Here's the reality: when you work with a producer, your workload actually increases. Your producer needs you to consider new scenarios and make decisions, write down and communicate the things currently living in your head, read contracts, answer emails, track finances, and meet deadlines they set for you.

The difference? With a producer, all that work is laser-focused on achieving specific outcomes because there's strategy behind it. You're working smarter, not harder. It's clearer and less complicated because your producer helps you understand and assess as you go.

That strategic support and clarity? That's exactly what you get in this program.

If there's still work you don't want to be doing after that, chances are it's work that can be delegated to a contractor in admin or marketing—both guided by your producing strategy, which this program will give you.

We can't guarantee specific outcomes—no one can, not even a full-time producer. What we can promise is that we wouldn't accept you into the program unless we genuinely believed you'd be better off for taking part.

If you started working with a producer full-time, there's also no guarantee of any outcome—only the combined belief from you and your producer that you'll both be better off working together.

We've been around the block. We have an intimate understanding of the market. What we can promise is that we genuinely believe in you and your work, and we'll give you the best strategy and support we can to move your project forward.

Producing is lonely, and being alone with the weight of responsibility breeds stress and anxiety. Having the chance to go on this journey with peers is priceless.

This isn't one of those groups where you fade into the background receiving advice you can't apply to your situation. Nor is it a group where you learn the fundamentals of producing. We learn about you and your specific project and offer producing strategy and support as if it were our own project.

Not only do you get strategic advice tailored to your work, we'll be there every step of the way to help solve problems, review contracts, and offer support. Plus, you get to learn from watching us do the same for everyone else's completely different projects.

We don't want to take your money if we can't genuinely move you closer to your goals.

It could be that your work is best suited to markets we don't work in, you're too early in your career to make this investment meaningful right now, or we can't see opportunity for the work in its current form.

This doesn't mean your work isn't valuable—it absolutely is, and the world needs your creativity. It just means we're not the best fit for you right now. And right now doesn't mean forever.

We have limited places and we want to work with projects where we can make a real difference. The application process protects you from investing in something that won't deliver results, and ensures we're working with participants where our expertise will genuinely matter.

We're looking for ambitious projects with clear goals. Maybe you want to take a show to Edinburgh Fringe. Maybe you've toured domestically and want to go international. Maybe you're working on a major commission or co-production. Maybe you've played festivals and want to secure proper touring opportunities.

The work can be any genre—we exist in the badlands beyond genre. Contemporary circus, theatre, dance, interdisciplinary, music theatre—if it's bold, uncompromising, and you're genuinely ready to take it to the next level, we want to hear about it.

For organisations: we're looking for ambitious work on your slate that your team needs support to resource—commissions, co-productions, international tours, major festival presentations.

For artists: ideally yes. This program is about taking existing work to the next level—getting it to better venues, new markets, or major festivals. If you're in early development, you're probably too early for this round.

For organisations: the work needs to be real and on your slate, not hypothetical. We're helping you execute, not dream.

You'll need to commit to attending the regular group sessions (online) over the 12 weeks. Between sessions, there'll be work to do—implementing strategy, making decisions, preparing materials, executing plans.

This isn't passive learning. You're actively working on your project with our guidance. The time commitment depends on your project's complexity, but expect to be actively engaged throughout the program.

No, people and organisations are welcome from all over the world! We're investing in building capacity in all arts sector.

Absolutely not. While we have deep expertise in contemporary circus, we work across all genres—theatre, dance, interdisciplinary work, music theatre. We exist in the badlands beyond genre. If it's bold and makes people feel things, we're interested.

You'll have a clear strategic roadmap, the skills and confidence to execute it, and the knowledge to keep producing your work. Some participants may go on to work with us in other capacities, but there's no expectation or obligation.

The goal is to give you the expertise to keep going independently.

Small. We're keeping cohorts intentionally intimate so everyone gets genuine attention and tailored strategy. You'll know everyone in your group and you'll all learn from each other's projects.

Life happens. We get it. But this program requires commitment. If you're accepted, we need you to prioritise attendance. Missing sessions means missing critical strategy for your project and missing the chance to learn from others.

If you know you have significant conflicts during the program period, this might not be the right round for you.

Pick one. The one you're most committed to right now. The one you're genuinely ready to push forward. We need focus, not options.

Most producers work on commission and may charge fees in addition. Programming timelines are long—you might collaborate with a producer for a year before you perform a season together. 

This program is $3,500 + GST for artists/individual producers or $8,000 + GST for organisations.

For that investment, you get 12 weeks of the same strategic expertise that would normally cost you either those upfront thousands PLUS ongoing commission, or consultancy fees that would far exceed this amount. More importantly, you're building the producing skills and knowledge to keep working on your projects long-term, not just paying someone to do it for you once.

One show booked through the strategy you develop here pays for itself. One major mistake avoided saves you more than you'll spend. And the expertise you'll build? That's worth exponentially more than what you're investing.

Email us at lauren@parrotox.com.au