Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Actor’s contracts

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Scott B
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Topic: Actor’s contracts
Posted: 8/08/05 at 3:03pm

Does anyone have an actor's contract that they would be willing to share? I'm not looking for anything special ... just something special to make them feel like they're really committing themselves to the show.

This is for a VERY small community theatre group.

I did a search both here as well as the internet and couldn't come up with anything.

Thanks ...

Scott

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POB14
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Posted: 8/12/05 at 11:22am

Just a personal feeling: if anyone asked me to sign a contract for a community theatre show, I would run the other way as fast as my fat little legs would carry me.

Is there a history here of people not committing to shows? Are they walking out during rehearsal periods, or during performances, or what? Why is the group so small to begin with?

I'm not trying to be mean here; I just don't understand what you're trying to accomplish and why. You can't force people to stick around if they don't want to. I think you run a real danger of insulting the people you DO have by asking them to sign a "contract."

POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

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Dustmac
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Posted: 8/12/05 at 2:46pm

I would not go that route. What you need to do is have a three strikes and your out policy and stick firmly with it. Having them sign a contract when it is volunteer isn't a good idea.

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GoldCanyonLady
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Posted: 8/12/05 at 7:43pm

I have my actors (at audition time) fill in the blanks on one 8-1/2 x 11 paper. Label it Audition Information Sheet then include the name of the play. The blanks are the usual, name, address, phone number and email address. Then I have them check the role they prefer. After that there is a paragraph that they have to read and sign. It goes like this:
***************
If I am selected to be in the cast, I understand that there will be ______ rehearsals (list how many rehearsals and approximately when) and that the show dates are _________. I also understand that it is important that I make every effort to be at every scheduled rehearsal.

Please list any previously scheduled plans (cruises, trips etc.,) which might conflict with play rehearsals.

Signed_____________

***************
I figure signing something (not binding) just makes them aware of the committment they are making.

Barb

Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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Scott B
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Posted: 8/13/05 at 2:55am

Thank you Barb. That's good enough for our purposes.

It's not like I'm asking for a Kidney from them or something. But I do believe some people, especially those with little or no experience, are not aware of the commitment involved ... that the success of the show depends on the cooperation of the entire cast.

Something as simple as what is listed above is just fine.

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GoldCanyonLady
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Posted: 8/13/05 at 6:55pm

Scott, If you email me, I will send you the actual form we use so you don't have to do anything but print it. It is in microsoft word.
Barb
byh@movinon.net

Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

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POB14
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Posted: 8/17/05 at 11:16am

Ah, I understand now. I have no problem with something like that. I was picturing something very different. My mistake. Sorry.

You might also include a "play as cast" clause, especially if you are allowing them to tick off which role they are interested in.

Do a search for "audition sheet" or "audition form" and you'll find all kinds of stuff, even stuff called "contracts", like this:

http://www.premiereforkids.com/adult%20rules%20sheet.doc

Good luck!

POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

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jayzehr
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Posted: 8/17/05 at 4:30pm

I don't usually have much problem with people missing rehearsals or performances but I often have problems with actors not memorizing their lines in a timely manner. My last two plays I experimented with having actors sign a statement on the audition form promising to be off book by the assigned date but it didn't seem to have much effect. There always seems to be that one person who doesn't get their lines until the eleventh hour no matter how you handle it.

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Scott B
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Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:40am

We're into rehearsals now and so far the actors missing hasn't been a problem. However, it's obvious that two of the seven really had no idea what they were getting into. They're working hard and I'm sure they'll do ok, but I'm not sure that either will audition again.

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Unclepeter
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Posted: 8/21/05 at 11:08pm

Scott B...

I don't think any of us knew what we were getting into when we first started in this crazy, frightening, maddening but. altogether most exhilirating business.

I remember my first...they can't really expect me to memorize all this stuff and know where to move, when...can they?? Well, I'll just do the best I can...wait a minute, I got that line right...all right, I knew what she was going to say and I was prepared for the response...uh-oh, tomorrow's opening night...I'm terrified...now it's curtain time...butterflies...what is that sound...The audience is laughing...the curtain is coming down...now it's up again...yeah, right, curtain call...Applause!

WOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS AGAIN!

Love (of the theatre)conquers all!

