What do Broadway performers who take long breaks in between shows do to make money in the meantime?

[SomeOtherMe]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 8:33am

I've always been curious about this. Mind you, I'm not referring to those who get series regular roles in a hit TV show or the select few that end up having a great film career because well there's the answer. More so those who are known and work almost exclusively in the theater and only do a role once every few years (think Sherie Rene Scott, Alice Ripley, Liz Callaway, etc...)
 

I know quite a few teach masterclasses occasionally, but unless they are fantastic about saving, how do they make it work?

 

[Ke3]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 8:40am

I've wondered this at times too. I think Liz Callaway does concert performances pretty frequently. Others I'm not sure.

[adotburr]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 8:48am

Workshops maybe? Do they get paid for those?

I would guess between shows their main source of income would be unemployment.

[jo]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 9:14am

adotburr said: "Workshops maybe? Do they get paid for those?

I would guess between shows their main source of income would be unemployment."

 

The development of the songs for The Greatest Showman took a number of years and involved a series of workshops.  From the finale workshop, you can identify a number of well-known Broadway performers.

 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 10:04am

The OP is asking about the general Broadway performer. The ones who wouldn’t qualify for this level of high profile major film studio workshop. Major names do the concert circuit (Laura Benanti, Sutton Foster, Norm Lewis, Kristin Chenoweth, Patti LuPone, etc) as they generate crazy money from these concerts. But not the average dancer, ensemble, secondary player, etc.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 10:59am

Some do small film or television gigs too and those pay much better than any Broadway show. A couple weeks of film will gross you as much as a basic Broadway yearly income.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 11:41am

Theatrefanboy1 said: "Some do small film or television gigs too and those pay much better than any Broadway show. A couple weeks of film will gross you as much as a basic Broadway yearly income. "

This is not true. Unless you’re a major name, you’re making scale which is just a few thousand dollars.  I know that a no-name appearance on a major network show pays about $2K (after taxes) for that episode appearance.   Film is even less unless it’s a MAJOR studio film.  Day-Play work (which is a day or more on a film) only pays a few hundred a day.  AND you’re lucky if they need you 2-3 days.  It’s usually just a day.  Major actors get the big crazy money.  No-name actors make scale, which is far from the fantasy folks think.  That’s why you’ll discover many actors you see on a ton of TV shows all the time are still driving their 2008 Celica.  People have this fantasy about TV and film.  You’re lucky if on these “small films” you’re making $100 a day.  

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 11:48am

As someone who works regionally on 4-5 contracts a year, with around 2-3 months out of work- being really intelligent with how you save money makes all the difference in the world. Understanding that you have 5 weeks until your next gig starts makes it hard to find a side hustle that isn't self-made. A lot of my actor friends who have phased out of working in the service industry now make ends meet during their down time by doing coaching's and teaching whenever the opportunity comes. I think you will find that a lot of B-List broadway actors are regularly teaching workshops either in person or virtually. The money can be good and it's a lot more satisfying helping someone else with their craft than catering.

Updated On: 10/17/21 at 11:48 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 12:11pm

There just to be an old joke that implied that an out of work performer simply had to start a theater school to get out of the hole.

You'll find A LOT of performers who are not as high profile will just end up teaching somewhere.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 12:54pm

For NYC-based Broadway veterans, doing commercials, voiceovers, a guest spot on a TV show, etc. can be very lucrative (a lot of money for not a lot of time), and of course doing developmental workshops of new shows is often how people get their next big show, but many/most actors teach their craft privately, in studios, or at schools and colleges, and many simply work "regular" jobs - often in the food industry or doing "temp work" in an office. 

There is also going out to work "in the regions," although some don't like to do because they think it is "beneath" them or they don't want to miss out on something happening in NYC (or they now older or have a family and don't want to go out of town unless it's really worth it).

[pmensky]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 1:53pm

A lot of performers get one night gigs with symphonies, some do commercials, which if they’re on a national level can pay very well, and many work with good financial advisors who invest their money in a way that can yield both immediate and long term funds to provide support.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 2:05pm

SomeOtherMe said: "More so those who are known and work almost exclusively in the theater and only do a role once every few years(thinkSherie Rene Scott, Alice Ripley, Liz Callaway, etc...)

