Flexible Working Life

Geoff Goble, supporting artiste, shares his story of how he became an actor and the flexible working lifestyle he enjoys when not on screen.

“I started my working life in banking, way back in 1963, transferring to the bank’s computer department in 1969 until 1973.

After 4 years in the computer department of a local manufacturing firm, in 1977 I joined a software house, and continued working in the IT industry, latterly as a freelance IT consultant analyst/programmer between 1987 and 2003, when I retired from that work.

I had been interested in theatre since my childhood, and, encouraged by my younger daughter (then 11, and now working professionally in the theatre as both deputy box office manager and independent producer), I joined a local amateur dramatic society in 1994, and have continued performing, directing, scriptwriting, stage managing, lighting and set design with many local theatre companies ever since.
I first worked as a supporting artiste in 2000, when I was between IT contracts, and I worked for about 6 days in cold and wet October weather on location at the Bluebell Railway for BBC Films on a family drama set in the Victorian era - Station Jim.
Despite the appalling weather conditions of that shoot, I had been grabbed by the bug, and over the next few years I picked up occasional SA jobs via the internet and local press, until at the end of 2005 I managed to get registered with 2020 Casting for their 2006 ‘book’.Towards the end of 2006, I answered an Internet advert placed by Casting Collective for extras for ‘The Golden Compass,’ and was offered the chance to register with them for 2007.
It was during 2007 that I also made contact with a freelance agent, Andrea Moignard, who so far has managed to get me work on 3 episodes of Midsomer Murders.
As of 2008 I am now also registered with the agency Guys And Dolls.

If I say here that I have had no supporting artiste work from any source since about October 2007, and it is now late-February 2008, you will appreciate that it is necessary to take on other jobs to pay the bills.
The important thing about these other jobs is that they should be casual in nature, with an employer who understands that work as a supporting artiste will take priority in one’s schedules.

SA work is often something which one gets at short notice – I once had a phone call late in the afternoon for a 6.30am call-time the following day on a location some 65 miles or so from my home, costume to be provided by me.

My other jobs over the last few years have included:

School Examinations Invigilator and Administrator
There are only so many days of exams in a year, and there is a team of Invigilators. Not everyone is needed at once, so it is usually quite easy to find a replacement if one has to drop out of a shift. A useful by-product of this work is getting an Enhanced CRB Disclosure, which can be useful in other jobs, for example, working as a chaperone for children on film sets. Watch local press for opportunities.

Electoral Registration Canvasser and Poll Clerk
The canvassing part of this job is 3 weekends, daylight hours only, in October.
There will probably be only one or two Thursdays a year when local or general elections take place. These jobs are often done by people who already work for the local council, but sometimes they get advertised in the local press.

Box Office Manager, Chichester Festivities
This is basically a 10-week seasonal job – early-May to mid-July. In the event, I’ve only been offered one day’s SA work whilst doing this job – well, two actually, different agencies, different productions, but both on the same day!
I did one of them, as I was able to swap around the work rota. This job was advertised in the local press, and I’m sure other arts festivals may have similar opportunities, if not as manager, then certainly as box office staff or stage crew – though absences may be more tricky to fix.

Goodwood Racecourse Security & Safety Steward
Odd days through the flat racing season, easy to fit around SA work. I got into this because Goldring provide security services to Chichester Festivities, and a couple of years back the Goldring staff on site asked my staff if they were looking for any other casual work – some of them were, and so was I.

Delivery Driver
I normally do this Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Also the odd day shift or other evening if asked. Now and then I need time off to do SA work or other work, and for local theatrical performances too!
Go into your local branch and ask if they have any vacancies – it’s easy enough work if you have your own car, hours are unsocial, but shifts can be short, and sometimes you get a good night for tips!

http://geoffgoble.tripod.com/index.html

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