The Business of Show Business

Nobody teaches performers the business side of the industry. You spend years on audition technique, vocal training, dance and craft, then get into the industry and realise no one showed you the other half: how to think of yourself as a business, how to market what you do, and how to make sure the right people know how to find you. In this solo episode kicking off Season 7 of The Business of Show B...

What does it actually mean to succeed as an actor? In this episode, journalist and presenter Jamie Body is joined by Alexa Morden — actor, coach, author, and founder of the 98% podcast and CIC — to have the conversation the industry rarely wants you to hear. Alexa breaks down why chasing the traditional idea of "making it" could be holding you back, how to find genuine success and fulfilment at an...

What does it take to write, direct, produce — and edit — your own feature film? This week on The Business of Show Business, Jamie Body sits down with British-American filmmaker Peter Glanz to talk about his highly anticipated new film Savage House. Set against the chaos of 18th century England — a Pox outbreak, the Jacobite Uprising, and a society obsessed with image and social climbing — Savage H...

Jamie Body sits down with performer and vocal & performance coach Grace Galloway — fresh from her critically acclaimed run in Ride the Cyclone at the Southwark Playhouse — to talk about everything nobody tells you before you leave drama school. Grace opens up about the real mental and emotional demands of a performing career, how she landed Educating Rita at Dundee Rep with a cold email (not a...

This week Jamie is joined by Amy West and Matthew Ives — co-creators of MT Swing Life — for The Business of Show Business' first ever trio interview. Amy and Matthew have between them swung, dance captained, and choreographed on shows including Hunger Games, Back to the Future, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Addams Family, Little Big Things and more. They break down exactly what it takes to be a musical...

Today Jamie is joined by Dawn Farrow — freelance marketing and sales consultant, founder of On Sale Live, and the woman behind over 36 million tickets sold across theatre, immersive experiences, and live entertainment. Exhibition News called her the accidental architect of a live experience revolution, and after this conversation, you'll understand exactly why. They get into the real business of s...

What's it really like to perform eight shows a week in a musical — or to be on standby, one minute playing Fortnite, the next going on at the Bridge Theatre? This week, Jamie Body is joined by West End performer Jacob Fowler — known for his iconic run as JD in Heathers the Musical, the UK Tour of The Addams Family, and currently appearing in Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre, one of the most-no...

Steve Roe founded Hoopla Improv above a pub in Balham 20 years ago. Today it's one of London's most beloved comedy institutions — and the improv school quietly behind some of the biggest names in British comedy, including members of the SNL UK cast and writing team. In this bonus episode of The Business of Show Business, Jamie sits down with Steve to talk about building a culture-led arts business...

Jamie Body got a sneaky peek press screening of California Scheming, the directorial debut of James McAvoy, and sat down with stars Seamus McLean Ross and Samuel Bottomley for a candid chat about playing morally questionable characters, the wild true story behind the film, working with McAvoy on set, regionality in the UK acting industry, and the survival jobs that kept them going before the work...

Jamie Body sits down with multi-genre casting director Liyanne Marie to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in the entertainment industry and to explore the format that's quietly reshaping it. Liyanne is one of the first casting directors in the UK to be seriously working in vertical drama — the short-form, portrait-mode content exploding on mobile — and she gives an hones...

Disney's The Lion King and Disney's Hercules are currently running in London's West End. Disney's The Lion King and Disney's Hercules are lighting up London’s West End — and in this exclusive bonus episode, we go behind the scenes with two incredible stars from these iconic productions. Have you ever wondered what it really takes to perform in a West End musical? From audition songs to onstage sur...

From West End Star to TV Presenter | Wayne Perrey on Rent, Bombay Dreams & Breaking Into TV Wayne Perrey joins Business of Show Business to share his journey from the West End stage to television presenting . As a performer in the original West End casts of Rent and Bombay Dreams , Wayne built a career in musical theatre before successfully transitioning into TV as a presenter and actor. In th...

Crystal Nicholls is a valid member of the dance charity organisation Dancers Career Development and works heavily as a coach supporting creatives. Previously she worked as a dancer and musical theatre performer, including a 6 year run in The Lion King in the West End. In this episode, Crystal and journalist and presenter Jamie Body discuss the mindset needed to be a performer, what organisations c...

West End performer Rory Phelan on building a career in musical theatre, surviving the industry & launching Stage Strong | The Business of Show Business Podcast In Season 6 Episode 2 of The Business of Show Business , Jamie Body sits down with West End actor and fitness coach Rory Phelan to talk about life in musical theatre, building resilience in the industry, and why physical and mental stre...

The Business of Show Business is back and to launch season 6 I brought back season 1 guest Graeme Pickering. So much has happened since casting director/consultant, choreographer and educator Graeme Pickering appeared on the podcast in first season. You can listen to his season 1 episode here . In this episode Graeme shares what life as a casting consultant is like while sharing tips for singers,...

That's a wrap on season 5 of The Business of Show Business podcast. After 10 fantastic guests from the entertainment, arts and culture sector, season 5 has come to an end. Don't panic, season 6 is already in development with lots of new guests and subjects to explore.

In this episode of The Business of Show Business podcast, entertainment journalist and presenter Jamie Body sits down with Courtney Ortiz. Jamie and Courtney's paths crossed many years ago when they both worked as dancers for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Courtney is a professional dancer, educator and adjudicator based in New York City. Some of her credits include the Broadway National Tour of Fin...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 9 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with prima ballerina and dance star of Prime Video's Étoile Constance Devernay-Laurence. From working her way up to Principal ballet dancer at the Scottish Ballet to touring and long days on set, Constance talks about growing her skill set, how da...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 8 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with theatre critic and creative writer Sam Marlowe. Sam Marlowe is reviews editor for The Stage. She trained and worked as an actor before becoming a full-time arts writer with a special interest in theatre and performance. She has written extens...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 7 sees former dancer and now journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with dancer turned personal trainer and fitness guru Chelsea Labadini. In this episode they discuss full body health and the fitness facts performers actually need to know. From what fuels your body to utilising social media...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 6 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with West End performer and co-founder of West End Tails, Jack Greaves. Having performed in West End musicals such as Matilda and The Book of Mormon, as well as Starlight Express in Germany, Jack has now utilised his business skills to open a cent...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 5 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with casting associate Bailey Frances. After a 12-year career in the arts, working as a dancer and model, Bailey discovered another side of the industry and started her journey into Casting in 2018. Bailey has worked for a number of well-known Cas...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 4 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with West End performer Alyn Hawk. Alyn is currently appearing in the West End musical The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum. His previous credits include: Standby/Resident Director in Come From Away (UK Tour); Andy Lee/ Cover Julian Marsh in 42...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 3 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with West End performer and qualified bookkeeper and accountant Sally Frith. Sally shares what it is like performing in the West End show Evita alongside Rachel Zegler, as well as appearing as Sally Bowles in the West End in Cabaret and why freela...

The Business of Show Business podcast is back! This time, we have also added video. Season 5 episode 2 sees journalist and presenter Jamie Body sit down with PR specialist Chloé Nelkin who is the creator and founder of Chloé Nelkin Consulting. They discuss all things publicity from crisis comms to getting your personal brand out there and how to win over a PR firm. Find out more about the amazing...