About John – Performing Careers

JOHN BYRNE is the Entertainment Industry Career Advisor to The Stage newspaper and Young Performer magazine and has over 30 years of experience as a writer, broadcaster and performer in his own right.

Since 1993 his popular columns The Careers Clinic and Dear John have been a mainstay of The Stage Newspaper’s education and resource section, and he has interviewed over 1,000 theatrical, screen and backstage professionals with the aim of delivering practical, reliable advice and information for students, graduates and those already pursuing careers in the Arts.

He regularly compiles ‘How to’ articles on a wide range of career topics, and has a very popular monthly Twitter Q&A session for StageCastings. His career workshops are much in demand and details and booking information for upcoming ones may be found by clicking here

Lectures and Events

John has lectured extensively at institutions ranging from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Brits School, BIMM and Stanmore College as well as at American Colleges in London such as CAPA, ITHACA and Syracuse. His workshops have sold out at major industry events including MOVE IT, PERFORM, SURVIVING ACTORS and ACTORS EXPO. He has hosted special events for Spotlight, and been a guest expert for Equity’s Variety Workshops and in online career discussions hosted by The Guardian Newspaper.

Media and Publications

Media appearances have included BBC TV and Radio, E4, Nickelodeon TV and Sky News and

BBC London Radio where he is a regular guest contributor and commentator.

PUBLISHED BOOKS include: A Singer’s Guide to Getting Work (with Julie Payne) A Dancer’s Guide to Getting Work (with Jenny Belingy), Writing Comedy (now in its 4th edition) and The Agent E-book (with Mary Elliott Nelson). John has been a regular contributor to Industry directories such as Contacts, The Writers and Artists Yearbook and a guest contributor for The TV Presenter’s Career Handbook.

For the past 10 years he has also written Just Ask John, an advice and information column aimed at younger readers and Stage School attendees for Young Performer magazine.