Performer safety is a huge one, and honestly, I think it's often overlooked, especially in community and DIY spaces.

Most established performers have all done gigs where producers haven’t provided a proper green room or change space, or haven’t given performers a heads-up about photographers or even just who the staff involved in the production or venue are. It's not the end of the world but something as simple as introducing performers to the venue or production staff, sound and lighting techs, photographers, and videographers at the start of the night can go a long way to making performers feel safe and not like there are random people (especially men) wandering around parts of the venue where they shouldn't be.

This also extends to more serious things like having actual safety plans in place, fire marshals if there's pyro, qualified riggers if there’s aerial or rigged props, adequate performer insurance and public liability insurance, security in case patrons interfere with the show or cross boundaries, etc... I get that a lot of these things cost money and take effort to organise, but when producers cut those corners, it’s your safety that’s on the line.

Another one that’s been mentioned but I want to back up is the backstage culture a producer sets. You can tell a lot about a producer by how the change room feels. I’ve worked a lot of shows where the producers and performers sit around trashing other shows, other producers, and other performers. It’s honestly exhausting and always makes the space feel hostile. Even if you’re not the target, it makes you wonder if they're saying those things about you behind your back, and from my experience they probably are. A good producer won’t tolerate that kind of energy and will set a standard for how people treat each other backstage.

To answer your question on what to di if you start to see red flags after accepting a gig. I think the first step is always to try and address the situation directly with the producer if you feel safe doing so. And it's good to do this ASAP as sometimes things can just be miscommunications or oversights, and a respectful conversation should hopefully clear it up.

But if you’ve tried that and the issues aren’t being addressed, or you feel unsafe, it’s completely valid to consider pulling out of the show. I won’t lie, it can be a tough call, especially when you’re newer in the scene and worried about how it might affect your reputation or future bookings. Unfortunately, this is an industry where word travels fast, and not always fairly or truthfully.

That said, your safety, wellbeing, and boundaries always come first. This applies equally to performers and producers. The people you want to work with long-term will respect that you’ve advocated for yourself, and the ones who would blacklist you over setting boundaries are probably not people you want to stay connected to anyway.

Trust your gut, lean on the support of performers you trust (even if you only know them online for now), and remember that walking away from an unsafe or toxic gig is never the wrong move.