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| FAQ's & Figures |
It got too popular at its old location and needed more space. So I decided to give it the space and the reasonable length URL it deserved: BackstageJobs.com! All the listings have been moved here, and the site will continue to be free to use. The only major change is that I will now accept advertisements (to help pay for the extra space). All ads must fit the page they are posted on (you won't see an ad for VISA on the Stage Management page, etc...). This new space also allows me to add features that I could not have before, as well as sections that I had to remove from the previous site for traffic considerations.
YES! While I don't have exact numbers or percentages, I know that many people who have used this site were hired by one of the groups that listed an opening.
Yes, almost every group that has posted a listing has reported many responses from applicants who found their listing on this site. In fact, several have asked to remove their listing early because they have so many applicants from this site!
NO! This site lists jobs from across the U.S. and around the world. It has posted listings from England, France, Denmark, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines, just to name a few.
Its FREE! Just like it said on the index page and the main page.
This site lists jobs in all "behind-the-scenes" aspects of the theatre and live entertainment industry. This includes, but is not limited to, designers, electricians, carpenters, costumers, property masters, stage managers, production managers, theatre managers, directors, musical directors, box office managers, riggers, producers, house managers, sound operators, running crew, and any other position in the live entertainment industry that is not acting. This site does NOT list audition notices, casting calls, or other "actors needed" type listings. There are many other sites for that purpose. In addition, other "job finding" services are not posted on the regular pages. All "job finding" services and online audition notices that I know of are listed on the Links Page.
Just send it in and I will add the appropriate category. (the FX and Scenic Painter pages were added only after getting listings for them)
Any and all other job sites that I am aware of, as well as any theatre related sites that I know of, are listed on the Links Page.
Just send me the posting, using the form as a guide, via E-Mail at submitjob@backstagejobs.com Fax posting is not currently available. Sometimes the form just doesn't like you. Usually it is because you are using AOL to access the internet. AOL does not really connect you to the internet. It just forwards the information to you on the AOL system. With true internet access, you would be assigned an I.P. address (such as 000.101.999.10) which is how you would be identified to the servers and routers of the internet. All servers have their own I.P. address, so when you are visiting a web site, you are really visiting the computer that has been assigned I.P. 000.101.999.10 (or some other number. I have no idea who might have this number, so if you try it and its a porno site, its not my fault) . Web site names are only used to make the sites easier to remember. I'm not going to explain the whole internet to you, but just think of I.P. address like they are phone numbers. So when you access a site, you are sending a request for info to 212.555.1212, and it is sending that info back to you at 212.555.2121. Anyway, when you are on AOL, you don't get an I.P. number, you get some other AOL system number to identify you to AOL. So a web site would send the info to AOL, and then AOL sends it to you. What I'm getting at is that the form's program needs an I.P. address to operate correctly, otherwise it has no idea where it got this information from.
The UPDATE date refers to the last time new listings were added to the site. It does not change if expired listings were removed but no new listings added. If there is a backlog, this will be noted, as well the send date of the most recently posted listing. Listings that were submitted more recently than the the date listed have not yet been posted.
Updated Constantly starting 6/15/06
All listings submitted are now posted instantly. Current auto-posting will continue until a better system is developed.
Every effort is made to try and update every two days. However, there are times when a week may pass before an update occurs (see next question). Only job openings that are sent to the webmaster are listed. I do not copy listings from any trade papers or from other sites, unless requested to do so by the advertising theatre or company. If you know of a theatre or company that may benefit from using this site, please inform them of it's existence.
I certainly hope not! I am most likely swamped with outside work and have not found a free moment to update the site. Since I operate this site free of charge, my theatre work must come before this site. I am the only one who works on this site (since no one else will work for free that I would want to have access to my passwords). I will always update the site at the first chance I get.
Listings are usually removed about a week after the start date, or expiration date. As I may miss a listing that has expired, please note the expiration date before inquiring about the job. A "cleaning" of the site is done approximately once a month. All listings without a removal date are currently removed 1 year from the date of posting. Listings are also removed at the request of the company listed.
If you need your listing posted immediately, use Last Minute Listings. Fill in the form provided for Last Minute Listings and it will be auto-posted when you submit it. All Last Minute Listings expire 2 weeks after they are posted.
I will post any listing that fits the description for this site. If I do not receive a listing for the "_____" area, I cannot post a listing for it.
I maintain this site as a service to the live entertainment community. I feel that there are plenty of sites for acting, and plenty of casting notices available. There is a severe lack of publicly available listings for the "behind-the-scenes" jobs. I also do not feel it is right to charge money just to show someone what jobs are available, or to charge to post a job opening (some sites do both!). I maintain this site to help others find work. I link to other job listing services for the same reason. I am not in competition with any other sites. If you don't find a job here, feel free to try the other sites!
Please do! A graphic "button" will be available in the future as well..
I will gladly add a link to your web page if it offers theatre related information or services. Personal web pages that only advertise a person looking for jobs that are listed on this site are rarely given a link at this time. .
No. I already maintain this site in my own spare time, free of charge, and if I was to try and keep a mailing list going I would have to start charging for the service. However, you may send your information to The Contact Sheets. These list contact information for people in 48 different cities/areas in the US, England, Canada, and Australia, as well as for those who are willing to travel. Feel free to send your info there. Other sites for possible direct contact exchange are listed on the Links Page.
Why are the Contact Sheets password protected, and do I have to sign up?
- The Contact Sheets are now password protected to cut down on spam to persons listed. The password request prevents e-mail address gathering "bots" from viewing the Contact Sheets.
- You do not need to sign up to view the Contact Sheets. The password is posted as a graphic, and usernames are listed next to each Contact Sheet link. If one username does not work for you, try a different one. Only use usernames that are listed. There is no cost to access the Contact Sheets this way. In the future, personal usernames and passwords may be offered for a small fee, but this free access will still be available.
I have moved. How do I move my Contact Sheet listing?
If no information changes (meaning you only had your e-mail address listed or just that and a cell phone, and they're staying the same) then just send a move request to the address listed for the new Contact Sheet you wish to be posted on. Please mention the Contact Sheet that your listing is currently on and that it just needs to be move to the new one.
If your information changes with the new location: send in a new listing to the address listed for the Contact Sheet you want to be posted on. At the bottom of the form or e-mail, request that your listing be removed from its previous location (and tell me where that is).
The point of The Contact Sheets is for those that need to hire NOW can find people in their area, not someone 100+ miles away. You may not post in an area that you do not live just to find work to justify you moving there.
Can I post my company on The Contact Sheets?
No. The Contact Sheets are for freelancers only. Not companies or businesses.
I would love to do this, but usually by the time I have gone through all the different new listings, I have forgotten which categories have new listings and which ones do not. I up-load all the pages at every update, even those that may not have changed. I do not have any "auto-posting" software. All the listings are sent to my e-mail, where I copy and paste them onto the appropriate page(s). In addition, I never know how often I will receive listings (and therefore update the site), so if I (for instance) updated the TD listings yesterday, but had an update of the SM listings today, anyone that came today might not think the TD listings were very current. Besides, most people who use this site look through the same categories each time, and the most recent listing(s) are always at the top of each page.
I very rarely answer E-Mail. Just ask my family and friends! I usually only answer if there was a question related to the site that was not already listed on this page, and has to do with posting a job or reporting a problem. E-Mail that basically just says "Hi", asks for help in moving to Chicago, asks questions about businesses, or questions about moving to the U.S. will be answered only if I have time, and know the answer (time is rare, and I have no idea about moving to the U.S.).
NO.
Freelance Lighting Designer, Master Electrician, Electrician in Chicago, Illinois.
