Author: Micky Harris

Free workshop for members

The date and time: Feb 26, 11am-5pm

The venue:

Mercury Theatre
Balkerne Gate
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1PT

Tutor: Muriel McClymont

Apply Online by Feb 16

Workshop Content

Even the most positive, go-getting people sometimes experience a dip in confidence – especially when they’ve experienced a set back or are facing a particularly daunting challenge. In this one-day workshop, we’ll help you develop and maintain confidence whatever the circumstance. It includes:

• Defining the key characteristics of confident people
• Reviewing areas in which you want to become more confidence
• Exploring strategies for developing confidence in any situation
• Planning to become more confident
• Getting support so that you remain confident.

Expected learning outcomes

• An understanding of what confidence is
• An understanding of how to develop confidence for every situation
• Increased ability to maintain confidence whatever happens.

How to apply

To attend this one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by Feb 16. You will need to register if you have not done so already so have your union number to hand.

All events have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date of Feb 16. We will let you know if your application has been successful by Feb 18.

WHO’S AN FEU TRAINING MEMBER?

Equity, the Musicians’ Union, the National Union of Journalists and the Writers’ Guild are working together in this instance under the banner of ‘The Federation of Entertainment Unions’. This enables us to maximise resources to deliver skills development opportunities common to our multi-union members.

Our aim is to help the career progress of our freelance members through the recession and beyond by providing a range of free and low cost blended-learning opportunities.

Further enquiries

E: [email protected]
T: 07580 348726

Free workshop for members
“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

The date and time: Jan 29, 10.30am to 4.30pm

The venue:

Equity
Guild House
Upper St Martin’s Lane
London
WC2H 9EG

Tutor: Muriel McClymont

Apply Online by Jan 19

Having goals in our lives sets a direction and helps us make the decisions on what to focus our efforts on.

Some find it hard to create goals at all, while others have no problem setting goals, but are unable to motivate themselves to achieve them.

There can be all sorts of reasons for this, for example, your goals may not actually be your goals, but other people’s that you have (consciously or unconsciously) adopted, or perhaps securing the dream job means you’ll have to travel extensively and you are worried that this will have a negative impact on your family life.

This workshop aims to give you tools to process all your aims, now and in the future, so you can create clear, achievable, compelling goals, which are compatible with and do not conflict with any other areas of your life.

Workshop Content

This course will:

• help you define clear, achievable goals which are within your control
• provide a model to allow you to check your goals to ensure that you really want them, and that achieving them will not result in you losing something else that is important to you
• give you an opportunity to amend or re-configure your goal to make it fully desirable to you
• identify what might obstruct your goal, and what you can do about it
• understand what the purpose of your goal is to you and become fully aligned to it - making it a compelling goal
• learn tools to tackle difficulties
• identify your first steps.

Who should attend?

Freelances working in the creative industries who want to improve their goal setting and goal achievement capabilities.

Expected learning outcomes

You can expect to leave this workshop with a set of tools you can use on any of your goals to reshape them so they are compatible with all aspects of your life, and therefore compelling for you to achieve.

Join us and take the first steps to making your current goals your future reality!

Apply Online by Jan 19 2014

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by Jan 19. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful by Jan 21.

Further enquiries
E: [email protected]
T: 07580 348726

Free workshop for members
Getting known to the right people

The date and time: Nov 26, 10.30am - 4.30pm

The venue:

Bristol Old Vic
King Street
Bristol
BS1
4ED

Tutor: Louise Grainger

Apply Online by Nov 17

Workshop Content

To build a successful freelance career in the long term, you need to put considerable effort into marketing yourself and your work.

You need to get yourself and what you do known, as well as present what you do in the best possible light. This course will help you do just that and includes:

• What is marketing?
• Brand versus product
• Identifying your market
• Identifying your competition (including research techniques, SWOT & other useful matrices to use)
• Key messages and unique selling points and how to communicate these
• Key marketing tools and activities
• Action plan.

Who should attend?

Freelances working in the creative industries who wish to improve their marketing skills.

Qualifications

No formal qualifications are required, just a desire to learn new ways of building your reputation and career success.

Expected learning outcomes

• A better understanding of marketing and why it is important
• Knowledge of key marketing tools, activities and skills, including how to promote yourself and your work
• A better understanding of how to identify, target and communicate with potential clients.

Apply Online by Nov 17, 2013

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by Nov 17. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date of Nov 17. We will let you know if your application has been successful by Nov 18.

