Magazine

Summer 2009

Research reveals Variety Woes

Tough times for performers as Equity seeks to help

Following growing concerns about the state of variety, Equity has conducted a survey of members working in variety to identify key concerns and the way the union can help.

Traditional venues – pubs, working men’s clubs and social clubs remain important as sources of work, as do specialist cabaret venues and theatres and restaurants – but it was notable that the most commonly selected category of venue was “other”. Forty-nine per cent of those who responded said the most frequently found work in “other” venues, which included hotels, holiday parks, music festivals, corporate events, schools, private homes and village halls.

Members are increasingly working across a range of non-traditional venues and are not reliant on a single type of location, the survey found.

But work opportunities are harder to find. Fifty-eight percent said their work had fallen in the last two years.


When asked what factor they believed had done most to contribute to the decline in work opportunities 45 per cent said the general state of the economy. The smoking ban was a distant second on 18 per cent while over 11 per cent believed that their form of entertainment was decreasing in popularity generally. Changes in entertainment licensing was identified by less than 5 per cent of respondents. This suggests that most members do not believe that specific changes in the law are responsible for the problems facing their industry.

There are real problems being faced by Equity members working in variety. Members are reporting a fall in their work and concern about falling audiences in core venues the survey found. But there are positive signs.

Equity’s priority must be to focus efforts on promoting variety as an art form and doing whatever it can to assist in improving work opportunities for members at this difficult time. The survey suggests that Equity can best help members by offering training and working to enhance the reputation of variety to enable members to take advantage of the opportunities available.


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