Entertainer

Job Description:

Entertainers perform for audiences in stage, cabaret or comedy shows.

Job Category:

Tourism, Hospitality & Entertainment

See Tourism, Hospitality & Entertainment jobs

What you will do:

In this role you would:

perform in front of a live audience
create and rehearse new material
promote your act
attend auditions
maintain equipment, costumes and props
deal with your finances and administration

Skills:

You’ll need:

knowledge of media production and communication
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As well as:

persistence and determination
the ability to use your initiative (drive)
to be flexible and open to change (adaptable)
to enjoy working with other people (teamwork)
excellent verbal communication skills
the ability to understand people’s reactions
the ability to work well with others

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
volunteering
applying directly
a specialist course run by a private training organisation

University
You could do a degree in a relevant subject like:

contemporary theatre and performance
acting
music
comedy writing and performance

Qualifications may not be essential if you show enough talent at an audition.

College
It may be useful to do a college course in:

performing arts
musical theatre
drama and theatre
music

This would help you to develop your talent and learn some of the skills you may need.

Volunteering
Some entertainers are self-taught. To get experience as an entertainer you could:

take part in open-mic spots or talent competitions
work at a holiday centre or theme park
perform in local clubs – you may have to work without pay at first
take part in street performance or fringe festivals

Direct Application
You can apply directly for jobs. The most important thing is to have a skill or talent that an audience will enjoy.

You do not need formal qualifications, although you may find it useful to have trained in music, dance or acting, perhaps from taking a performing arts course or graded exams.

Other Routes
You can develop your skills by doing a specialist course in a particular area of entertaining like comedy, puppetry or circus skills.

You can find details of courses from professional associations in your field of entertainment.

Restrictions and Requirements
You’ll need to pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

Working Hours and Environment:

You could work in a theatre, at a social club, in the community, on a cruise ship, in a hotel or at a client’s home.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you may spend nights away from home.

Career Path & Progression:

You could move into related roles like entertainment agent, talent spotter, venue management, or TV or radio presenting.