Further enquiries
E: [email protected]
T: 07580348726

Free workshop for members
CVs/Résumés/Career Summaries - How to make an impact in writing

 The date and time: June 28, 10.30am to 4.30pm

The venue
Bristol Old Vic
King Street
Bristol
BS1 4ED

The ability to produce a CV/Career Summary/Résumé in a way that makes you stand out from the crowd is a must. It should be clear, straightforward and deliver an immediate and accessible snapshot of why people should hire you. This workshop will help you make a high impact in writing.

Apply online by June 19

Workshop Content

This workshop aims to give you the tools to assess each opportunity and how best to construct and tailor your CV to get yourself noticed. It includes:

• Initial review of each other’s CVs/career summaries
• Analysing the function and purpose of these key documents: what you want your CV/career summary to do for you?
• How that knowledge can help to produce a new document, tailored to specific clients and markets
• Specific fundamentals of effective CV/career summary writing
• Assessment/review of ‘mock’ CVs / career summaries
• Identifying key achievements and vital experiences that should be highlighted in your CV/career summary
• Re-designing your CV /career summary foundation document
• Next steps to re-working your CV/career summary.

The workshop includes a number of practical exercises in which you will get the chance to work individually and in pairs. You will need to bring a hard copy of you CV/Résumé/Career Summary.

Who should attend?

This course is relevant to anyone who wants to improve the way they present themselves in writing with the aim of getting a specific interview or audition.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Have a clear idea of what an effective CV/career summary looks like
• Have made the first steps to update their own
• Have a greater understanding of how to create individual selling documents with maximum impact
• Know how to produce a selling document that will support them in trying to secure interviews and/or to open up other work opportunities.

Apply online by June 19

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by June 19. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful by June 21.

Tutors: Sue Walker and Muriel McClymont

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07710 240585

Free workshop for members
Getting real to achieve your dreams!

The date and time: June 21, 2.00pm to 4.30pm

The venue:

Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
SW9 0JJ
T: 020 7840 5506

How do you manage your goals to make sure you achieve the ones you really care about? How do you stay in touch with why they matter? And how do you know how effective the action you are taking is in helping to fulfil them?

We all have various goals and ambitions. Some will be firmly placed on our horizon, and every step we take moves us closer to it. Others, we may even joke are, “Pie in the sky!”

In this short session we will help you connect your motivation to your goals and give you some ideas on how to tackle some of the blocks that may be preventing you moving towards them!

Apply Online

Workshop content

This workshop includes:

• what makes a goal realistic
• what are the key ingredients for a good plan
• how to get motivated to achieve our goals
• strategies to identify where you need to take action.

Who should attend

Those who need a boost in motivation and want to pick up strategies and ideas on how to clarify and achieve their goals.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• be clearer about what makes a good plan of action
• be clearer about what motivates you
• have more information about what may be holding you back
• have some useful tools to apply to your goals in the future

Apply Online by June 12, 2013

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by June 12. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful by June 14.

Tutor: Muriel McClymont

Further enquiries
e: [email protected]
t: 07710 240585

How best to present yourself to get new work
Free workshop for creative freelance members

The date and time: June 7, 2013 10.30am to 4:30pm

The venue:

Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
SW9 0JJ

Tutors: Sue Walker and Muriel McClymont

Effective interview and presentation skills - whether at a formal interview or a chance meeting where there might be work at the end of it – are essential. Some find the thought of self-presentation terrifying! Others find it easier. Whatever you feel, you can always do better.

Apply Online by May 28, 2013

Workshop Content

This one-day workshop is designed to give practical advice and support to help you improve how you demonstrate your many skills and abilities to a potential employer, through both what you say and how you say it. It covers:

• How to prepare effectively
• How to get your message across
• How to respond to difficult questions or challenging scenarios
• How to match your skills to the opportunity
• How to positively use your voice and body language
• How to confidently present yourself and your experience

We offer lots of practice, advice and mock interviews/meetings (you define the situation that will be most helpful to you). You will receive constructive feedback, and get the chance to test-drive new responses to your dreaded questions or scenarios.

Who should attend?

Anyone who needs to present themselves effectively with the aim of making the most of every face-to-face opportunity to get more work.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• have gained a clearer understanding of how you come across in person and how to improve this
• have practiced and received constructive feedback on the effectiveness of your interview or presentation technique
• understand what you need to do to maximise the impact you make
• know how to prepare for an interview so that you feel informed, confident and as relaxed as possible
• be better prepared for challenging questions or scenarios – and know how you can use them to your advantage
• have an action plan for your next steps.

How to Apply

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by May 28. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful.

Further enquiries
E: [email protected]
T: 07975 913123

Free workshop for members
How to leave a good impression in the digital world

The date and time: June 6 2013 10.30am to 4.30pm

The venue:

Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
SW9 0JJ

Whether through digital media or face-to-face, networking is important to raise your profile and market your work successfully.

