Entertainer Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Entertainer

Hours

Variable
Starting salary

Variable

As an entertainer, you would perform for audiences in stage, cabaret or comedy shows in places like theatres, holiday centres, hotels, cruise ships, community centres and clubs. Some entertainers work at festivals or in private homes (especially children's entertainers). If you are skilled in a type of performance and like entertaining people, this job could be ideal for you.

To be good at this job you should have an outgoing and confident personality. You would need to be able to take criticism positively. You would also need to be determined to succeed.

You don't need any particular qualifications to get into this type of work. The most important thing is that you have an act that audiences will appreciate. You can get experience and get noticed at events like open-mic nights or talent shows, or by working for nothing at first.

The work

As an entertainer, your performance could include:

singing
stand-up comedy
playing music
tribute acts
magic
children’s entertainment
mime.

You might specialise in one skill, or you could combine several talents to create an act (for example, if you were a comedian who also sang). You could perform solo or as part of a group.

When not performing, you would also spend time:

researching and rehearsing new material for your act
attending auditions
looking after costumes or equipment
dealing with your finances and administration
promoting your act.

If you worked on a cruise ship or at a holiday centre, you may have extra duties such as organising children's activities and looking after holiday makers.

You might also combine performing with other types of work, such as teaching or running performance workshops for children or adults.

The Creative Choices website showcases a street theatre performer:

Creative Choices

Hours

The working hours can often be irregular and unsocial. Most performances take place in the evenings, but you may also have daytime shows, rehearsals and auditions.

You may perform full-time, or part-time alongside another job. You could do one-off performances, or regular weekly or monthly slots. Sometimes you may be booked for a whole season, for example if appearing in a musical or at a holiday centre.

Work can be in venues such as theatres, nightclubs and hotels, or on the street, in circus tents or on outdoor stages. You could spend a lot of time travelling to venues and you may spend long periods away from home.

Income

Income can vary widely as work is often part-time or temporary.

Part-time or occasional entertainers may earn between £50 and £200 a performance. A survey of Equity members found that nearly half of people in the UK performance industry had earned less than £6,000 from the profession in the previous year.

Only 6% earned more than £30,000 from performing, although top earnings can much higher than this, depending on reputation and success.

Equity also recommends rates of pay for performers and other professionals.

Equity

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

The most important thing is to have a skill or talent that an audience will appreciate.

You don't need formal qualifications, although you may find it useful to have been trained in music, dance or acting, perhaps from taking a performing arts course or graded exams. Some types of entertainer are mainly self-taught.

You could get experience as an entertainer in various ways, including:

taking part in open-mic spots or talent competitions
working at a holiday centre or theme park
performing in local clubs (you may have to work without pay at first).

You will often have to pass auditions to get work. It will be helpful to find an agent who can market your talents and find you work.

Training and development

You would learn on the job as you build experience. You should keep developing your skills throughout your career.

You could further your performance skills by taking part in training workshops and summer schools that may be run by arts centres, theatre clubs and colleges.

Total Theatre Network offers information about training and funding opportunities in contemporary theatre and live performance

Total Theatre Network

You may be able to get funding for professional training through the Arts Council if your work contributes to the artistic or cultural life of a community.

Skills and knowledge

To be an entertainer you should have:

a high level of skill in your chosen performance area
an outgoing and confident personality
the desire to entertain people
versatility and adaptability
an energetic and hard-working attitude
reliability and punctuality
the ability to accept direction and criticism
determination to succeed.

More information

Creative and Cultural Skills (Opens new window)
Lafone House
The Leathermarket
Weston Street
London
SE1 3HN
www.creative-choices.co.uk

Creative Skillset Careers (Opens new window)
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
www.creativeskillset.org/careers

Equity (Opens new window)
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
London
WC2H 9EG
Tel: 020 7379 6000
www.equity.org.uk

Total Theatre Network (Opens new window)
The Power Station
Coronet Street
London
N1 6HD
Tel: 020 7729 7944
www.totaltheatre.org.uk

The Magic Circle (Opens new window)
12 Stephenson Way
Euston
London
NW1 2HD
Tel: 020 7387 2222
www.themagiccircle.co.uk

Opportunities

You could find work with cruise ships, holiday centres, social clubs, arts festivals, street theatre companies, private parties, corporate events, variety shows and TV and film production companies.

Competition for work in the entertainment industry is very strong. Gaps between jobs are common, so you may need other work to earn money when not performing.

You would usually be self-employed, and often on the books of at least one agent, who would find you work for a fee or commission. You could also advertise yourself in performers' directories such as Entsweb.

Jobs and auditions may also be advertised in The Stage, and on Equity's website. Holiday centre and cruise ship work is advertised on websites such as Resident Entertainers.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The performing arts industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: craft; cultural heritage; literature; design; music; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.

The performing arts comprises venues, employers, small businesses and freelancers in the theatre sector (including classical, contemporary, street arts, carnival arts, circus and physical theatre), dance, opera and the live music industry (including live performances of classical, pop, rock and all contemporary forms of music). The industry workforce includes performers, promoters and those who provide backstage technical input and administration.

Key facts:

There are 101,593 people working in the performing arts, of which:
- 34% are employed in onstage occupations, such as acting or dancing.
Employment grew by 20% between 2006/07 and 2008/09.
45% of the workforce is located in London and the South East.
There are 5,480 businesses, of which 92% employ less than 50 people.
The performing arts industry contributes £4.6 billion to the UK economy.
58% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Men and women are equally likely to have a level 4 or above qualification.
Men are likely to earn less money than women (87% of men earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to 58% of women).
73% of the performing arts workforce earns less than £20,000 a year.
40% of those working in performing arts have at least a level 4 qualification.

Jobs in the industry include: actor, agent, artistic director, choreographer, circus performer, dancer, entertainer, hair, makeup and wigs, props maker, puppeteer, rigger, sound technician, stage manager, studio manager, theatre director, wardrobe assistant.

National and regional data

Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. 2% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, it contributes £42 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 10% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Scotland. In Scotland, it contributes £143 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the workforce is white and 86% of the workforce is male.

Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 3% of the UK performing arts workforce is located in Wales. The industry in Wales contributes £86 million to the UK economy. 99% of the workforce is white and 58% of the workforce is male.

[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]

East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.

East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.

North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.

North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.

South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.

South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.