Touring troupe for schools and events

Schools, school districts, libraries, community centres, festivals, municipalities, retirement homes and families or companies hiring for events.

A fixed fee per performance or workshop, often with several bookings in one day or week. Some groups also add arts council or local government grants and sell merchandise.

• Performing and rehearsing to a high standard
• Organizing bookings and travel
• Comfortable working with children and groups
• Basic marketing and follow-up with bookers

• Commercial general liability insurance, which venues and schools often ask to see
• Police record or vulnerable sector checks, which schools commonly require; check what your local boards ask for
• Music and script rights: check whether you need licences (for example through SOCAN or a playwright's agent) for work you did not write
• Winter driving and weather can cancel bookings, so build a cancellation policy into your contract
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST and whether your municipality requires a business licence

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $1,500 to $7,500 CAD, depending on your sets, costumes, sound gear and transport. A show that packs up easily for gyms, halls and libraries can help keep costs down.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,000 to $5,000 CAD, depending on how many bookings you win and the fee you set. Winter driving and weather can cancel bookings, so build a cancellation policy into your contract.

Check that you have commercial general liability insurance, which venues and schools often ask to see. Also check what police record or vulnerable sector checks local boards require, whether you need music or script licences, and GST/HST and municipal licence needs.