Tutor: David Thomas

Apply Online

Workshop Content

This workshop falls into two parts:

1. Why networking works and why effective digital networking is so 
important.
2. How we fit networking into our daily work schedule.

Areas covered in the workshop include:

• Networking refresher - what it is and why it works
• Identifying what you’re selling and how it helps others
• Your key messages
• Understanding your digital footprint
• Social media for work - polishing your online profile
• LinkedIn - including groups and recommendations
• Google + circles
• Tools for managing multiple social networks (without wasting time)
• Your next steps
• Participants will devise a personal action plan with practical measures to improve their online and face-to-face networking.

Who should attend?

Freelances who wish to find better ways to network both digitally and face-to-face. No technical knowledge will be assumed. The aim is to help freelances understand how networking works and hone their message. It does not require participants to be online during the training.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand how face-to-face and digital networking interact
• Draw up a plan for engaging with others face to face and on a range of social networks
• Understand how to use time-saving tools to maintain digital engagement
• Know where to get advice and help on the above.

Apply Online by May 27, 2013

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by May 27. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful by June 2.

Further enquiries
E: [email protected]
T: 07975 913123

May 23 London and May 30 Birmingham

Dates, times and locations

London
May 23
10.30am-4.30pm
Musicians’ Union
60-62 Clapham Road
SW9 0JJ

APPLY ONLINE

Content

Negotiation is an essential skill for a freelance to master. Whether you are negotiating day rates or defined packages of work, it’s important to learn to represent yourself clearly and effectively with the aim of agreeing terms that you and your client are happy with.

This workshop will give you tools and tips for planning, preparing and conducting negotiations in a business like way. It will offer you insights into styles and processes that can help improve your effectiveness for future negotiations.

This workshop covers:

• the importance of principled negotiation
• how to prepare effectively
• how to gather the information you need to negotiate effectively
• how to find common ground
• how to focus on negotiation as a business transaction
• the importance of defining limits.

This workshop includes practical exercises to provide participants with the opportunity to try out what you learn in a safe environment.

Who should attend?

Anyone who needs to negotiate with clients, especially if they have found themselves in the past, agreeing to things they later regretted.

Qualifications required

No specific qualifications are required.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will:

• have gained a deeper understanding of the negotiation process
• be aware of the importance of planning effectively
• know how important it is to explore all the potential variables
• be aware of the relational aspects of negotiation
• see the benefits of joint problem solving as a negotiation style
• understand the importance of strategic thinking in negotiations.

APPLY ONLINE

LONDON – APPLY BY MAY 14
To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by May 14. You will need to register if you have not done so already. All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date of May 14. We will let you know if your application has been successful by May 16.

BIRMINGHAM - APPLY BY MAY 21
To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by May 21. You will need to register if you have not done so already. All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date of May 21. We will let you know if your application has been successful by May 23.

How best to present yourself to get new work
Free workshop for creative freelance members

The date and time: May 17, 2013 10.30am to 4:30pm

The venue:

Dance City
Temple Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 4BR

Tutors: Sue Walker and Muriel McClymont

Effective interview and presentation skills - whether at a formal interview or a chance meeting where there might be work at the end of it – are essential. Some find the thought of self-presentation terrifying! Others find it easier. Whatever you feel, you can always do better.

Apply Online by May 9, 2013

Workshop Content

This one-day workshop is designed to give practical advice and support to help you improve how you demonstrate your many skills and abilities to a potential employer, through both what you say and how you say it. It covers:

• How to prepare effectively
• How to get your message across
• How to respond to difficult questions or challenging scenarios
• How to match your skills to the opportunity
• How to positively use your voice and body language
• How to confidently present yourself and your experience

We offer lots of practice, advice and mock interviews/meetings (you define the situation that will be most helpful to you). You will receive constructive feedback, and get the chance to test-drive new responses to your dreaded questions or scenarios.

Who should attend?

Anyone who needs to present themselves effectively with the aim of making the most of every face-to-face opportunity to get more work.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, you will:

• have gained a clearer understanding of how you come across in person and how to improve this
• have practiced and received constructive feedback on the effectiveness of your interview or presentation technique
• understand what you need to do to maximise the impact you make
• know how to prepare for an interview so that you feel informed, confident and as relaxed as possible
• be better prepared for challenging questions or scenarios – and know how you can use them to your advantage
• have an action plan for your next steps.

How to Apply

To apply for a place on this free, one-day workshop, fill in the short application form by May 9. You will need to register if you have not done so already.

All workshops have been over-subscribed to date so successful applicants will be chosen randomly after the cut-off date. We will let you know if your application has been successful.

Further enquiries
E: [email protected]
T: 07990 504 612