Join us on this episode of The Spotlight Podcast for tax tips accountant and tax expert, Mark Carr from Streets. Mark offers his expertise as we discuss Self-Assessment deadlines, allowable expenses, and the forthcoming shift to Making Tax Digital.

Tune in to learn:

• How to register as self-employed and the steps for the Self-Assessment process.
• The difference between registering as a Sole Trader versus setting up a Limited Company, and which might be right for your income level.
• The golden rule for keeping track of your finances and Mark's advice on common mistakes.
• A detailed breakdown of allowable expenses for performers – from your Spotlight membership, travel and training to surprising claims like cosmetic work – and what you absolutely cannot claim.
• Everything you need to know about the forthcoming shift to Making Tax Digital (MTD) and how to prepare for it now.

Listen to this essential episode of The Spotlight Podcast and ensure you meet the January deadline, minimise your tax bill, and stay on the right side of HMRC.

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, TV, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and take the next step in your performing career? Apply today.

In this insightful episode of The Spotlight Podcast, we sit down with Jack Sargeant, the Welsh Labour Party's Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership. A strong advocate for inclusivity and Welsh industry, the Minister dives into the heart of the performing arts, offering a perspective crucial for every working actor.

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today. Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Apply today.

For performers, the decisions that shape their careers often feel distant, made behind closed doors by policymakers. In this episode of The Spotlight Podcast, we sit down with Lord Chris Smith, the UK’s first Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and a lifelong advocate for the performing arts, to pull back the curtain on how cultural policy is made and why your voice is critical.

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today. Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Apply today.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Angus Robertson, joins us to discuss supporting homegrown talent, the magic of the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe, and how Screen Scotland and Outlander helped the screen industry boom in Scotland.

Angus talks about creating new opportunities for performers following the cancellation of iconic BBC soap River City and his priorities for culture in the year to come. He also shares his insight into the new multi-annual year funding for major cultural organisations aimed to support creatives building sustainable careers in the sector.

Whether you’re a performer, a cultural enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of the arts in Scotland, this conversation offers invaluable insight into how culture and creativity are being nurtured.

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today. Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Apply today.

In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, Business affairs consultant and professional coach Kelly Andrews joins us in the Spotlight studio to shed light on all the work agents do behind the scenes to look after their performer clients and find them work. With 30 years of experience in the industry, Kelly previously worked as an agent and was the Co-Chair of the Personal Managers’ Association (PMA).

Join us as she discusses everything you ever wanted to know about how agents operate. From researching new production rumours to maintaining relationships with casting directors, take a listen to Kelly’s insight into the working life of an agent. Plus there’s advice for establishing an effective relationship with your own agent.

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today. Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Find out more at https://www.spotlight.com/join-us

Spotlight’s Managing Director Matt Hood answers your questions about Spotlight and the wider creative industry. From making the most of your Spotlight profile and new platform features to membership costs, auditions, and advice for performers, Matt covers a wide range of topics to help you navigate your performing career. Tune in for insider insights and practical tips straight from the top!

Show Notes

• How Spotlight looks and works for casting directors
• How Spotlight looks and works for agents
• Information about the membership discount for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent performers can be found under the ‘join now’ button on this page.
• The Spotlight bursary scheme
• Audition advice and tips
• Spotlight Contacts - agents listings
• Wellbeing in the Arts
• Renting Spotlight’s Voice Booth
• Full list of questions submitted

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today. Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Find out more at https://www.spotlight.com/join-us

Stefan Szwarc from 2020 Recordings offers a wealth of practical advice for actors and voice performers aspiring to break into audiobook narration.

Get an insight into the audition process, the importance of preparation and knowing your vocal instrument, and how to tailor voice reels and your Spotlight profile to help be discovered.

Join Spotlight to be discovered by casting professionals working in theatre, film, tv, voice over, commercials and more! Find out about our membership options and start looking for auditions today.

Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Find out more at https://www.spotlight.com/join-us

We’re joined in the Spotlight Voiceover Booth by Adam Bambrough, founder of Wellbeing in the Arts, to talk about mental health in the creative industries.

Spotlight has partnered with Wellbeing in the Arts to offer free mental health and wellbeing support as part of Spotlight membership for performers who are 18+ and reside in the UK and Ireland. Spotlight members can access a range of services from counselling to financial advice for free, and in this episode we talk more about what those are and how to access them. Adam also shares his own mental health journey and talks about self-care and dealing with rejection.

• Contact Wellbeing in the Arts
• Find out more about Spotlight’s Member Assistance Programme

Never miss an episode: subscribe to The Spotlight Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

This podcast is brought to you by Spotlight, supporting the careers of performers since 1927.

From our beginnings as a printed directory where talent displayed their headshots, Spotlight quickly became a cornerstone of the performing arts industry. Today, our cutting-edge software service takes our directory online and empowers performers to showcase their talents by creating dynamic profiles, making them accessible to a vast network of casting directors and independent project creators.

It’s our mission to simplify the discovery of new talent and ensure the continued vibrancy of stages and screens worldwide.

Ready to take the next step in your performing career? Find out more at https://www.spotlight.com/join-us