Theatrebugs Bug Blog

Our franchise partners came to HQ this Saturday to join in Theatrebugs first ever AGM! Check out the amaing line up!

10-11.30am Caroline Kilpatrick, Voice Coach

Caroline trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Since graduating she has played in productions in the West End, Fringe and regional theatres. She has also taught drama, voice and acting to professional actors, drama students, and children, including working for Theatrebugs for three years. She is currently undertaking an MA in Voice Studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama

12-1.30pm Bill Humphries, Libra Wealth Management

Bill is the founder and director of Libra Wealth Management Limited (“Libra”), a tax planning and consultancy practice focusing on the wealth management needs of high net worth private clients, their families and their businesses.

Libra provide a broad range of tax planning and compliance services covering income, capital gains, Inheritance, VAT and Corporation  Taxes. In addition Libra provides a broad range of Business Advisory and Support Services for private clients and their businesses.

Prior to this Bill worked in the international private banking market for almost 20 years. His private banking career began with Royal Bank of Canada where he spent 15 years in a variety of senior roles covering all aspects of the international wealth management business both onshore (London) and offshore (Bermuda).

Bill is a Chartered Accountant (FCA), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and Financial Planner (DipPFS).

2-3.30pm Marketing: Andrea Opoku, GreenBean Marketing

Andrea’s marketing career began at a multimedia software publishing company in Paris in 1997 and moved on to cover campaign management and communications roles in a number of sectors including education, food retail, men’s fashion, office design & build and outdoor/adventure sports products. Andrea is actively involved in many areas of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, including the popular Women In Marketing group running a series of events and awards celebrating the success of women in marketing and men who market to women. Andrea is the Marketing and Corporate Communications Director for an association of business owners of African descent and runs GreenBean Marketing offering everything from branding, marketing planning, market research, pr, events, online and social media marketing, as well as general business advice. As a business woman with two young children, Andrea is well aware of the many challenges that face business mums. Her advice to aspiring business mums is “never give up on your dream – your kids will thank you for it!”

A big thank you to all our speakers and our franchise partners for making our first ever AGM extra special!

From all at Bug HQ

Chinese Dragons, Chinese Dragons,

Breathing Fire, Breathing Fire,

Happy, Happy, New Year

Happy, Happy, New Year,

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Big congrats to our Greenwich girls Bina Brown and Pam Humpage on being named Wonder Women of the Month in the Wonder Woman Network! We couldn’t agree more!

Bina and Pam joined our network not even a year ago and they have proved themselves to be an extremely valuable addition to our team- their positive outlook, boundless energy and belief in the value of Theatrebugs makes them such a joy to work with!

Check out just one of the many comments they receive as feedback for their hard work

‘Joshua did a week long course over the summer and enjoyed it so much that he was keen to participate in Theatrebugs in an after-school club. We felt that since he’s attended Theatrebugs Joshua’s speech has improved at a far greater pace than from conventional speech therapy sessions. Furthermore, his confidence has improved in leaps and bounds! We would happily recommend Theatrebugs to any parent!’

Debra Richardson, Greenwich

As if that wasn’t enough- now our Greenwich Girls have been nominated for Wonder Women of the Year- and that they are!

I know it would mean the world to them if you could cast your vote here:

http://www.thewonderwomennetwork.co.uk/2012/01/vote-here-for-your-wonder-woman-of-the-year/

From all at Bug HQ

Theatrebugs Epsom and Guildford Franchise Partner- Hannah Mason – celebrates one year in business!

Before becoming a Theatrebugs Franchise Partner, I had worked in events for eight years. At the onset of the economic downturn I was made redundant (for the second time!) and I knew I needed to put myself in control of my career. I also wanted to move out of London and back to Surrey to have a better quality of life. But events jobs in Surrey were so much lower paid than London and I couldn’t afford to take that hit. Unemployed and looking at my options, I came across Theatrebugs. I loved drama when I was younger and always regretted not trying to make a career out of it. My friends always told me I should work with children as I have a natural affinity with them - so I knew I had to investigate it further.

I researched what was out there. The other drama franchises didn’t have as many strings to their bow as Theatrebugs (Theatrebugs offers so much- parties, private lesson, workshops in holidays, after school clubs, Under 5s clubs, classes in nurseries and schools) and therefore didn’t have as many income streams. Most of them seemed to operate in term time only. I wanted something that would offer me real earning potential. Theatrebugs was able to do this- Paula and Kristy’s sheer determination, motivation and precision along with their knowledge and experience in the area made my choice an easy one!

