Work experience contacts

Questions to ask about my business:

1. Do you think my logo fits my business idea and why?
2. Are my mission/vision/value statements effective and why?
3. How would you market a company like this?
4. Do you think there's a place in the creative industries for a business like this?
5. Do you think my business idea is financially viable? What kind of budget do you think it would need?
6. Any general feedback/advice?

Matthew Harrison

Question 1

I think the logo is nice and friendly looking and I like the way it looks both like a bee and a hive together. I think it would be good to somehow incorporate the beehive type somehow. Maybe within the stripes of the yellow and black? I think the name beehive gives the idea of a busy bustling and youthful company.

Question 2

The mission statements are good. I think the key one is making theatre accessible to all as theatre can be quite exclusive and this does create a barrier to engagement. I think the values are all good too but I do think that the majority of theatre companies will have similar values.

Question 3

Try and develop and use the beehive logo and get it to show what your company does in a simple way.

I suppose Social media is key nowadays but I’ve found word of mouth between public and other event producers is key. Maybe somehow doing short outdoor preview shows at key events will help reach more audiences and help build the company reputation.

Question 4

I think there are a lot of independent theatre companies around and most if not all will be having similar aims and values. I think there is a place but it would have to be offering something unique to keep in business.

Question 5

I would imagine it is a very competitive market with a limited amount of funding available and a lot of companies wanting to develop their own work. So would have to be offering something unique to keep in business and be flexible about how it is delivered. The pandemic really highlighted the fragility of the theatre market and work for artists involved in theatre.

Question 6

Find out about other independent theatre companies and try to talk to them about their experiences and see how they survive financially and how they develop their shows and how viable they are especially with the advent of the pandemic and the effects Covid had on theatre and all its artists.

Jacob Hewes - Out There Arts

Question 1

Yes, I believe your logo does fit your business idea. It is a really creative and smart logo. I like how the wings of the bee represent the traditional theatre masks. I also like the symbolism of the ‘Bee’ as they are known for their hard work, teamwork, focus and dedication.

Question 2

Yes, your mission, vision and value statements are very effective as they are clear and concise. It is simple to understand what you want to do and how you want to do it. There is a clear focus on originality, access, diversity, representation and inspiration with the goal to transform theatre into a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Question 3

I believe you have chosen a accurate demographics to market your theatre company too. The age, location and occupation of the individuals are all those who would be seeking an opportunity to work with a theatre company like yours.

To market the company, you should utilise social media to document the activities of the company. The most effective way to create a buzz in the industry would be to create a production and take it to a Festival or Venue. This will lead to a write up in local and/or national press, as well as, amateur blogs. It will also be an opportunity to showcase your work amongst other professionals and individuals likely involved or want to be involved in creative careers.

Question 4

Yes, I do. Although, the creative industry is fiercely competitive, what makes successful companies are those that have a clear mission, vision and value. You will need a strong foundation to build upon. Forging a path is difficult and that is why it is important to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve and have strong belief in it. This will naturally draw people to your company and create a desire to join and be a part of something that is progressive, original, accessible, diverse and representative.

Question 5

From what you have set out it seems the theatre company will be bigger than a grassroots organisation and yet smaller than a commercial giant. It is good to be in the middle. The business is financially viable but you will likely have to invest a lot at the beginning to create new work. Running Classes will be a good income stream, however, to make productions you will like have to rely on grants from organisations such as Arts Council England or a charitable trust like Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Question 6

Excellent business plan. It is very clear and paints a great vision for what you want to achieve.

What I sent them:

My work experience

For my first piece of work experience, I worked on artistic projects with a local artist for the following events: Out There Festival and Fire on the Water experience. For the Out There festival, I assisted in creating an escape room by staining the wooden beams, sanding the objects that would be hidden and spray painting them, then also assisted in running it during the festival. For the Fire on the Water, I planned out lightboxes by marking where the holes would be drilled, using projected designs (one of which I created). 

For my second piece of work experience, I was a part of 'Voices of the Reeds', a performance project run by the UEA that focused primarily on climate change. We worked on this over a few months, devising new pieces of theatre that all centred around the issue of climate change. We did the performance at Strumpshaw Fen, a nature reserve, which we visited many times before the final performance so we could get inspiration from the environment and rehearse our pieces. 

For my third piece of work experience, I have been helping as an assistant circus tutor for the Drillaz circus school, which is based at the Drill House. I help with the classes for younger children, working with them to improve their circus skills in a variety of disciplines from juggling to aerial to balance. I also participate in one the classes, which has allowed me to improve my own skills and become a better tutor, as well as have access to numerous performance opportunities.

For my fourth piece of work experience, I helped out with the Heritage Event happening in college, alongside the rest of my class. We were tasked with documenting the event and capturing useful, promotional materials about it. I was specifically tasked with recording student interviews, filming interviews with the guest speakers, and filming some of the talks and workshops.

Feedback form 1 (Matthew):

Feedback form 2 (Raul):

Feedback form 3 (Lottie):