Watch the following 3 videos (rights) and visit the 3 websites (below) discussing the purpose, intent and application of legislative requirements, including:

• Australian Consumer Law (Video 1)

• Fair Work System (Video 2)

• intellectual property (Video 3)

• local council regulations - NSW local government

• working with animals - Department of Primary Industries - Animals in film and theatrical performances

• working with children - Article: Are the kids alright? Children in the entertainment industry

DISCUSSION: How are these legislative requirements relevant to the Entertainment Industry?

Although you should be aware of all of the legislative requirements that apply to the entertainment industry, some will apply more to certain roles.

TASK

Choose one specific job in the entertainment industry, e.g. Director, Venue Manager, Audio Technician. Outline how the legislative requirements above apply to this specific role. Present ideas to the class and discuss.

Quality assurance is the term used in both manufacturing and service industries to describe the systematic efforts taken to insure that the product delivered to customers meet with the contractual and other agreed upon performance, design, reliability, and maintainability expectations of that customer. 

An employee in the entertainment industry can contribute to this quality assurance by:

• Being an effective team member

• Seeking feedback on own performance

• Contributing to improvement meetings and reviews

Discussion

What other ways could you, as an employee, contribute to quality assurance?

Industry Accreditation schemes helps to promote internationally recognised quality standards. They assist entertainment providers in the development, enhancement and improvement of their services and products.

Some examples of industry accreditation schemes in the entertainment industry include:

• UNOFEX

• ACCTA

• Screen Producers Australia

TASK

Have a look through the UNOFEX website (right). Outline the following in relation to this scheme:

• Requirements

• Responsibilities of the participant

• Benefits of participation.

Occupational licensing is government regulation of the conditions under which someone can practice an occupation. In Australia, there are a large number of licenced occupations, for example, doctors, solicitors, electricians, plumbers and hairdressers. Various roles in the entertainment industry are also a licensed occupation.

The two main reasons to establish occupational licensing is to protect the safety of consumers and the public and to ensure a sufficient and reliable level of service quality. 

Some examples of licenses you might need in the entertainment industry are:

• Special event license

• Busking license

• Cabaret show license

• Concert license

• Circus license

• Dancing school license

• Exhibition and show (outdoor and indoor) license

• Live entertainment, restaurant, or nightclub license

• Theatre license

Task

Research one of these areas and discuss with the class the requirements for obtaining this license.

Simply put, a work standard is a clear set of instructions. They make it easy for a process to be done consistently, timely, and in a repeatable manner.

It sounds simple, but there is much more to it than simply creating a policy or how-to guide. Work standards are an integral part of quality improvement initiatives and there are a lot of differences that set them apart from other approaches.

It’s important to note that the people doing the work and who know the process should be the ones to improve the process and create the work standard. Of course, you should still work within the context of your organisation and follow current guidelines and requirements, but generally speaking, the best way to create a work standard is to put people’s knowledge to work.

Discussion

Roles within the entertainment industry are varied and each role will have its own set of work standards, however, most roles include standards relating to customer service and personal presentation. This is particularly relevant for theatre ushers. Look at the job decription for a theatre usher (right) and discuss with the class the work standards which would be appropriate for a theatre usher.

What do you think are the implications of employees not adhering to these work standards?

A workplace policy is a statement which outlines an organisation’s practices and procedures concerning part of its business, which can cover everything from day-to-day operational matters to compliance with employment legislation. Policies and procedures in the workplace play an important role in expressing an organisation’s values and establishing a positive and productive organisational culture.

A well-written and clearly communicated policy helps set clear expectations around employee behaviour and workplace procedures. Workplace policies also safeguard an organisation from risk.

Examples of policies might include:

• Code of Conduct

• WHS policies - Risk Assessment, Saftey Inductions

• Staff Meetings - Attendance and conduct

• COVID-19 policy

Discussion

Read through one of the policies from the Sydney Opera House and give a verbal summary to the class.

It is important that we adheare to legislative requirements, quality assurance processes and workplace policy, guidelines and procedures for a variety of reasons. In particular, they allow all parties to understand thier rights and responsibilities and it keeps everyone safe from both a physical and legal point of view. 

Failure to observe these aspects can result in both physical harm (accients, mental health issues, ongoing injuries, etc) as well as legal ramifications (loss of employment, fines, disciplinary action, prosecution)

Watch the video 'Ethics, Morality and the Law' (right) to explore the difference between the law and ethics and how these influence decisions.

Complete the following in a Google Doc:

• Define the difference between legal and ethical and how they are relevant in the workplace

• Identify the legal and ethical obligations of an entertainment industry worker.

• Discuss the legal and ethical issues affecting the entertainment industry, including those related to:

  • public health and safety

  • business practices

  • regulatory compliance

  • contracts and negotiation

  • employment.