in the BIZ since the 70s, but STILL naive

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 4:23pm

OK here's a long rant. I attended a Charity event in a southern state. A worthy charity that provides athletic equipment and uniforms to under priviledged kids. They form competitive cheeleading squads and lots of various sports teams to give these kids fun activities and guidance and keep them outta trouble.

Every year they hold a big fundraiser ballgame. A soap star was from the area, and they would get soap actors to play ball against local radio/TV people. The event lasted all day, w/ the game, Q & A session, autograph lines, and a dance party. this all takes place at a fancy hotel (w/ a locked floor for the actors) w/ the game at a nearby university. Each "event" has a separate little fee, plus the auctioning of some soap memoribilia, like the sweaty shirts the guys wear during the game.

The actors that attend this aren't "heavy hitter" soap stars. They had "re-ocurring roles". Some aren't even ON a soap any longer. One this yr hadn't been on TV since the 80s!! These aren't people who have paparazzi after them in LA.

Now I expect the charity to provide the hotel rooms, air and ground travel, food, and security for these "stars". What came as a shock was that each actor also gets a $5000 "Star Fee" for appearing at this charity fundraiser event. When i found that out, it really left a bad taste in my mouth. There's some wannabe actor up there trying to auction off his sweaty shirt saying "Come on folks!! It's for the KIDS!" All the while he's gonna pocket quite a bit more than the $200 his nasty shirt sells for, even after the agent/manager/tax cuts.

Doesn't a Charity event imply you are donating your time? Its not like a "fan fair".

Evidently this is the normal way of the world. Gee, I always thought when I became a big star people would just ask me to appear at their charity fundraisers, and I'd check my schedule just to see if I could grace the event w/ my presence. It never occurred to me that attending the big Charity Ball is a money making opportunity. I thought it was a tax right off.

my cynicism deepens yet again.

Updated On: 7/31/05 at 04:23 PM

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 6:05pm

wow I just found out Dennis Rodman gets $15,000 to appear at a Charity event. what a bargain!!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 6:11pm

Kinda makes you wonder about the pay scale for that Rent Benefit Concert coming up in the spring, doesn't it.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 12:12am

I'm still adjusting to "pay scale" and "benefit condert" being in the same negotiation.

[wildcat]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 2:57am

I'm sure there are many 'real' stars out there who would be more than happy to donate their time to a fundraiser. It's the organisers who are shooting themselves in the foot for shelling out these ludicrous sums of money to attract B-list names.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 10:48am

I had always thought they did it for self-promotion, or to promote their current gig.

Does anyone know how much stars are paid to perform at events like Live 8 or all the Nelson Mandela benefits? I understand paying the costs of getting the stars equipment and crew to the site, but evidently there are huge pay-offs above and beyond expenses.