Hey There!
So for our new dancers, once their contracts are in: I begin by adding them to the group emails. I have a small google site that post updated info to during the off season (pdfs of paperwork that may have changed since it was sent with contract - ie: season schedule, tours). Then I do a short intro email to each of them and get a feel for when they are actually planning to move to town, and whether or not they will be seeking a roommate - and most importantly for our area - whether or not they have their own transportation.
Our company has a facebook group that all the dancers use, so I go ahead and invite them to that as well, and let them do their own introductions. I find the facebook thing works a lot better for them to find a roommate than me trying to be the middle person. I have some apt listings that I send them - places I know that some dancers do or have lived in the past (that way I know it's in a dancer's price range). I send a map with some hand drawn notes of the "unsafe" parts of town, and parts that are likely to have bad traffic. I like to let them know how far away the theatres/s and studio are.
I do all this well before we start back in the fall. I find that with all those resources and the internet, they are pretty much set up to be resourceful for themselves. I do not want them to get in the habit of thinking I am here to solve their problems - lol - especially once the season begins.
Of course, I let them know they are welcome to call or email me for more info.
As far as standard paperwork sent with their contract or on the first day of work:
Release of Claims/Liability waiver
Physical Form for season Prescreenings - list all past/current injuries, meds, allergies
Dancer Info Sheet: Legal and preferred Stage Name, Hometown to be listed in season brochures, current resume, 100 word or less bio/blurb and headshot to post (before season pics are taken); address
Emg Contact Info
Whether or not they want a flu shot in the fall (we order them for the company)
Info on health insurance if they are eligible
a copy of their health insurance card for emg purposes
I let them know we run a background check, and have to get a copy of their driver's license/id
Direct Deposit Forms
I-9s (go ahead and send them a list of acceptable documents beforehand so they can start looking for their paperwork)
Media and social media release form
I post the request for absence pdf on the google site so they can fill it out and email it back
Hope this helps!
Merde!
Joelle
Post Merge: Jun 11, 2015, 10:07 am
Forgot to list:
Season Schedule with specific notes of any rehearsal days that are outside of our normal hours (IE: Nutcracker rhsls with kids) so that if they have a 2nd job - they can go ahead and request off
A brief run down of the shows we are doing.
An invite to the google calendar I keep - so they can sync with their phone!
Joelle