Resources
This page contains a mix of resources we think designers will find useful. We will slowly be adding to it over the next few months so do pop back now and then to see if we have added anything new.
We are not the authors of most of the resources on this page and have credited authors and sought permission where possible. If you feel we have used your resources without permission or proper credit please contact us at hello@enveloperoom.org.uk
We are not the authors of most of the resources on this page and have credited authors and sought permission where possible. If you feel we have used your resources without permission or proper credit please contact us at hello@enveloperoom.org.uk
Guide to Hiring a designer
We've put this together to help those new to engaging a designer, some basic pointers on what to expect and what's expected. If in doubt, speak to your designer about how they like to work.
| hiring_a_designer.pdf |
The Illustrated Freelancer's Guide
Creative Scotland have produced an incredibly useful guide to navigating the tricky path of working as a freelancer with in our creative industries.
The Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide is a practical resource for the increasing number of artists, makers, writers and other creatives working freelance in Scotland today.
It was created to fill an information gap for creative freelancers to understand their rights and best practices in avoiding and addressing difficult situations.
Not just for those starting out but great for referring to along your career path, definitely worth a read. Written by Heather Parry and illustrated by Maria Stoian,
Illustrated Freelancer's Guide
The Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide is a practical resource for the increasing number of artists, makers, writers and other creatives working freelance in Scotland today.
It was created to fill an information gap for creative freelancers to understand their rights and best practices in avoiding and addressing difficult situations.
Not just for those starting out but great for referring to along your career path, definitely worth a read. Written by Heather Parry and illustrated by Maria Stoian,
Illustrated Freelancer's Guide
CAD Guides
We asked Production Manager Niall Black to write us a guide to choosing a CAD package! There are 2 versions - a long read for the enthusiastic, which interogates and explores your intentions and uses for it and a short guide which really focuses on the pro's and con's of each package (everything in the short read is also in the long read fyi).
Do use them and let us know your thoughts. Feedback always welcome - drop us an e-mail at hello@enveloperoom.org.uk
Do use them and let us know your thoughts. Feedback always welcome - drop us an e-mail at hello@enveloperoom.org.uk
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Coronavirus Support Resources
There is a lot of information out there so we thought we would signpost you to some of the blogs/sites we have found useful.
For generally useful links to various resources check out either of these:
Independent Arts Projects
Stellar Quines
Groups that are fighting for Freelancer Rights. You can get involved in various ways if you wish or just follow them for information.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work
Freelance Task Force - in Scotland your Rep's include Designer Becky Minto, if you want to chat to Becky but aren't sure how to get in touch let us know and we can help. Other Scottish reps include; Jack Nurse, Emma Jayne Park, Mele Broomes, Kim Simpson, Fi Fraser and 3 others.
Scene Change - A community of designers taking action for theatre
For advice on looking after your mental health during this time
Mind
Theatre Helpline
Arts Minds
For general financial advice
Money Saving Expert
Theataccounts have been great at answering questions about the self employed scheme
If you are a union member and even if you are not please check Union websites for information and advice on contracts and updates on the packages available for the self employed.
Bectu
Equity
Use the document below to find out which hardship funds you could be approaching based on your job.
For generally useful links to various resources check out either of these:
Independent Arts Projects
Stellar Quines
Groups that are fighting for Freelancer Rights. You can get involved in various ways if you wish or just follow them for information.
Freelancers Make Theatre Work
Freelance Task Force - in Scotland your Rep's include Designer Becky Minto, if you want to chat to Becky but aren't sure how to get in touch let us know and we can help. Other Scottish reps include; Jack Nurse, Emma Jayne Park, Mele Broomes, Kim Simpson, Fi Fraser and 3 others.
Scene Change - A community of designers taking action for theatre
For advice on looking after your mental health during this time
Mind
Theatre Helpline
Arts Minds
For general financial advice
Money Saving Expert
Theataccounts have been great at answering questions about the self employed scheme
If you are a union member and even if you are not please check Union websites for information and advice on contracts and updates on the packages available for the self employed.
Bectu
Equity
Use the document below to find out which hardship funds you could be approaching based on your job.
| who_can_help_-_theatre_support.info.pdf |
The Theatrical Guild - The Charity for Backstage and Front of House Workers
Website
Support From Scottish Government for newly self employed
New Business
Funds available for individual arts workers
Theatre Artists Fund
Terrible Rage (Contact Bethany to apply for a micro bursary of £200)
To volunteer
Ready Scotland
Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK (also useful if you need support yourself with shopping etc)
If you are looking to use your time to up skill or explore some online packages you might be interested to know Adobe are offering 2 months free
Click here for more information.
Website
Support From Scottish Government for newly self employed
New Business
Funds available for individual arts workers
Theatre Artists Fund
Terrible Rage (Contact Bethany to apply for a micro bursary of £200)
To volunteer
Ready Scotland
Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK (also useful if you need support yourself with shopping etc)
If you are looking to use your time to up skill or explore some online packages you might be interested to know Adobe are offering 2 months free
Click here for more information.
FST funding
The Federation of Scottish Theatre have funding that can help with training costs., you don't have to be an FST member for all the funds.
https://www.scottishtheatre.org/training-development/bursaries-and-funding
https://www.scottishtheatre.org/training-development/bursaries-and-funding
Touring Venue Scotland - Plans and Information
A re-formatted directory of nearly 200 venues across the Highlands & Islands, Argyll, Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Borders, Dumfries & Galloway is now finally on-line. Here's the link: http://www.touringvenuescotland.co.uk/
It has been compiled by Mick Andrew after some 25 years of touring and recording these venues and has been expanded over the years. The site is hosted by the Highland and Moray based Right Lines Theatre Co.
