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Call centre staffed by 'resting' actors to open its doors in Manchester Call centre staffed by 'resting' actors to open its doors in Manchester
(about 17 hours later)
Olivia Coleman cleaned houses, George Clooney was an insurance salesman and Angelina Jolie wanted to be a funeral director. But the stars of tomorrow may come from another run-of-the-mill occupation: the call centre. Olivia Colman cleaned houses, George Clooney was an insurance salesman and Angelina Jolie wanted to be a funeral director. But the stars of tomorrow may come from another run-of-the-mill occupation: the call centre.
A call centre staffed entirely by “resting” actors is to open its doors in MediaCityUK, Salford, next week, employing up to 150 wannabe stars to answer the phones between auditions.A call centre staffed entirely by “resting” actors is to open its doors in MediaCityUK, Salford, next week, employing up to 150 wannabe stars to answer the phones between auditions.
Billing itself as the only company that wants its staff to leave and pursue their dreams, the sales firm RSVP has more than 600 actors on its books in London but wants to tap into the north’s rising reputation as a media hotspot.Billing itself as the only company that wants its staff to leave and pursue their dreams, the sales firm RSVP has more than 600 actors on its books in London but wants to tap into the north’s rising reputation as a media hotspot.
Based near the Coronation Street set and BBC studios, the actors can leave at short notice for an audition and return when an acting job has finished. When they are not selling boutique wines, they are busy planning for their next big break.Based near the Coronation Street set and BBC studios, the actors can leave at short notice for an audition and return when an acting job has finished. When they are not selling boutique wines, they are busy planning for their next big break.
“They drill it into you to never think that working in a call centre is your career because it’s not,” said Lee Worswick, a 24-year-old actor who appeared in the BBC’s Our Girl this year. “You are an actor and you will make it as an actor. This is just a stepping stone.”“They drill it into you to never think that working in a call centre is your career because it’s not,” said Lee Worswick, a 24-year-old actor who appeared in the BBC’s Our Girl this year. “You are an actor and you will make it as an actor. This is just a stepping stone.”
Worswick, who has had roles in Casualty, Shameless and Waterloo Road, previously worked at a clothing store to make ends meet but says some of the staff turned on him because he was allowed months off at a time for filming.Worswick, who has had roles in Casualty, Shameless and Waterloo Road, previously worked at a clothing store to make ends meet but says some of the staff turned on him because he was allowed months off at a time for filming.
Working in a shop “wasn’t a nice environment to work in but I went for an audition two weeks ago and everyone here shouted good luck to me. I’ve never found a job like this”, he said.Working in a shop “wasn’t a nice environment to work in but I went for an audition two weeks ago and everyone here shouted good luck to me. I’ve never found a job like this”, he said.
The office looks just like any other call centre in the UK. The “agents” type away as they talk into headsets on a cluster of desks around the office, whose walls are decorated with portraits of the London office’s standout performers. Those who have a knack for selling often end up rising to a managerial role, though they never truly leave their dream behind.The office looks just like any other call centre in the UK. The “agents” type away as they talk into headsets on a cluster of desks around the office, whose walls are decorated with portraits of the London office’s standout performers. Those who have a knack for selling often end up rising to a managerial role, though they never truly leave their dream behind.
Even the boss wants to leave. “I love RSVP and I love my job, but I’m always going to want to be a successful actor,” said Hiten Patel, 33, the head of the new office who had bit parts in EastEnders and The Bill. “Coming here, where there’s more casting available, has made me more determined to make it as an actor. I’ve still got an agent.”Even the boss wants to leave. “I love RSVP and I love my job, but I’m always going to want to be a successful actor,” said Hiten Patel, 33, the head of the new office who had bit parts in EastEnders and The Bill. “Coming here, where there’s more casting available, has made me more determined to make it as an actor. I’ve still got an agent.”
The 36-member team, which is set to grow to 150 over the next year, are given scripts as a guide but are encouraged to go off-piste. “If you can learn Hamlet, you can learn 46 different cases of wine from different regions,” said Patel. Handily, he added, they are also used to rejection.The 36-member team, which is set to grow to 150 over the next year, are given scripts as a guide but are encouraged to go off-piste. “If you can learn Hamlet, you can learn 46 different cases of wine from different regions,” said Patel. Handily, he added, they are also used to rejection.
