Rocktopia not paying chorus broadway salaries.

[Call_me_jorge]

How did Rocktopia get away with this, but Disney couldn’t do the same for Hunchback? Seems kind of silly the broadway league* would even let this happen

Edit: *who exactly would be responsible for this? 
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROCKTOPIA-Producers-Under-Fire-for-Offering-Unfair-Wages-to-Chorus-Members-20180306

[TotallyEffed]

I took one look at the marquee and knew it was destined to be an instant flop.

Good riddance.

[bk]

Well, if it's a concert, it doesn't fall under Equity's jurisdiction so that's how it happened.  I did enjoy Equity's saying their negotiators are willing to find a solution - sorry Equity, that's never been the case before so that's a bit of a laugh.

[qolbinau]

I thought this was a legal requirement. I too, would be interested to know how they can just blatantly get away with this. This shows why equity minimums are so important. Producers can easily get people to work for peanuts or free in this industry from desperate actors who want a break.

[Call_me_jorge]

bk said: "Well, if it's a concert, it doesn't fall under Equity's jurisdiction so that's how it happened. I did enjoy Equity's saying their negotiators are willing to find a solution - sorry Equity, that's never been the case before so that's a bit of a laugh."

Are concerts on broadway under different contracts than normal shows?

[bk]

Did you read my post?  It's being sold as a concert and concerts do not fall under Equity's jurisdiction.  So, what legal requirement?  There is none.  They're not even advertising it as a "chorus" but a choir.

[qolbinau]

No I hadn’t read your post because we posted at basically the same time. I didn’t realise you could do a live performance in a Broadway theatre outside Equity rules. But thank you.

[Sondheimite]

$250 a week is a joke and is not anywhere close to a livable wage.  This is exploitation because producers know that performers are desperate.  F*CK these producers.  

[SomethingPeculiar]

Are the main performers under AEA contracts, or AGMA? I remember there was an issue between the various unions and COME FLY AWAY a few years back: https://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/actors-equity-withdraws-from-come-fly-away/

Also, aren't they rotating community/educational choirs performing alongside the cast? I thought I read that somewhere, but I could be wrong.

 

Kristin Chenoweth had a choir of college students performing in her Broadway concert last year, right?

[Sondheimite]

Rocktopia is marking all comments about this as spam on social media.  

[WhizzerMarvin]

When I saw Kristin’s concert last year I was under the impression that the school choir was performing only that one night. Each night was a different choir.

Rocktopia is performing 8 shows a week, correct? Is it a limited run?

Does anyone know what the contracts were like for Home for the Holidays? Did they get equity minimum?

[PrinceAli]

I also tried to express my concerns and they removed my comments. I will not support this show. 

[JSquared2]

PrinceAli said: "I also tried to express my concerns and they removed my comments. I will not support this show."

That'll teach 'em a lesson!!

 

[Sondheimite]

Rob Evans, the co-creator of this, also has a facebook that actually allows wallposts.

Let him know. 

https://www.facebook.com/RobEvanRockTenor/

[PrinceAli]

Thats the goal here. 

[newintown]

It's not a "Broadway show," there's no need to get up in arms.

Do you think pop stars like Frankie Valli, Barry Manilow, or Donny & Marie give their back-up singers Equity contracts when they do a few weeks in a Broadway theatre? This is the same deal.

It's a pop concert renting a Broadway house. It happens (and it used to happen more frequently than it does now).

[RippedMan]

Home for the Holidays wasn’t an Equity show either, and I think Chenowith was a concert as well, so not Equity because there has been some hubbub in the community about people listing these as “Broadway” credits, when in fact it isn’t a broadway show if it isn’t under the Equity Broadway production contract.

[WhizzerMarvin]

The difference with Frankie Valli and Barry Manilow is that they only played for like 10 or so performances and weren’t trying to make a Broadway style run of their show. They also never played eight shows a week. If Rocktopia is an open-ended run playing eight times a week then I view it differently than the “special events” listed above. 

[qolbinau]

Rocktopia is described as "Live on Broadway" for "6 weeks only". Hell, it's in a theatre called "The Broadway Theatre". If a show can do this and yet not technically full under to the rules of "Broadway" I find it to be a hilarious/sad loophole. Looks like you CAN have your cake and eat it. 

[RippedMan]

Is Bruce Springsteen on an Equity contract? I'd guess not. 

And Rocktopia is a concert - just like Home for the Holidays. It sucks they're paying their chorus what they are, but if it's not Equity's jurisdiction, what can you do? 

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Regardless of what the contract is, $250/week is a disgusting wage to pay. The producers should be ashamed of themselves for this. I already had very little interest in this show, but now I am totally turned off of it.

[bk]

I guess those of us who actually understand this can keep posting the same thing, and those who don't can keep posting what they're posting.  It's a six-week run, it's a concert, and it has nothing to do with Equity.  Equity is naturally trying to insert themselves into it - that's what they do - but they haven't a leg to stand on.  And as I said way up the page, Equity is calling it a chorus, the producers are calling it a choir.  And leave Rob Evan alone.  He's a good guy.  He is completely operating correctly under whatever contract and union they are under.   Do you think Liza at the Palace was on an Equity contract for her or her back-up singers and dancers?  That was a four-week run, and no, they were not.

And I might also add that the $250 figure is coming from Equity and is not actually attributed to anyone, so you can just assume Equity is indulging in hyperbole - no one has any idea what they're paying members of the choir.

[CurtainPullDowner]

It is totally unfair and unjust to pay what they are paying.

I just hope this doesn't lead to a cancellation and the 40 singers lose their jobs and chance to sing on Broadway.  

[bk]

CurtainPullDowner said: "It is totally unfair and unjust to pay what they are paying.

I just hope this doesn't lead to a cancellation and the 40 singers lose their jobsand chance to sing ob Broadway."

 

Neither you nor anyone else in this thread knows what they're actually paying.  You can't believe Equity on this - they have an agenda and as always with them, they are not above lying to achieve it.  Those of us in LA know that all too well.

 

[Kad]

bk said: "CurtainPullDowner said: "It is totally unfair and unjust to pay what they are paying.

I just hope this doesn't lead to a cancellation and the 40 singers lose their jobsand chance to sing ob Broadway."

Neither you nor anyone else in this thread knows what they're actually paying. You can't believe Equity on this - they have an agenda and as always with them, they are not above lying to achieve it. Those of us in LA know that all too well."

 

So you've got a bone to pick with Equity and are apparently close enough with the producer to classify him as a "good guy." Not exactly someone who should be questioning the validity of sources.