid. I chose to do this voluntarily as the creators are multiply marginalised in the industry and just starting out, and the film was to raise awareness of mental health issues during lockdown, which I found to be an excellent cause.

One audio drama, profit share subject to a successful crowdfunding campaign. The producers have been lovely to work with and I know like many audio drama producers they prioritise paying performers over themselves. I hope they raise enough to pay themselves too.

One live streamed variety show, unpaid. I organised and hosted this event myself as a showcase for some of the many excellent amateur performers in my life who missed sharing their passion.

Six plays.
One unpaid, all proceeds were donated to charitable organisations.
One fixed stipend plus profit share subject to successful crowdfunding campaign.
Four profit share based on ongoing crowdfunding.

That's everything I've done so far. Here are the things I have been cast in and expect/hope to complete before the end of the tax year.
One audio drama, stipend.
One play, profit share subject to successful crowdfunding.
One short film, shooting postponed repeatedly due to COVID.

And that's it! In an entire year of auditioning, writing applications, attending online networking events, hustling any way I can, I have secured enough work to <£1,000. The jobs yet to be done will not bring me over £1,000.
I have not qualified for any government support.

The worst part of all this? I'm one of the lucky ones.
I have a second freelance job I can do from home, a partner with a reliable income who can work from home and split expenses with me and a family who, if it came to it, wouldn't let me starve.

There are many, many people in the arts who don't have safety nets like me and have had even less work and made less money than me this year. Please understand that when we say the arts industry is in crisis, we don't just mean theatre buildings.

So what can you do? Support the arts. Watch shows, signal boost self-promotional posts, talk the projects you like up to everyone you know.
Pay in to the crowdfunders for shows.
Donate money, items or time to food banks and homeless shelters - the only safety nets some have.

Thanks for reading.
#SaveTheArts #ArtIsWork #SupportBritish #ArtsCrisis #FundTheArts #Acting

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