Director and Technical Honorariums
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3975
Printed Date: 5/04/25 at 1:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Director and Technical Honorariums
Posted By: mayo66503
Subject: Director and Technical Honorariums
Date Posted: 4/27/09 at 5:02pm
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Our community theatre pays small stipends to their Directors, Music Directors, and Producers. We would like to know what amounts other theatres are paying for these services. Please share information with us.
Thank you.
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Carolyn
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Replies:
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 4/27/09 at 5:17pm
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For us, it depends on the size of the show and the work involved.
We would pay a choreographer a bit larger stipend for choreographing a show with lots of legit dance numbers, but less of a stipend if the director handles some of the movement stuff and choreographer handles just several dance numbers.
Generally it's in the neighborhood of: $600 - director, $4-600 - set designer/ master carpenter/builder, $$4-500 - musical director, $2-300 - costumer, $2-300 - choreographer, $250 - lighting designer, $3-400 - rehearsal pianist.
I know there are some theatres that pay musicians, and some that do not. There are some theatres that pay actors, but most do not. I've seen some posts on a similar topic in other threads on this site. You'll see all kinds of comments about being all volunteer, to some that have large budgets because of payments and stipends involved.
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John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent
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Posted By: mayo66503
Date Posted: 4/27/09 at 6:20pm
Thanks John. I see you have a staff at Cedar Falls Community Theatre. Are those full time paid positions? Also, do you mind sharing what your annual budget is? Also, if you know of other theatres I should contact I would appreciate it.
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Carolyn
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Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 4/28/09 at 8:03am
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We are a small CT with only 123 Seats doing seven shows a year...
We have no paid permanent staff. As with most CT's who pay, we started with hard to find musicians and the then hit the slippery slope
Directors: Musicals $400 Straight Play $300
Producers Musicals $400 Straight Play $300
Music Directors $400
Choreographer $200
Rehearsal Pianist $250
Pit Musicians $175
We made a one show dip into paying Set Construction and Dressing, but that went by the boards.. On a case by case basis, we will pay a cooperating director to oversee a first time director ($50)...
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: mayo66503
Date Posted: 4/28/09 at 8:48am
Marty, your information is extremely helpful. May I ask what your annual buget is? Also, do you own or rent your building. We are in our first season as tenants in a newly restored Opera House after having our own building for 40 years. It is continuing to be a huge adjustment. carolyn
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Carolyn
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Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 4/28/09 at 9:23am
Hi Carolyn, We produced plays elsewhere for 16 years. We raised and spent about 1.25 million to restore a venue originally built in 1910. It reopened in 1994 and our budget fluctuates between $210,000 - $250,000, depending on whether we do more presenting. Our community theatre produces 5 shows a year. We also do some presenting like big band, folk music, or other entertainment. We also do a lot of rental business. We will be doing less presenting this year because of the economy - less risk taking. We're expecting to do more rentals. When you looked at our web site and saw staff, we have 2 1/2 full time employees. The others are coordinators for the different areas like: set, props, lights, costumes, etc. They are paid stipends per show, refered to in earlier post.
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John
cfct@cfu.net
http://www.osterregent.org
http://www.facebook.com/osterregent
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Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 4/28/09 at 9:47am
We do own our own space, a renovated church... We also rent a large storage area for set pieces, costumes, props etc... I'm afraid that I dont have a firm grip on the annual budget totals, but it isnt huge.. Where as we do have a fair size nest egg in reserve, we hopefully at least break even on each show and occationally come out a few thousand to the good..
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: Madwoman
Date Posted: 9/12/09 at 3:59pm
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At both CTs I'm involved with we provide a stipend for the set designer/builder. The only other regular stipend at either place has been for musical director or musician, and we use these rarely. Once in a great while in desperation one of the theaters reimburses lights/sound operators for gas. I am currently chairing one of those boards, and I'd like to be able to argue for more stipends, specifically for lighting designer, sound/light operator, and perhaps stage manager. The theater is not wealthy but is doing a fairly good business and has a good subscriber base. Can anyone suggest amounts and arguments? The biggest argument here is that techs are harder and harder to find and/or keep. The current Set stipend is $600, which also seems low to me.
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