Unlike some call centres, which pester people with automated calls and unsolicited text messages, Patel said RSVP only contacts customers who have previously subscribed to that company and opted in to take calls.Unlike some call centres, which pester people with automated calls and unsolicited text messages, Patel said RSVP only contacts customers who have previously subscribed to that company and opted in to take calls.
The pay is not great – the national living wage of £7.20 an hour plus a performance-based commission – nor would most imagine the work to be particularly stimulating. But it has tapped into an enthusiastic workforce, lured by the security of a full-time wage and the ability to hang up their headset at a moment’s notice.The pay is not great – the national living wage of £7.20 an hour plus a performance-based commission – nor would most imagine the work to be particularly stimulating. But it has tapped into an enthusiastic workforce, lured by the security of a full-time wage and the ability to hang up their headset at a moment’s notice.
The artists’ union, Equity, estimates that about one third of its 41,000 members are working at any given time. Up to 70% of them earn £10,000 a year or less from the entertainment industry, according to the union; hence the need for them to have other, more stable, work.The artists’ union, Equity, estimates that about one third of its 41,000 members are working at any given time. Up to 70% of them earn £10,000 a year or less from the entertainment industry, according to the union; hence the need for them to have other, more stable, work.
“It’s a welcome break from what is a brutal world,” said Andrew Sutton, 30, who has had small roles in Coronation Street and Waterloo Road and previously appeared in ITV’s Houdini and Doyle, playing the son of Arthur Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan). “My mum thinks acting is a bit silly, that I’m joking about, and now she thinks it’s great I’m doing something that resembles normal.“It’s a welcome break from what is a brutal world,” said Andrew Sutton, 30, who has had small roles in Coronation Street and Waterloo Road and previously appeared in ITV’s Houdini and Doyle, playing the son of Arthur Conan Doyle (Stephen Mangan). “My mum thinks acting is a bit silly, that I’m joking about, and now she thinks it’s great I’m doing something that resembles normal.
“What we’re wanting to do is the furthest from nine-to-five. We’re wanting to get on stage, tread the boards, and be a different person. When I say that out loud it sounds absolutely nuts. You’ve got to be crazy to not also want to do something that has a bit normality to it.”“What we’re wanting to do is the furthest from nine-to-five. We’re wanting to get on stage, tread the boards, and be a different person. When I say that out loud it sounds absolutely nuts. You’ve got to be crazy to not also want to do something that has a bit normality to it.”
Its staff are employed on zero-hours contacts, but those on shift said they welcomed the ability to fit their 12pm-8.30pm call centre job around TV, stage or film commitments. Many young actors previously survived on tips from bar or restaurant work, while others struggled to fit in part-time work for high-street retailers.Its staff are employed on zero-hours contacts, but those on shift said they welcomed the ability to fit their 12pm-8.30pm call centre job around TV, stage or film commitments. Many young actors previously survived on tips from bar or restaurant work, while others struggled to fit in part-time work for high-street retailers.
Lucy Mason, 22, who graduated from drama school at the University of Central Lancashire in July, is yet to land an on-screen role – but said her full-time call centre job will help her do just that. She said the retailer she was working for “wasn’t good with letting me go for anything. I basically would have had to fake an illness if I wanted to leave. I could end up paying off some of my student loan here.”Lucy Mason, 22, who graduated from drama school at the University of Central Lancashire in July, is yet to land an on-screen role – but said her full-time call centre job will help her do just that. She said the retailer she was working for “wasn’t good with letting me go for anything. I basically would have had to fake an illness if I wanted to leave. I could end up paying off some of my student loan here.”
Now, Mason said, she can walk past the Rovers Return on her way to work in the hope she will one day be a regular on the cobbles. “It’s really nice walking past Corrie. It’s got a real buzz about it,” she said, before sloping back to work the phones.Now, Mason said, she can walk past the Rovers Return on her way to work in the hope she will one day be a regular on the cobbles. “It’s really nice walking past Corrie. It’s got a real buzz about it,” she said, before sloping back to work the phones.