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Walton & Parkinson

So, You Wanna’ Be A Producer?! is a guide for commercial theatre producers, designed to provide new producers with an introduction to the basic skills and knowledge they will need to produce a play on a commercial basis. The Guide outlines the key points to be considered when setting up commercial productions, although, due to the nature of the business of producing plays, each of which is unique, it cannot be comprehensive.

The contributors to the Guide are all leading professionals in their fields and have very kindly contributed their input because they are keen to help newcomers start in the Industry. It was compiled with the assistance of the Society of London Theatre and the Theatrical Management Association.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Walton & Parkinson Ltd (a Lorica Consulting Organisation), it is possible to make So, You Wanna Be A Producer?! available for download. Walton & Parkinson are one of the leading insurance brokers for the theatre industry. Please read more about them here or visit their website.

If you would prefer to purchase a copy of So, You Wanna Be A Producer?!, please send a cheque for £50, made payable to the Theatre Investment Fund Ltd, to Stage One, 32 Rose Street, London, WC2E 9ET.

If you are not able to attend the next Workshop, but would like to be notified about future workshops and other activities for new producers please complete this form. .

So, You Wanna’ Be A Producer?!

Introduction
• Starting out and using the Guide by Nick Salmon, Stage One Chief Executive
• An introduction to commercial producing by Paul Elliot, Stage One Vice Chair

1. General Notes on Setting Up a Production
by D. Michael Rose of Tarlo Lyons
• A theatre producer’s glossary
• Setting up a production: the role of the producer
• Key points to consider when commissioning or optioning a new play or a new musical
• Key points to consider in creative team contracts

2. Trade Associations and Entertainment Unions
by The Society of London Theatre and the Theatrical Management Association
• The Society of London Theatre (SOLT)
• The Theatrical Management Association (TMA)
• The London Theatre Council (LTC)
• The Theatre Council (TTC)
• Equity - standard agreements
• The Musicians’ Union - standard agreements
• Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph & Theatre Union (BECTU) - standard agreements
• The Writers Guild – agreements
• Schedule of SOLT and TMA agreements
• Current SOLT/Union rates
• Current TMA/Union rates

3. Theatre Agreements
by the Theatre Investment Fund
• Key points to consider when contracting a west end theatre
• Theatre bookings
• Key points to consider when contracting with a No.1 touring theatre
• Key points to consider when contracting a co-production with a producing theatre
• Co-production and joint venture deals

4. Budgeting and Financial Controls
by Andrew Treagus of Andrew Treagus Associates
• Budgeting for the commercial theatre
• Outline budget
• Notes on the outline budget
• Capitalisation, profit & loss and recoupment
• Royalty pools
• Royalty reductions, deferments and caps

5. Miscellaneous
• Key points to consider in raising finance - FSA registration or debenture route
• Cover yourself: insurance hints
• Marketing and advertising publicity and press representatives
• Stage One
• Stage One council and officers
• Bursaries for new producers
• Some professional Advisers