It has been compiled by Mick Andrew after some 25 years of touring and recording these venues and has been expanded over the years. The site is hosted by the Highland and Moray based Right Lines Theatre Co.
Plans and Model Box Library - UK wide resource
Max Dorey has kindly co-ordinated the creation of a brilliant online dropbox resource for UK designers to share plans and model boxes. This is a community built effort and to get involved and access the resource you should e-mail your request for access to Max on maxdorey@gmail.com
Equity Timesheets
The Equity Directors and Designers Committee are encouraging all designers to start keeping timesheets to help us all understand our working lives better. They have produced a timesheet for general use. You can dowload a copy in your preferred format below. The information and data collected via these will be used to help with minimum fee negotiations for 2021. Follow @EquityD&D on twitter for updates and news.
Please e-mail completed timesheets to directorsanddesigners@equity.org.uk
These timesheets are also very useful for individuals to help us reflect on our working hours and work/life balance.
Please e-mail completed timesheets to directorsanddesigners@equity.org.uk
These timesheets are also very useful for individuals to help us reflect on our working hours and work/life balance.
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Artists Appraisal
Writer, Theatre Maker and Creative Producer Becci Sharrock has created an Artists review for freelance creatives to use. As freelancers we don't get annual reviews and rarely take the time to reflect on our practice. This is a tool to help you do that.
Some words from Becci
"The most important thing is that this needs to be a useful, informative process for you and your practice. So the below form is a template only. You can use it exactly as described, tweak it to suit you or choose to do something else entirely!
With that in mind, I would recommend that you have a look at the form to get a sense of the types of things it covers. Then try and find a chunk of time away from deadlines, emails etc. to focus on thinking over it properly. Ideally you want a healthy chunk of 2-3 hours. I really know how hard that is when you're freelance/self-employed, but part of the aim of the form is to facilitate some really focused reflection and planning time to hopefully help make the rest of your work time more effective. I'd then suggest any of the following;
I've set it up on the basis of an annual review (with the option to check in on the development needs after a certain date) but again it's entirely up to you.Finally, just to say that I know lots of us juggle lots of things. The intention is that this focuses on your creative practice only but including within that the 'business' of being a creative. But if that isn't helpful well, you know by now... you can do whatever you like 😊"
Becci has very kindly shared this brilliant resource with us so we can share it with you, all she asks in return is that if you pass it on you credit her and she loves to hear from you if you find it useful. You can find her on twitter @inkproducer or drop her a line at rjsharrock@hotmail.co.uk
Some words from Becci
"The most important thing is that this needs to be a useful, informative process for you and your practice. So the below form is a template only. You can use it exactly as described, tweak it to suit you or choose to do something else entirely!
With that in mind, I would recommend that you have a look at the form to get a sense of the types of things it covers. Then try and find a chunk of time away from deadlines, emails etc. to focus on thinking over it properly. Ideally you want a healthy chunk of 2-3 hours. I really know how hard that is when you're freelance/self-employed, but part of the aim of the form is to facilitate some really focused reflection and planning time to hopefully help make the rest of your work time more effective. I'd then suggest any of the following;
- Fill it in during this time and file it away for future reference and to review again in 6-12 months
- Fill it in and arrange to meet a peer to go through it with you.
- If you do want to do it with someone else the other option is to do all the thinking in whatever time you can block out but to fill the form out during the chat instead - I've done it in a small group before where we all discussed and filled them out together - took a lot longer (in a good way) but was a nice way of feeling like you're part of a team like you might in a 9-5 job. As with all of this it depends what suits you and what resources you have access to.
I've set it up on the basis of an annual review (with the option to check in on the development needs after a certain date) but again it's entirely up to you.Finally, just to say that I know lots of us juggle lots of things. The intention is that this focuses on your creative practice only but including within that the 'business' of being a creative. But if that isn't helpful well, you know by now... you can do whatever you like 😊"
Becci has very kindly shared this brilliant resource with us so we can share it with you, all she asks in return is that if you pass it on you credit her and she loves to hear from you if you find it useful. You can find her on twitter @inkproducer or drop her a line at rjsharrock@hotmail.co.uk
| artist_appraisal_final_version.docx |
Health and Safety
Following a Health and Safety (CDM regulations) event with the National Theatre of Scotland and Andrew Evans (ASE Consulting) we have the following to offer as a resource.
The following templates are for reference and the responsibility of use lies with those who choose to use them
| 1._white_card_risk_assessment.doc |
| 2.final_design_assessment_copy.doc |
| 3._stage_management_checklist.doc |
| 4.set_risk_assessment.doc |
| 5.pre-fit_up_briefing_checklist.doc |
| cdm_2015-pre-construction_checklist.docx |
| cdm_app_letter.docx |
| cdm_web_pages.docx |
| cdm_process_for_national_theatre_of_scotland.docx |
| design_brief_template.docx |
'Theatre Essentials' written by Euan Turner and was devised to improve consultation and communication in matters of safety and health within the Scottish theatre industry.
The final version was approved by the BJAC and subsequently further endorsed by the HSE and the industry’s Theatre Safety Committee. The ABTT agreed to publish Theatre Essentials as part of the Code of Practice for the Theatre Industry. The text of chapters 1 and 4 was updated in October 2005.
The final version was approved by the BJAC and subsequently further endorsed by the HSE and the industry’s Theatre Safety Committee. The ABTT agreed to publish Theatre Essentials as part of the Code of Practice for the Theatre Industry. The text of chapters 1 and 4 was updated in October 2005.
| theatre-essentials.pdf |