I am a Board member for a community theatre group. We have always hired our show directors by a simple "hand-shake" agreement. However, we have been thinking about switching to an actual signed contract. How do most of you handle hiring directors? If any of you use a contract, would it be possible for you to e-mail me a copy of it?

About a year ago, I actually got paid to direct at another theater. We had a signed contract that was worse than a handshake. The theater ignored it and told me (after the production was over) that it was just a guideline!!!

I think a signed agreement is a good idea if you work at another theater or hire an outside director who might not be familiar with how things work. We negotiated the contract so there was nothing in it I couldn't live with and it actually was a help defining who would do what. Rather than send you a copy, let me list what I think should be included in any agreement:

The pay amount and when it would be paid. For us, housing is an issue and we have provided it to outside directors. What is not paid is important too - travel, meals, etc.

Final condition of the theater when the show was over (paint the stage flat black), all props returned and set pieces to storage etc.

What the paid staff of the theater would do (and would not do).

Use of the theater and other spaces in the building.

Specific dates and times the theater would and would not be available to me - when I could start to use the scene shop, when I could have sole access to the stage to build our set, in our case there was a classical concert in the middle of our run that I had to make part of the stage available for and so on.

Budget and the right to transfer funds between budget items - there were specific lines I was responsible for and I had freedom to move money between those lines - I also was responsible for budget over runs opn "my" lines up to the amount I was to be paid.

Who was to get keys and the type of keys, theater only, tech, master.

Comp ticket policy - who got them - my authority as director to give out comps.

Who would do promotion (and whose budget it would be under, theirs or mine) - posters, banner, newspaper (they required that all local press coverage go through them), mailouts and so on.

We agreed on a flat $100 fee for all tech equipment for maintenance, lamps, gels, etc then we worked out of their inventory.

Who was responsible for returning rented costumes (I got caught on that one)!

In our theater group no one gets paid and we very seldom use outside directors so we don't have a contract - we do have a couple of sheets that we use to make sure everyone is on the same page. I will e-mail them to you.

Doug

I think having guidelines for (unpaid) directors is very important. That way if things don't go as they should, you can always relieve them of their duties without feeling unfair. It gives you something to fall back on and keeps directors on the same page as the Board.
Yes, I'm talking from experience.

Contracts are a good idea. Both parties know what to expect from each other. I think a reasonable stipend for directoring a \
community theater production is $500 per show.

HERE, HERE!! Well said, Bill! When directors are paid, they have a vested interest in the show, but not in the THEATRE. The fact that my theatre asks me over and over again to direct tells me I'm appreciated. The fact that actors come out of the woodwork when I hold auditions tells me I'm respected. The fact that audiences enjoy my shows tells me my standards are high. If you want more than that out of the deal, then turn PRO and leave community theatre to the ameteurs!