"

Well Sherie in particular married rich until a few years ago and they both founded Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records. Performing doesn't seem to be what Sherie has been making her money from for a long time. She's mostly as writer and producer. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 2:07pm

If we are talking the “average” performer, I’d say it’s a mix of unemployment, catering, or babysitting gigs. At least the ones I know.

I remember Gavin Creel saying he didn’t work for a year after Millie and growing up I’m like how?! What did he do for money? But surely he was teaching or something.

[SomeOtherMe]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 3:20pm

blaxx said: "There just to be an old joke that implied that an out of work performer simply had to start a theater school to get out of the hole.

You'll find A LOT of performers who are not as high profile will just end up teaching somewhere."


Does teaching really pay that well, though? I mean, I have no idea but aren't teachers usually considered to be grossly underpaid in this country? Or maybe it's different for those in the dramatic arts with Broadway experience.

Updated On: 10/17/21 at 03:20 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 4:23pm

Teaching certainly isn’t as lucrative as say, investment banking, but can pay a solid middle class wage if it’s a decent school.

If one is teaching via their own studio, you can charge whatever you want, too. Some voice teachers charge like $150 an hour if they are highly experienced and in-demand.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 4:46pm

I know several Broadway regulars who sell real estate, some are involved in computer science, one sells flowers, and other does design er cakes.

[SoCalDirector]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 5:33pm

adotburr said: "Workshops maybe? Do they get paid for those?

I would guess between shows their main source of income would be unemployment. "
 

Oh yes they do get paid for those workshops. There are a lot of workshops for theater tours for high school students and/or teachers. I would imagine there's some for college students as well. I met very cool Broadway performer when he was teaching a workshop.  Some of the Broadway performers I know do audition coaching.

One of my oldest friends is a regular Broadway performer. He had a very well paying Las Vegas.  He had saved his money and left it to come to New York.  He didn't work for a year.  Then he booked a commercial. One days work $40,000. This was years ago so my guess is it's substantially more now. Then his agent called he had an audition for Stephen Sondheim. And he booked that job.  He's gotten some minor work in movies and commercials and occasionally a "guest star" on a series.  Those can also pay quite well.

His wife was a Broadway performer as well and a dancer. After they had their children she became a choreographer at the local school and now has taken over teaching Theatre as well as directing shows. Since they have friends in the original cast of Hamilton her students get some terrific workshops and master classes.

Updated On: 10/17/21 at 05:33 PM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 6:41pm

During the pandemic, enough of them went into coding that one performer (I wish I could remember her name) even started a company or initiative or something specifically devoted to teaching coding to performers and getting them work in that field. I would wager, given the portability of the job as long as one has the skills and a technological device that supports it, that coding is going to be the next big side hustle between (or, to the extent they can multi-task effectively on a performance schedule, during) shows.

Updated On: 10/18/21 at 06:41 PM

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 7:05pm

Party Princessing?

Don’t underestimate the amount of money that can be made from appearing at kids parties as a Disney Princess, especially if it’s your business instead of working for someone else.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/17/21 at 9:58pm

They do whatever they need to that will still give them the flexibility to audition as necessary.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 10/18/21 at 12:39am

I have wonderful memories of being entertained by many male Broadway dancers whilst they were between show. Forgot the name of the club now but the other memories linger on.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/18/21 at 10:16am

I used to work at an ad agency and we had a regular freelancer who was an Equity actor (mostly TV, but some NYC theatre). She came in when we would get super busy. Places like Creative Circle find all sorts of short-term temp gigs for people. My boss at that agency worked full-time for us but was also a jazz singer who would use her vacation time to perform in overseas gigs. All sorts of actors have non-performing skills!

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/18/21 at 1:35pm

There's also Cameo (and Only Fans).  Also quite a few chorus boys (and girls) have sugar daddies.

[Tag]

Posted: 10/18/21 at 1:49pm

JSquared2 said: "There's also Cameo (and Only Fans). Also quite a few chorus boys (and girls) have sugar daddies."

Ah yes, there was the one Mary Poppins who did porn.

[SomeOtherMe]

Posted: 10/18/21 at 3:28pm

JSquared2 said: "There's also Cameo (and Only Fans). Also quite a few chorus boys (and girls) have sugar daddies."

I haven't come across any "popular" musical theater performers with an OF, but I'm not super invested in that world so I guess it'd be easy to miss for me anyways haha