After short time, bit of a hand for subsidiary performer (6,6)
I believe the answer is:
second banana
'performer' is the definition.
(I know that second banana is a type of performer)
'after short time bit of a hand for' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'short time' becomes 'second' (second is a kind of short time).
'bit of a hand for' becomes 'banana' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'second' next to 'banana' is 'SECOND BANANA'.
'subsidiary' acts as a link.
This may not be right. It may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for second banana that I've seen before include "Vaudevillean stooge" , "inferior" , "Subordinate" .)