Having invested my redundancy money, I made the decision to dedicate myself 110% at the start to building up the business and I plan to take a bit more of a back seat as the years go by. With this in mind, I worked Monday to Sunday for the first year! I worked three days a week for head office- doing a mixture of admin and teaching so the time available to me to invest in my own business was limited- but I found it! I worked evenings, weekends and the other four days on my own territory. I thrive on working hard, bringing it all together and making it a success. Eight months in and having seen the potential first hand, I bought a second territory and now run both simultaneously. I must admit, Theatrebugs is on my brain almost all the time! It’s tricky to let go of the reigns because it is very much “mine!” – but it’s my new year’s resolution to try and let go a little!

A typical day in my life- I get up early, check emails, set myself a “to do” list (usually quite long!) , spend some time learning the class plans for the following week, send out mail shots, update mail shots and then head off to teach my classes. When I have dead time between classes I either go to the gym or catch up on some sales calls/admin/my to do list!

I love running my own business. It’s flexible and my earning potential is unlimited- with Theatrebugs you can earn a great salary all year round like I do (by continuing classes in nurseries in the holidays and doing the holiday workshops etc..) or just in term time- it’s completely up to you! The hard work you put in is always rewarded, not just financially but by complimentary feedback from parents and the children themselves! Being able to put something more away each month is a great feeling instead of just paying bills all the time and having nothing to show for it!

The training and support we get is fantastic! Paula and Kristy are always on the other end of the phone and having Catherine, Emma and Joely in Head Office now too is a great help too. We also get support from the other franchisees which I find really beneficial. The class content is already there and it’s fantastic, so you don’t have to worry or do anything really apart from learn it which after running for about six months doesn’t take as long as originally expected!

What are the downsides? It can be a little isolating as a job. There’s no drinks after work (which sometimes you need having taught all day!) so I do miss the social aspect of your standard 9 – 5pm job. However, the network of franchisees is getting bigger so it’s great to be able to pick up the phone to them to have a bit of a chat and a brainstorm. Another one of my new year’s resolutions is to join some local networking groups!

I wanted to become my own boss so that my earning potential would be better and to avoid the type of stress involved with working for someone else. I wanted to set my own goals rather than live by someone else’s. I also wanted to dictate my own hours (if and when I have children) and have greater flexibility. My business has been properly off the ground for around 8 months and I am now on the same salary (probably more actually taking into account after school clubs, parties, etc..) as when I worked full time in a normal job! I now have seven nursery contracts (about 20 classes overall) 3 after schools clubs and normally average out about 2 parties each weekend. And I feel like I am only just beginning!

For more information on how to become a Theatrebugs Franchise Partner please get in touch with BUG HQ on

0800 975 5290

or email

enquiries@theatrebugs.co.uk

And thank you for all your support in 2011- we look forward to helping your children create more bugtastic memories in 2012!

This is an exciting year for the Bugs- we can’t wait to tell you about all our bugtastic adventures!

Watch this space!

Happy Wednesday everyone,

From all at Bug HQ!

Theatrebugs would like to wish all our girls and boys, mums and dads, clients, staff, teachers, managers, suppliers and friends a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a simply bugtastic new year!

Our office is closed from lunchtime on December 23rd and will reopen on the morning of January 3rd.

Happy Holidays!

Have some festive fun with Theatrebugs this Christmas!

Day 1: The magical sparkling star is missing from the top of the Christmas tree- where is it? And what’s that grumpy fairy doing there?

Day 2: Someone has stolen all the Christmas Stockings from Toytown- whoever could it be? Surely not silly billy Mr. Fox?!

Maybe the boys and girls will know the answer!

One/two day(s) of festive adventures- jam packed with drama, music, dance, arts and crafts and lots of festive fun!

Suitable for 3.5-8 year olds

A festive snack and drink included

Different material each day!

10% sibling discount

Come in your favourite costume- the Bugs will dress up too!

Check out the Greenwich Area timetable here….

http://theatrebugs.co.uk/downloads/Timetable%20Bina%20Pam.pdf

And don’t forget the Guildford area here…

http://theatrebugs.co.uk/downloads/Timetable%20Hannah.pdf

Limited number of places available on some of the courses …Ho, ho, ho!