Accountant - An accountant is someone that takes care of all of your financial affairs for you, as long as you keep all of your receipts, bank statements, invoices, check stumps and anything else associated with finances. You can claim back VAT from these things like agents and booking fees, travelling costs, clothing and footwear (conditions apply), props, play text, sheet music and recordings, head shots and show reels, print, postage and stationary, mileage and employee costs.
I found this website (Jonathon Ford Accounting for Actors) which offered three types of accounting, these are:
1. The essentials pack (from £35 plus VAT per month) is for actors who are just starting out and their tax affairs are relativity uncomplicated. This includes:
- Tax return reminders
- Tax return checklist
- Annual accounts
- Basic personal tax
- Tax return
- Mortgage/return references
2. The advanced pack (from £65 plus VAT per month) is designed for actors who is established in the industry and needs help with book keeping. It includes:
- Everything on the essential pack
- Help with book keeping
- Advice throughout the year
- Payment on account reviews
3. The esteemed pack (from £125 plus VAT per month) is designed for actors who are well established in the industry and would like an accountant that is there all of the time and receive reviews throughout the year so you know you are saving the correct amount of tax. This includes:
- Everything on the enhanced plan
- Quarterly tax payment advice
- Preparation and submission of VAT returns
- Dealing with international aspects of UK tax return
- Fee protection service
One example is United agents - they are known as London's leading literary and talent agency. They have different departments including Actors, Authors, Comedy, Film, Tv and Theatre and Music. In each of these departments there are a number of agents, for example in Actors, there are Jess Alford, Lisa Toogood and Ruth Young amoung others. Some examples from Film, Tv and theatre are Rose Cobbe, Duncan Haynes and Yasmin McDonald. Clients include Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hardy and Kiera Knightly.
Another example is Independant talent, they are known as Europes leady talent agency. Their client base includes actors, directors, writers, models, casting directors, comedians and presenters. Clients include Orlando Bloom and Maggie Smith.
Both of these acting agencies would be suitable for me to apply to as they take actors of all ages and genres, as they cover a wide variety of genres in the industry.
Both of these acting agencies would be suitable for me to apply to as they take actors of all ages and genres, as they cover a wide variety of genres in the industry.
A more established actor would be more likely to use this company because the photographer is very experienced and would charge an incredibly high price. He is based in East London, he also works as an artist, actor as well as photography, this is something unique about him as he understands the performance industry and therefore understands the importance and uses of a headshot, meaning that h would be able to give his clients the best work. He trained at art college as well as GSA, and over the last 10 years he has obtained recommendations from some of London's top agencies, some of his clients include Olivia Cooke and Sheridan Smith. Although he would be able to produce high quality pictures, actors who are just starting out probably wouldn't choose it use him. This is because they wouldn't be able to afford to pay out for something as upmarket as this.
Another option for actors, especially for starting out actors would be to use photography students, this is because they would be able to still provide you with high quality work as they would be studying how important this is as part of their course. Some may do this free of charge to be able to gain experience, however some may charge a small fee.
Lawyer/Solicitor
An actor needs a lawyer/solicitor to be able to go through legal things such as contracts for jobs, this is because some contracts include clauses that affect things such as working hours, pay and conditions. A lawyer/solicitor will go through and look for loop holes that may affect these things, they will be able to explain all legal jargon and make sure everything is in order before you sign and start working. Your agent will directly send this over to the solicitor so you do not need to worry about sending over the right information yourself as it will be all taken are of for you.
Chambers and Partners
This is a website that contains different firms and individual lawyers that specifically work in the performance industry, the website opens with different sections for different areas for performance such as advertising, Tv and film and theatre.
1. Clinton's - Theatre and Music
For example in the theatre section the top ranking firm is Clintons, they have 16 partners and 12 other lawyers and are based in London. They are known for working with up and coming actors as well as those who are more established in the industry. Significant clients include Sony music productions and Muse.
2. Lee and Thompson LLP - Film and TV
This is an example of a firm specialising in film and TV, they have 23 partners and 19 other lawyers and are also based in London. They advise independent production companies and talent clients on development, production and distribution. Significant clients include Queen, One direction and Red production company.
3. Equity
Although both of these companies are incredibly credited because I am not part of a bigger organisation and I don't have an established status yet, Equity would be a better solution for legal advice for me personally. Equity is a UK trade union for professional performers and creative practitioners, it was set up in 1930 and now has more than 40,000 members. They were set up to bring fair payments, health and safety regulation, members pension and insurance schemes to the performing arts industry. Equity offers free legal advice and support over professional issues including personal injury claims and contracts for members as well as free advice on national insurance, tax, jobseekers allowance, welfare benefits and pensions. In addition to this members automatically get up to £10 million in public liability insurance and are covered for accident and backstage insurance, for a small extra fee there is extra accident insurance for dancers and physical artists. I would use Equity as it is a well known reliable union that has a good reputation within the performing arts industry therefore I know I would be covered well an wouldn't have to worry about things such as extra hidden costs.
Transportation
As the industry is based in London, most auditions will be held here, because of this i will need to be familiar with the London transportation system, this is really important because if you got lost on your way to an audition and turned up late as a result of this, you would make a bad first impression and they maybe wouldn't even see you for unprofessional behaviour. I don't think i actually need a specific person for this, however i can just become familiar with places that auctions are likely to be held at and know the stations around it well.
Chambers and Partners
This is a website that contains different firms and individual lawyers that specifically work in the performance industry, the website opens with different sections for different areas for performance such as advertising, Tv and film and theatre.
1. Clinton's - Theatre and Music
For example in the theatre section the top ranking firm is Clintons, they have 16 partners and 12 other lawyers and are based in London. They are known for working with up and coming actors as well as those who are more established in the industry. Significant clients include Sony music productions and Muse.
2. Lee and Thompson LLP - Film and TV
This is an example of a firm specialising in film and TV, they have 23 partners and 19 other lawyers and are also based in London. They advise independent production companies and talent clients on development, production and distribution. Significant clients include Queen, One direction and Red production company.
3. Equity
Although both of these companies are incredibly credited because I am not part of a bigger organisation and I don't have an established status yet, Equity would be a better solution for legal advice for me personally. Equity is a UK trade union for professional performers and creative practitioners, it was set up in 1930 and now has more than 40,000 members. They were set up to bring fair payments, health and safety regulation, members pension and insurance schemes to the performing arts industry. Equity offers free legal advice and support over professional issues including personal injury claims and contracts for members as well as free advice on national insurance, tax, jobseekers allowance, welfare benefits and pensions. In addition to this members automatically get up to £10 million in public liability insurance and are covered for accident and backstage insurance, for a small extra fee there is extra accident insurance for dancers and physical artists. I would use Equity as it is a well known reliable union that has a good reputation within the performing arts industry therefore I know I would be covered well an wouldn't have to worry about things such as extra hidden costs.
Transportation
As the industry is based in London, most auditions will be held here, because of this i will need to be familiar with the London transportation system, this is really important because if you got lost on your way to an audition and turned up late as a result of this, you would make a bad first impression and they maybe wouldn't even see you for unprofessional behaviour. I don't think i actually need a specific person for this, however i can just become familiar with places that auctions are likely to be held at and know the stations around it well.
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