Ticketed children's theatre shows

Parents, grandparents and carers buying tickets, plus community groups or councils that sometimes book shows for events.

Ticket sales per seat, with extra from merchandise, canteen or snack sales and occasional private or party bookings.

• Directing and producing
• Acting or puppetry
• Marketing to parents
• Budgeting and ticketing

• Public liability insurance, and check what the venue requires you to hold
• Working with Children Checks for cast and crew, as rules vary by state and territory
• Licensing for any music, scripts or characters you did not create
• If you sell food or drinks, check with your local council about food registration or temporary event rules
• Ticket sales can fall short of venue and cast costs, so set a break-even number before you commit

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your production, venue hire and how you set up. Set a break-even ticket number before you commit to venue and cast costs.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of around $800 to $4,000, depending on ticket sales and how many shows you run. Ticket sales can fall short of venue and cast costs, so check your break-even figure first.

Check public liability insurance and what the venue requires, Working with Children Checks for cast and crew (rules vary by state and territory), and licensing for music, scripts or characters you didn't create. If you sell food or drinks, check council rules.