Theres a lot of controversy about change in LA Theatre, specifically the 99 Seat Contract. Ive worked on it, many times. Im a theatre guy, so I want and need to perform and I know how hard it is to get anything produced...Ive done it. However...its bullshit. That contract is essentially bullshit and the movement toward change warrants me saying that. 12 bucks a show. No rehearsal pay. We let it happen. Every time actors say yes to a 99 seat gig, we say no to our integrity as business people, supporting that horrible notion of the starving artist. I know, I know...for the love of the theatre. The cap on the ticket prices. The audiences dont come. Its hard to capitalize theatre these days. Blah blah blah. You can raise $40,000 bucks to do a show? Raise 45 and pay. Or pay our insurance. Make it worthwhile. The director and the tech folks get their fees, and then move on to another paying gig. You wont see a musician do a show without getting his fee. The writer and producers? The big winners down the line if the show is a success. If it moves to NY? The actors will most likely be replaced. And by the way...no actors? No one to direct or write for or light or costume? No show (and if we had to improvise a script in an open field naked, we could). There are so many wonderful scripts out there, but a lot of actors cant afford to participate. Theatre is a ton of work, its great work, but its a huge time commitment, and rehearsing nights stretched over months while trying to make ends meet is really tough, and whether you get paid 12 bucks a show or 2 grand a week, its the same amount of work (and if you want to give the 12 dollar performance, then this rant means nothing to you). If this sounds like complaining, think past that. Just because a show can get produced by the skin of its teeth doesnt mean it should. Actors are so used to giving it away for free that its almost second nature, at least in LA. I really really hope we can see change in LA theatre. Theatre is the greatest, most profound expression of art in my eyes, but except for a handful of venues, its a race to the bottom. Ok...start throwing the brickbats, but I say all this with total respect and an honest desire to see change...and I think the quality of theatre in LA will be the big winner in the end. Check out what Robertson Dean says in the LA Times today about A Noise Within. He says it perfectly.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 07:36:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015