Salary. Just wait...

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 8:13pm

Whats the average salary for people who do readings or workshops. Also for rehearsal periods do the actors get paid the same as if they were running the show?

[anmiller07]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 9:05pm

What am I waiting for?

[asmith0307]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 9:19pm

Equity rules for most of the Broadway League (Disney Theatrical has their own agreement that I have yet to check as well as the NFPs, and I'm assuming you are talking about the commercial arm of Broadway) states that rehearsal and performance salaries are the same. The MINIMUM for actors as of 9/29/2014 was $1,861 not including any extra payments for understudy duty, dance/fight captains, extra performances, and such.

An American in Paris also has a separate rulebook in use for another week, so I'm assuming they will change over when they come to Broadway

For workshops, it depends on the number of days. For 5 days, it is $631/week. For 6 days, it is $757/week.

In regards to readings, I am unsure, but there is a provision for a pre-rehearsal reading to be paid at 2/6th (or just 1/3rd - the 2/6th comes from work days I think) of the minimum. So using the minimum I stated above, it would be about $620 a week. However, I have heard elsewhere that it is way less than that. I have never experienced a reading, so I can not speak to it.

It is also important to note that the agreements between Equity and the Broadway League are set to expire in September, so it will change in about 8 months.

I have attached the link to the agreements below if you want to look up anything specific. I know its a lot of info (The League/Equity rule book is 190 pages long). Hopefully that answers your questions though!



P.S. - I like the picture. I saw it twice while it was in Chicago. Once from the top of the balcony, the second from the middle of the first row (thanks, lottery!)


Equity Rule Books Updated On: 1/24/15 at 09:19 PM

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 1/23/15 at 11:50pm

Why does An American in Paris currently have a separate rulebook?

[asmith0307]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 12:22am

I think it is due to them using Equity members in France. When actors, or full productions in the case of Hair, go to the West End, they usually just transfer over to Equity in Britain. I have never heard of such a thing happening in France.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 12:27am

Depending on the reading, they often don't pay at all. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think the 29 hour Equity reading only requires a travel stipend.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 12:36am

It may well be unpaid.

I have never experienced a reading, nor have I necessarily asked about how one works past the 29 hour thing. I just know that in the Equity rules, there is a provision for a reading of a script when a rehearsal period has yet to start. I could be completely missing it though. I would find it surprising that the masterminds behind the "Is it Equity" campaign would be okay with actor's going unpaid for that work.

Note: I did go back and revise my earlier post, but I also thought I would add this as it seems that you are much closer than I was (note to self - that's something to ask about). And yes, I did just link to a Submissions Only video.


"I Got a Reading" Updated On: 1/24/15 at 12:36 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/24/15 at 1:06am

With regards to readings, it all depends on what the plans are for the piece and how and where it's being presented. NYMF readings, for instance, have a much higher stipend (last I heard it was around $300), but they are also allowed a greater number of presentations and I think can also charge for tickets as well.

The regular 29 hour readings have been pretty much a very modest stipend that covers basically transportation costs (though I notice that the regular staged reading guidelines are not currently in the document library, so I wonder if there have been changes and they are updating that document). These are meant to be used as the first step before even a workshop takes place and often consists of actors doing favors for friends so that they can begin to hear a script out loud before beginning work on the next draft of the script.

Then you also have what would be considered pre-production readings where you have the cast coming in before rehearsals start to do a reading that is paid at a portion of their weekly salary and allows the creatives to hear the script and do some last minute tweaks before starting rehearsals.