Why are Non-Union tours so looked down upon ?
May 3
2013, 09:17:01 AM
"But when GYPSY played the same theater, I wasn't sure I wanted to see a Madame Rose who had never gotten around to joining Equity."
I have been an Equity member, but currently am not. I gave up my card a few years ago because, where I live, it really made no sense for me to be a part of the union if I actually wanted to keep performing. I'd like to think that my talent and experience didn't immediately decline from one day to the next based on my paying dues and carrying a piece of cardboard in my wallet.
As for tours, I've never done one (but that's actually about to change this fall), but I live in an rather large tour market and I basically never have paid attention to whether a tour was union or non - I go to see a show because I want to see the show. There are usually enough potential ticket discounts out there to not make it so cost-prohibitive. I can't recall ever being disappointed with quality of production or talent.
As far as I know, ticket prices are set by the presenters (not the producers), so touring companies are at their mercy as far as that is concerned... yet seem to bear the brunt of the blame. It's almost a case of "don't shoot the messenger". 
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