What our crew say about working for Pirate
We asked the crew who do our get-ins, fit-ups and get-outs across London what they actually like about working with us. Here’s what they said, in their own words.
Pirate is a mentality, it never leaves you.
Paid every week
Pay first, since it’s usually the first thing crew ask about.
In my 2 years with Pirate Crew I’ve gained extensive experience in theatre crewing and worked extensively in the West End and beyond. I love seeing how the different shows are assembled and the work that goes on behind the scenes. …
I can’t accentuate enough how nice it is getting paid every week without fail.
I like the flexibility. Competitive hourly rate and the opportunity to gain IPAF tickets etc. I also like the changing locations to keep things interesting.
Yeah, it’s good enjoyable stuff. And because Pirate is a name I know, I’m kinda proud to be along for the ride.
Learn the trade, not just push flight cases
You’ll be working next to experienced chippies and techs, and most of them are happy to show you how it’s done.
I’ve always found pirates to be helpful in teaching me things if I don’t know something. They are also great at pairing you with jobs based on your skill set. … The jobs Pirate Crew offers also allow you to learn some skills and not just hump and lump flight cases all day. … Everyone works hard, pulls their weight and is up for a bit of a laugh.
I know when I turn up for a job I will be working with people with a huge and varied skill set as well as a personal drive to work hard and be the best on site. … I wouldn’t be where I am today in this industry without the guidance of my fellow crew over the last few years. Everyone is willing and able to teach you something new if you’re willing to learn. I also know that the people in charge put their trust in us to represent them on jobs and that makes me want to repay that trust on a daily basis.
From crew to production
Working for Pirate is a great way of making the step between technician and production staff. You get to work on loads of new productions, meet other professionals and you get to use your brain.
A different venue most days
One week it’s a fit-up in a West End theatre, the next it’s a festival site or an exhibition hall.
I like working for Pirate Crew because I get to work completely different venues every day, which gives me the opportunity to work on interesting and diverse projects, broadening my knowledge and skill set within the industry. The other crew are alright to work with too, I guess.
Every day is a new challenge and/or problem to solve, so the variety from shift to shift is what keeps me coming back to Pirate jobs.
Also the people you get to work with are genuinely great folk, so I always look forward to seeing good friends on every shift.
What I like about being a Pirate is being involved in some of the world’s most famous West End shows and always working in a team of friendly, like-minded people who like to share their knowledge and continuously learning on the job. Also being respected as a worker and not getting overworked… Getting paid the following week is also a huge bonus.
Sound like your sort of work?
Apply to join
Full days, long fit-ups and time to rest
A lot of our work is fit-ups, so you’re more likely to get a full day than a string of short calls.
I love Pirate because it feels we have a different approach to crewing. Having worked with many crewing companies over the past 20 years, I like the fact we do a lot of jobs that involve us being in venues for extended periods for fit-ups. That gives us the chance to have a routine and plan for things that happen around work.
More often than not we get full days of work as opposed to many short shifts a day. The work can be hard but there is no pressure from the office to stack jobs, and the 11-hour rest rule is a much welcome consideration not really offered with other companies.
The people that join Pirate are highly skilled with many varied talents that are complementary to the jobs and also lead to interesting collaborations. Given we see various Pirate folks for extended periods, we forge great friendships, and it offers a real sense of community and belonging.
Treated like grown-ups
We expect people to crack on, and we treat them like adults in return.
Most of all it’s a professional outfit: guys come to work to crack on, no slackers are tolerated. Also the guys are a really decent bunch, there’s a good team. The management treat us like grown-ups also. Having worked for other crew companies, I can say that it’s not always the case in this industry. Also going to cool venues and working on cool shows is a big draw.
I have worked for Pirate Crew now for nearly 6 years and I won’t work for another crewing company. They have looked after me and made me excel, which has made me feel safe in the knowledge that they have my back! There is no discrimination and they treat everyone as an equal! This translates to when we work at various locations around London, in that we will go that extra mile to make the client happy! On a personal level Rob and Gav have looked out for me, which makes Pirate Crew more than just a crew company!
I enjoy working for Pirate Crew for a multitude of reasons… the ever-changing working environments, be that in a theatre, a festival site or warehouse. It makes you adaptable to whatever challenges you face on a job. … I really like that the managers and directors actually seem to care about the crew that work for them and are always happy to listen and help with any issues, be that personal or professional. … They’ll listen to your strengths and weaknesses and place you on jobs accordingly, occasionally putting you on a job or department which you maybe lack in, helping you learn and progress as an individual.
Crew who end up as mates
Spend a few weeks on the same fit-up and it tends to happen.
You always feel a sense of accomplishment when finishing a hard day’s work with your colleagues. As much of the job takes teamwork to complete tasks, it really pushes people to work together better, and it’s very rewarding completing a day’s work with your mates. … The beauty of working in the theatre and events industry is you never know what’s coming around the corner. One day you could be putting together six steel decks and some flats, the next you could be on a multi-million-pound theatre production in the West End. So it keeps the job fresh and exciting. … You end up meeting people from all different backgrounds and places. You develop a different kind of bond when you struggle, sweat and even in some cases bleed to complete tasks with your colleagues. Some of the people I’ve met through Pirate are very close friends of mine now, which is pretty priceless.
Pirate Crew was my introduction to the world of theatre and I’ve loved every moment. Everything I’ve learnt about theatre has come from my fellow Pirates and I’m so grateful for the knowledge they have shared with me and continue to do as I learn and grow in the world of theatre. We are a family that cares about each other and I’ve never experienced that in event crewing, it’s a breath of fresh air. Thanks Pirates.
Want to work with this lot?
If you’ve got stage, theatre or event crew experience and you turn up ready to work, tell us what you’ve done and what you’d like to learn.
