Print Page | Close Window

How to pay musicians

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Archives
Forum Name: Closed Topics
Forum Discription: Uncategorized posts from the previous version of our discussion board. For browsing and searching.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1634
Printed Date: 5/18/24 at 6:35am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: How to pay musicians
Posted By: vkcstar
Subject: How to pay musicians
Date Posted: 10/02/05 at 11:36am
I am researching how a not for profit theatre group pays the musicians.
Do you cut a check (stipend) to the musical director and the M.D. distributes the money to the musicians or do you stipend the musicians individually?
Do you call it a donation in your books?
Thanks!!



Replies:
Posted By: Scott B
Date Posted: 10/02/05 at 9:40pm
We pay individually.  For instance, we just paid our accompianist and she was in shock.  She had no idea we were going to give her anything at all.  Had we been in a position to bring in other musicians we would have paid them individually.

A few years ago we basically hired the music director and told her she had $500 for the orchestra and she could do it any way she wanted.  In retrospect it was probably not the wisest thing we've done and never would again.

Either way, it just goes in the books as an expense.  It's not a donation. 

This is always a poor subject for me.  I keep hearing from people around here how musicians are never fully compensated for their work.  BIG DEAL!  NONE of our actors get ANY compensation.

I read websites for other communtity theatres where everyone from the director to musicians, to the actors are strictly volunteer and do not take pay or stipends of any kind.  Someone send them to me ... please. 


Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/03/05 at 3:29am
 I would have to agree Scott!
Why is it these Muso?s, directors & others want gold bricks, overy time from community theatre?
When as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, the only time I put in request to cover the extra labour of a Trade Assistance I had to employ to completly rewiring a venue - the committee baulked & stated they couldn?t pay him, because they are a not for profit group!
 So I ended up carrying the extra, along with donating all the materials & labour for the complete job - yet they paid their musicians for doing far less?
Unfortunately they tend to expect this from Trades people & others!
Also they go to great lengths, to contrive ways of paying  them, so the recipient avoids paying tax!
I?m glad that there is a change coming about in the Rights Agent perspective, by hiring show CD?s for music & even choreography.
However I suppose we will have to wait for directors to be put on compact disc!
?What are we about??
This is Community Theatre - not an employment exchange! 



-------------
      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}



Posted By: vkcstar
Date Posted: 10/03/05 at 12:18pm

Thanks!!

BTW - I meant a donation to the musician not that we received one.  I didn't want it to look like the grp "hired" an employee. I understand it goes in as an expense (now).

 



Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/04/05 at 4:32am
Sorry VCSTAR!
I posted my reply in the wrong topic!
It should have been in the ?How much to pay the piano man? one posted by Nyria!
With yours, I would suggest putting it through as a ?Perdiem rate?, without there being any actual invoice as such to pay against. This then is a predetermined allowable production expense!



-------------
      Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}




Print Page | Close Window

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums version 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2006 Web Wiz Guide - http://www.webwizguide.info