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Charging To Be In A Show (Read 3086 times)

May 23^rd, 2009 at 8:30pm

Only In Las Vegas Offline
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Now I know that this has been mention in different aspects but on this board but due to a recent audition notice I wanted to know y'alls opinion.

Lights Up Theatre Troupe wrote on May 23^rd, 2009 at 5:31am:

The fee goes to pay the costumes, scripts, theatre rental, choreographer, stage crew, tech, etc.

Is it right to charge actors to be in a show so you (the theatre company) can pay for all of that?
How agreeable would you be to pay any amount of money (let alone front the money before the show) as an actor but not get paid anything yourself?
Are these not things that a theatre company should take into consideration when doing a show and until you (said theatre company) are making profit that these are primarily your own expense?

Just want to know everones opinion, especially those that have been in the theatre running business

This is a girl who has had her heart broken
Cried for continuous hours
Yelled and screamed for help
A girl who turned her back on the world
and a girl who did nothing but love someone.

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Reply #1 - May 23^rd, 2009 at 9:36pm

kitchensinger Offline
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The only time I've seen a production company charge a large participation fee was for a youth production that offered a three-week, full day workshop of dance classes, vocal master classes, and acting classes that were apart from the rehearsals for the production. So the participation fee went to the extra instruction that was in addition to production rehearsals.

The production also charged for tickets, which is what I assume covered the production expenses.

"I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm."--Calvin Coolidge&&&&"Some families go water skiing together; others go camping.....our family does THEME PARTIES." --my brother Ben

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Reply #2 - May 23^rd, 2009 at 10:32pm

JingleBeq Offline
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I don't mind paying a reasonable, refundable script deposit. �And for some theater groups, at least, I don't mind providing/making my own costumes--provided that the costumes are mine to keep. �I won't pay to build someone else's costume collection. �But that's it, really. �I don't mind being a volunteer actor, generally, but other than the things I mentioned, I won't pay for the privilege.

I make pretty things.

Though she lived alone, apart, hope lay nestling at her heart.

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Reply #3 - May 24^th, 2009 at 12:58am

Rosie Poppins Offline
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Due to what happened last time, I want to say this:

Keep it nice. I won't hesitate to hit my delete key on the whole thread.

Lips Sealed

Carry on.

Let me make one thing quite clear: I never explain anything.

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Reply #4 - May 24^th, 2009 at 8:32am

The Dark Knight Ex Member

I just want to ask everyone a a question: would any of you actually conisder paying a fee to be in a production? I would not, but I would be curious to hear other people's thoughts.

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Reply #5 - May 24^th, 2009 at 9:30am

BlueRoses Offline
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Quote:

I just want to ask everyone a a question: would any of you actually conisder paying a fee to be in a production? I would not, but I would be curious to hear other people's thoughts.

I already paid a training/participation fee. It's called college tuition for my theatre degree!

As an experienced actor, I would never consider paying to be in a show--and I don't believe that companies who charge will get many experienced actors auditioning.

If I were an aspiring actor just starting out, however, and the experience included some sort of training component, it may be worth it. For example, many kids and teens (and occasionally adults) pay to be in theatre camps or workshops and put on a show at the end of the training session. These experiences are not merely rehearsals (or shouldn't be), but should be educating students about effective processes and practices of theatre.

It's important to do research and know the credentials of the people running the workshop. It may be more beneficial to pay for separate acting classes and then audition for shows that do not charge a fee.

That's my two cents.

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Reply #6 - May 24^th, 2009 at 9:40am

BlueRoses Offline
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I would also add that I think companies running these types of "workshop" shows should be very up front about the fact in their audition notices and even in their ads. It can feel a bit misleading to actors and audience members if there is no differentiation for this type of show.

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Reply #7 - May 24^th, 2009 at 9:42am

Only In Las Vegas Offline
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Quote:

I just want to ask everyone a a question: would any of you actually conisder paying a fee to be in a production? I would not, but I would be curious to hear other people's thoughts.

I thought that that was one of my questions that I had posted............

This is a girl who has had her heart broken
Cried for continuous hours
Yelled and screamed for help
A girl who turned her back on the world
and a girl who did nothing but love someone.

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Reply #8 - May 24^th, 2009 at 10:06am

Only In Las Vegas Offline
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Take me or leave me.......but
preferably, take me!

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I think my problem is this. For a youth theatre camp I can understand charging a $200 fee, but that is if you put in real time and are practicing and honing in on skills. However, charging that much for just a show, for not just youth but for adults just so one can pay the tech or crew or even the cost of the show is (in my honest opinion) absurd. You as a theatre company project #'s and cost of putting on a show, you don't make the actors pay those costs just cause you have a dream.

This is a girl who has had her heart broken
Cried for continuous hours
Yelled and screamed for help
A girl who turned her back on the world
and a girl who did nothing but love someone.

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Reply #9 - May 24^th, 2009 at 10:10am

spiker Offline
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I would not pay a fee to participate in a show. At all. A refundable script deposit is understandable. Providing my own costumes (that I get to keep) is also sometimes understandable (although not preferable). I also would not pay a fee for my children to participate in a show unless there were hours specifically devoted to instruction as part of the process.

If I were starting a theatre company (which I'm considering), I would assume that all production costs come out of my own pocket until I start to turn a profit. And I would plan shows and production elements with that in mind.

"...there are more people alive now than have died in all of human history. �In other words, if everyone wanted to play Hamlet at once, they couldn't, because there aren't enough skulls!"

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