"Good judgement comes from experience - and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." (Will Rogers)

Uncle Peter

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Author	Message
Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Topic: Actor’s contracts Posted: 8/08/05 at 3:03pm
	Does anyone have an actor's contract that they would be willing to share? I'm not looking for anything special ... just something special to make them feel like they're really committing themselves to the show. This is for a VERY small community theatre group. I did a search both here as well as the internet and couldn't come up with anything. Thanks ... Scott

	IP Logged

POB14 Celebrity Joined: 7/01/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 349	Posted: 8/12/05 at 11:22am
	Just a personal feeling: if anyone asked me to sign a contract for a community theatre show, I would run the other way as fast as my fat little legs would carry me. Is there a history here of people not committing to shows? Are they walking out during rehearsal periods, or during performances, or what? Why is the group so small to begin with? I'm not trying to be mean here; I just don't understand what you're trying to accomplish and why. You can't force people to stick around if they don't want to. I think you run a real danger of insulting the people you DO have by asking them to sign a "contract."
	POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
	IP Logged

Dustmac Lead Joined: 5/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 8/12/05 at 2:46pm
	I would not go that route. What you need to do is have a three strikes and your out policy and stick firmly with it. Having them sign a contract when it is volunteer isn't a good idea.
	IP Logged

GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 8/12/05 at 7:43pm
	I have my actors (at audition time) fill in the blanks on one 8-1/2 x 11 paper. Label it Audition Information Sheet then include the name of the play. The blanks are the usual, name, address, phone number and email address. Then I have them check the role they prefer. After that there is a paragraph that they have to read and sign. It goes like this: ************* If I am selected to be in the cast, I understand that there will be ______ rehearsals (list how many rehearsals and approximately when) and that the show dates are _________. I also understand that it is important that I make every effort to be at every scheduled rehearsal. Please list any previously scheduled plans (cruises, trips etc.,) which might conflict with play rehearsals. Signed_____________ ************* I figure signing something (not binding) just makes them aware of the committment they are making. Barb
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 8/13/05 at 2:55am
	Thank you Barb. That's good enough for our purposes. It's not like I'm asking for a Kidney from them or something. But I do believe some people, especially those with little or no experience, are not aware of the commitment involved ... that the success of the show depends on the cooperation of the entire cast. Something as simple as what is listed above is just fine.
	IP Logged

GoldCanyonLady Celebrity Joined: 2/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 172	Posted: 8/13/05 at 6:55pm
	Scott, If you email me, I will send you the actual form we use so you don't have to do anything but print it. It is in microsoft word. Barb byh@movinon.net
	Barb Hofmeister, MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.
	IP Logged

POB14 Celebrity Joined: 7/01/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 349	Posted: 8/17/05 at 11:16am
	Ah, I understand now. I have no problem with something like that. I was picturing something very different. My mistake. Sorry. You might also include a "play as cast" clause, especially if you are allowing them to tick off which role they are interested in. Do a search for "audition sheet" or "audition form" and you'll find all kinds of stuff, even stuff called "contracts", like this: http://www.premiereforkids.com/adult%20rules%20sheet.doc Good luck!
	POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 8/17/05 at 4:30pm
	I don't usually have much problem with people missing rehearsals or performances but I often have problems with actors not memorizing their lines in a timely manner. My last two plays I experimented with having actors sign a statement on the audition form promising to be off book by the assigned date but it didn't seem to have much effect. There always seems to be that one person who doesn't get their lines until the eleventh hour no matter how you handle it.
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 8/21/05 at 1:40am
	We're into rehearsals now and so far the actors missing hasn't been a problem. However, it's obvious that two of the seven really had no idea what they were getting into. They're working hard and I'm sure they'll do ok, but I'm not sure that either will audition again.
	IP Logged

Unclepeter Lead Joined: 7/26/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 8/21/05 at 11:08pm
	Scott B... I don't think any of us knew what we were getting into when we first started in this crazy, frightening, maddening but. altogether most exhilirating business. I remember my first...they can't really expect me to memorize all this stuff and know where to move, when...can they?? Well, I'll just do the best I can...wait a minute, I got that line right...all right, I knew what she was going to say and I was prepared for the response...uh-oh, tomorrow's opening night...I'm terrified...now it's curtain time...butterflies...what is that sound...The audience is laughing...the curtain is coming down...now it's up again...yeah, right, curtain call...Applause! WOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS AGAIN! Love (of the theatre)conquers all!
	"Good judgement comes from experience - and a lot of that comes from bad judgement." (Will Rogers) Uncle Peter
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