FOR THE past 30 years, Dale Burridge has been a big name in show business.

He is the managing director of his own production company, SMA Productions, based in Sydney and London, and has played lead roles in several theatre productions including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and the Sound of Music.

His first job, however, was the polar opposite of show business.

Coming from a family of builders, his father worked in construction and had contacts in that line of work, so at 17 Dale started his first job working at a hardware store in Melbourne.

Working in the tile department, Dale is the first to admit he knew nothing about hardware.

"I had to work out what tiles people needed - there are a lot of bathrooms from that era that have the wrong configuration of style," he said.

"I have two brothers and we all had part-time jobs and worked for our pocket money.

"If we wanted to go out with our friends we had to use our own money."

While he struggled to remember much that stood out about the job, one incident is etched in his memory.

"I was lifting a vanity unit into the back of a customer's truck.

"I remember dropping it and it smashing into a million pieces - it was really heavy."

He said the uniform was of nondescript colour and something he didn't really like.

"It was always covered in paint and dust from having to lift tiles; it was always a mess."

Although the job isn't his most memorable experience in life, he said it did teach him a few things.

"I learnt the importance of being able to support myself, and responsibility.

"I also learnt how to communicate with a wide range of people on a wide range of topics, and a few acting skills," he said.