Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Do you pay your tech?

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jenkins
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Joined: 1/31/11
Location: United States
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Posts: 23

Topic: Do you pay your tech?
Posted: 3/08/11 at 12:39pm

Going from professional theater to community theater and I'm unclear as to the tech staff. I've only done one show with this group, and it's all volunteer. However, I thought I'd check and see if anyone pays their lighting designer/operator, sound, costumer, etc?

Seems it will be hard to keep them as volunteers if I don't give them a small stipend. But then do I insult the actors by not paying them?

Much as I fought with equity, they had guidelines!

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Majicwrench
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Joined: 2/07/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 178

Posted: 3/08/11 at 5:29pm

Can only speak for me and what podunk theatre I have been involved with:

I have seen groups pay their tech guys. I don't like it personally. I have seen groups bring in competent tech guys from somewhere else and pay them, I do like it.

Most all the groups I currently work with do not pay the tech people. We are all volunteers.

I did lights a while back for another company, and they insisted on paying me, even tho money never came up tween us. Very kind of them, but absolutely not neccessary as far as I was concerned.

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jenkins
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Joined: 1/31/11
Location: United States
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Posts: 23

Posted: 3/09/11 at 1:27pm

Thanks much!

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bnk01
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Joined: 9/05/09
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Posted: 3/11/11 at 11:35pm

On all the shows I've done, we paid one person: she was a stage manager/lighting board op. She received a small stipend ($50 a night) for all shows, even when the director, actors and all set/prop people were unpaid volunteers. She also worked several rehearsals & dress w/out pay.
That's just how the theatre had done it, and how we did it.

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didj1028
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Joined: 1/25/11
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Posted: 3/15/11 at 7:18pm

I am happy to work in a community theatre where we have (myself included) 3 full time design staff (set, lights, costumes). Aside from that we only ever pay our choreographers, music directors, and pit orchestra for our musicals. All tech crews for performances are volunteers. Sometimes I wish we could offer a small stipend, might make my recruiting work easier.

Geoff Ehrendreich
Waterloo Community Playhouse
Waterloo IA

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PaulyWally
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Joined: 2/03/11
Location: United States
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Posts: 28

Posted: 3/24/11 at 5:50pm

My general attitude is:

If you're able to get good volunteer work, great. But I would sooner pay someone competent than get free labor that sucks.

You are also not obligated to pay anyone unless you're an equity house. The nature of community (and semi-pro) theatre is that sometimes we get paid while someone else doesn't... and sometimes we don't get paid when someone else does.

That said, I think you should always pay your stage manager something. You don't want free stage management (even if they're competent) because that means that they could place the show lower on their list of priorities. Stage managers have far too much responsibility to the show. Once their attention to the show falters... so will the show.

just my .02

Edited by PaulyWally - 3/24/11 at 5:54pm

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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
jenkins Player Joined: 1/31/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Topic: Do you pay your tech? Posted: 3/08/11 at 12:39pm
	Going from professional theater to community theater and I'm unclear as to the tech staff. I've only done one show with this group, and it's all volunteer. However, I thought I'd check and see if anyone pays their lighting designer/operator, sound, costumer, etc? Seems it will be hard to keep them as volunteers if I don't give them a small stipend. But then do I insult the actors by not paying them? Much as I fought with equity, they had guidelines!

	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 3/08/11 at 5:29pm
	Can only speak for me and what podunk theatre I have been involved with: I have seen groups pay their tech guys. I don't like it personally. I have seen groups bring in competent tech guys from somewhere else and pay them, I do like it. Most all the groups I currently work with do not pay the tech people. We are all volunteers. I did lights a while back for another company, and they insisted on paying me, even tho money never came up tween us. Very kind of them, but absolutely not neccessary as far as I was concerned.
	IP Logged

jenkins Player Joined: 1/31/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Posted: 3/09/11 at 1:27pm
	Thanks much!
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bnk01 Lead Joined: 9/05/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Posted: 3/11/11 at 11:35pm
	On all the shows I've done, we paid one person: she was a stage manager/lighting board op. She received a small stipend ($50 a night) for all shows, even when the director, actors and all set/prop people were unpaid volunteers. She also worked several rehearsals & dress w/out pay. That's just how the theatre had done it, and how we did it.
	IP Logged

didj1028 Star Joined: 1/25/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 54	Posted: 3/15/11 at 7:18pm
	I am happy to work in a community theatre where we have (myself included) 3 full time design staff (set, lights, costumes). Aside from that we only ever pay our choreographers, music directors, and pit orchestra for our musicals. All tech crews for performances are volunteers. Sometimes I wish we could offer a small stipend, might make my recruiting work easier.
	Geoff Ehrendreich Waterloo Community Playhouse Waterloo IA
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PaulyWally Player Joined: 2/03/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 3/24/11 at 5:50pm
	My general attitude is: If you're able to get good volunteer work, great. But I would sooner pay someone competent than get free labor that sucks. You are also not obligated to pay anyone unless you're an equity house. The nature of community (and semi-pro) theatre is that sometimes we get paid while someone else doesn't... and sometimes we don't get paid when someone else does. That said, I think you should always pay your stage manager something. You don't want free stage management (even if they're competent) because that means that they could place the show lower on their list of priorities. Stage managers have far too much responsibility to the show. Once their attention to the show falters... so will the show. just my .02 Edited by PaulyWally - 3/24/11 at 5:54pm
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