Performers - Frequently Asked Questions

​What is Night Out?
Night Out is the community and rural touring scheme for Wales. Run by a small team based in Cardiff, we help groups of volunteers across the country bring arts to the heart of their communities by providing a financial guarantee against loss. Over 500 shows a year are put on in communities across the whole of Wales.

​Who puts on events?
Many different groups host events through Night Out, typically it is village halls or community centre committees but any kind of constituted group or organisation with access to a suitable performance venue can be a Night Out promoter. The vast majority of organisers are community volunteers, giving their own time and energy and sharing the same passion of trying to give their communities the chance for a great night out on their doorstep. 

​Sounds unusual. Is it unique?
Night Out is one of 40 similar schemes across the UK. Each one is slightly different in style, but they all work by allowing communities to select and host live performances. Night Out is a member of the National Rural Touring Forum which advocates for and supports rural touring across the UK.  

​​Will you book my show?
Night Out doesn't normally book shows directly like an arts venue might. Our website offers a curated list of recommended companies to community promoters, volunteers who take charge of the venues themselves. They have to make sure it's legal and suitable for a public event and as accessible as possible. They choose a show they like from our listings or sometimes they will book an artist directly. We will only recommend a company if we know their work, feel it is of a good quality and suitable for small scale touring. We get hundreds of requests a year from performers and it is not possible to respond to all requests, see every company or list everyone on our website.  

​I'm not a professional performer, will you book my show?
No. Night Out supports professional artists who earn the majority of their income from performing and touring. We are part of the Arts Council of Wales and see our role as helping communities book high quality work that they wouldn't normally be able to see without driving to a major arts venue. It is not our role to support pub bands, tribute artists or pantomimes.      

​I'm new to touring and have a show I want to try out. Will you book it?
No. We want a tour-ready piece of work. You can sell us a show in development knowing it will be ready when you actually tour, but we need evidence that you know what you are doing. It is difficult to take risks with untested, unseen new work with new artists who have no touring experience. This is because it is the volunteers who are really taking the risk, and it's they who have to deal with the audiences long after the show has gone.

​Should I translate my show information into Welsh?
Wales is a bilingual country and Night Out works in Welsh or English, all our forms and information are available bilingually and you may converse with us in Welsh or English. Approximately 23% of bookings through the scheme are for Welsh language performances. You are welcome to translate your information into Welsh and if your show is available in Welsh then you should definitely do so as promoters booking Welsh language shows will be looking at the Welsh language side of the website. Please state what language your production is available in. If it is only in English that is fine - you do not need to translate the information into Welsh. (Please note though that although online translation tools are getting much better they are often not 100% accurate). 

​We are quite technical in our needs. Is this a problem?
Not always but there's some key things to remember. You will be carrying your own set. Our venues don't generally have support staff to help you so you may need to bring your own technician and gear. Sometimes lighting rigs need to take into consideration low ceiling and audience safety. Some venues may only have a few plugs. The longer you need to get-in, the harder your show will be to sell. This is because venues are busy all the time, with toddler groups, badminton, etc which earn them regular income. Your show is a one-off being fitted alongside regular earners. Be very aware of sightlines. Most venues do not have raked seating. If key plot changes happen on the floor, you won't be seen. This irritates audiences and they'll all stand up to try and see what you're doing. 

​We are a choir. Can we be booked?
Normally community choirs are not applicable to be booked through Night Out as we work with professional performers. The Music Centre Wales offers funding to help choirs and music societies put on events, book conductors or soloists, purchase music or instruments.

​What publicity will you need?
Promoters need your publicity to help promote the show, both digital and hard copies. A social media presence and campaign is very useful. A5 flyers and A4 posters are a great help, but please check with promoters how many they need, on average we would expect around 200 flyers and 20 posters per event although venues vary. Some promoters may only have limited space on a village notice board for a poster and sell their shows through word of mouth - sending too many is just a waste. Poster and flyers should have space to overprint and be eye catching they also need to do double the work of those designed solely for theatres since they need to sell both the concept of going to see a show and the show itself. If you can provide additional publicity and video clips, press information, images etc these can be very useful. 

​What work is suitable for rural / community audiences?
Well, what's a rural audience? What is a community? Approximately 23% of shows booked through Night Out are Welsh Language. We work in nearly all the communities of Wales ranging from areas of social deprivation and long term unemployment to coastal communities and mountain villages. Audiences vary and there will be: people who love live theatre and go regularly; people who prefer sport; people who hate swearing; people who are willing to take a chance with something different; people who just want to be entertained. Family shows with broad appeal work well for community halls.
Performances that have a very niche appeal or strange names can be difficult to sell to promoters. A village may only have a population of 400 people and the small proportion of those who are modern jazz fans, for example, limits the audience further.