How much does a first-time animator earn in Italy? Good question!
Well, let's start right away by saying that it is unacceptable that these conditions can still be proposed and even accepted today.
All the more reason to work almost 18 hours a day (including rehearsals)! Rehearsals then of what? Of seen and rehearsed shows that only serve to feed the mania for protagonism of animators who would like to but cannot become Checco Zalone!
First experience animator in Italy and abroad
Unfortunately in Italy the tourist animator has never been recognised for what it deserves. Many say that in addition to the 400 euro fee there is also room and board included. That it is an experience that fortifies you, that opens the door to the world of show business, that it is a way to take a summer holiday for free! What kind of world do you live in?
However, fortunately, for several years now in Europe (almost all of it) and in cruise ships the music has changed.
For example, in Spain from this year the gross remuneration for a first-time tourist animator is 1,400 euros per month, for 8 hours of work per day with two days off. Yes you got that right!!!
Read the offers from this article on our blog: Tourist entertainers in Spain.
This is a fundamental step for our category, after so many years of discussions that led nowhere.
Another crucial aspect will be work continuity given the year-round employment opportunities in the Canary Islands, for example, but also in the Caribbean albeit with different fees.
Finally, with a regular contract you are also entitled to unemployment benefits, which in Spain for example is 75% of your gross salary, i.e. almost EUR 800 per month for the months you are entitled to. Not bad, right?
Beyond the paycheck: investing in your real skills
If the economic issue is the first alarm bell, it is not the only aspect an aspiring animator should think about. Often, in less professionalised Italian contexts, there is a tendency to confuse animation with simply “making a racket”.
The reality of international tourism, on the other hand, requires a set of technical and relational skills that go far beyond the ability to dance the “Baby Dance”.
For a first-time young person, the real added value lies not in the number of hours spent in the sun, but in the quality of the training received.
Learning how to handle a microphone in front of 500 people, coordinate a sports tournament according to European safety standards or speak three different languages in one conversation with guests: these are the skills that turn a willing young person into a tourism professional.
Those who settle for 400 euro often end up as “handymen”, missing the opportunity to acquire a professionalism that can be spent anywhere.
First experienced tour animator: Emotional management and team life
Working in animation means living in a “bubble”. For those who are at their first experience, the impact with the forced cohabitation and tight rhythms can be destabilising. Many quit after the first two weeks, not because of physical fatigue, but because of a lack of psychological preparation.
In high-level agencies, the animator is not left to his or her own devices. There is a clear hierarchy and constant support from those in charge. Learning to work in a team, manage internal conflicts and keep a smile on your face even when you are homesick is an unparalleled school of life.
It is what experts call soft skillsemotional intelligence, problem solving and resilience. If you decide to leave, do so with the knowledge that you will come back changed, stronger and with a capacity to relate to others that no office or university can ever teach you.
Building an international CV from day one
We must stop thinking of animation as a “summer job” to pay for holidays. In contexts such as Spain, Greece or the Caribbean, this profession is the first step in a solid career in the Tourism Management.
An entertainer who starts today with a regular contract and serious training can aspire, in a few years, to become Head of Animation, then Guest Relation Manager, up to management positions within international hotel chains.
Companies look for people who know the “field”, who know what the guest wants and how to handle critical operational issues.
Starting off on the right foot - that is, with a contract that respects your dignity and offers you guarantees - means laying the foundations for a solid working future, not only on a sunny beach, but potentially anywhere in the world.
How to prepare for the interview: attitude makes the difference
If you have decided to avoid the internship scams and go for the big agencies, you have to prepare yourself seriously for casting. It is not enough to “be nice”.
During the selection process, recruiters observe your listening skills, your attitude to service and, above all, your humility in learning.
Don't be afraid to show your language gaps, as long as they are accompanied by a desire to fill them.
Prepare a presentation that highlights your talents (sports, dancing, singing, languages, organisational skills) but remain flexible.
The secret of success for a “first-time” animator is curiosity: those who enter the world of work with the presumption of already knowing everything are the first ones destined to fail. Those, on the other hand, who enter with the enthusiasm of those who want to discover the world and the seriousness of those who respect their work, will find in animation the key to an extraordinary life.
What does it take to work in these contexts?
Aptitude, passion, good knowledge of at least English and a lot of good will.
Virgil once said: “Fortune favours the bold”.
Well we hope with this post to help new first-time entertainers get on the right track and enter this profession seriously and with real prospects for growth in international tourism.
Will something change in our country too? We will see. In the meantime, instead of doing useless internships, learn languages well, ready to discover the world and not an often vulgar cabaret skit at 2 a.m.!
In conclusion, our best of luck to the first experienced holiday village animator!!!!
Would you like to send us your application?
