Common People #0018
Free workshops! Newcastle nightlife! Fashion!
Hello! How’s it going?
If you like what we’re doing, from today you can - if you want to - give us a fiver a month through Substack. We’re not putting up paywalls, Common People will always be 100% free to access, paid subscribers get the same stuff as everyone else, but your little extra will help us to support our community with things like event costs, app subscriptions and whatnot.
Either way, we appreciate you just opening our emails and sharing them. Without you lot we’d just be sitting in a dark room talking to the walls. Which may still happen. Never say never.
ALSO, we hosted our first series of Common People community masterclasses last month. Big love to everybody who hosted one and those who joined. We learned loads about AI in the creative industries, content creation for Reels and TikTok and recruitment. You can watch them back here.
Finally, we were lucky to get an hour in with negotiation dynamo Amy Combrinck, who shared some of her best hacks and tips. Download a free copy of Amy’s negotiation guide here.
We’re celebrating
Hull’s Unthinkable Film Festival is back this weekend. Last year they only had one screening. Now they’ve got loads of events in 16 venues across four days. That’s growth! Good stuff is happening out there!
Live in Manchester and interested in the music industry? INSPIRE is a free two day course featuring masterclasses, panels, workshops and more. Did we mention it’s all FREE.
A new network connecting musical talent with opportunities has launched in West Yorkshire, as part of the You Can Make it Here programme aimed at boosting creativity in the region.
Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds will get free music lessons thanks to a government pilot scheme being rolled out in 12 areas including Bury, Stoke, Sunderland and Bradford. THERE’S HOPE FOR GLASTO YET!
Big Beat Manifesto has been championing nightlife in the North East with an exhibition at Newcastle’s NCA gallery. They’re calling it “the biggest grassroots collaboration that the North East has ever seen”, EVEN BIGGER than the Greggs rave.
Female Pilot Club is partnering with the BBC on a script mentoring programme for female Working Class comedians originating from, or currently based outside of London.
CULTUR.ART is a platform providing content for all people to engage with the arts no matter their background, location or experience. Why? Because it’s bloody good for you! And that is a scientific fact.
EnergyUK has a new position for a Policy Executive to honour a late colleague who successfully entered he industry without going to university. It’s open to all, regardless of experience or qualifications. Not strictly creative industries, but you can’t be creative without energy (lol what?)
STAT!
60% of creative industries professionals agreed they had to change their accents to progress their career, compared to 25% of the UK population. - Creative Access
In the news
Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch drew many giggles last month by suggesting a brief stint behind the ramp at McDonalds made her Working Class. The episode highlighted our confused attitude towards social mobility, argued Sam Delaney brilliantly in the i.
Also in the i, Roisin Lanigan penned an almighty leg sweep to the fashion industry’s Classist foundations, after a mysterious ancient video from the ‘90s resurfaced featuring a Vogue employee speaking with a posh accent. IMAGINE IT!
Some private schools are having to cut back on embossed stationery to make ends meet.
The Fabian Society called for children to be given a ‘culture pass’ to increase engagement with the arts, as part of their Arts For Us All report. Similar schemes are already in place in France, Italy and Germany.
Common People is, and always will be free to read. No paywalls. Nada. But if you like what we’re about and want to help the cause, you could shout about us on socials or share this with a friend. Or your co-workers. Or get us in to do a talk at your office. Or just drop us a message with a friendly word to commonpeoplelikeus@gmail.com.
We also have a WhatsApp group for commoners in the creative industries. If you’re not already at peak WhatsApp group and want to get involved, drop us a message!
Until next month,
Much love.