As The Flea opens a new $23 Million space, The BATS still go unpaid

LightsOut90 said: "The Flea Opens A New $23 Million Dollar Space In TriBeCa

Almost as if a footnote at the end of this article

"One feature of the Flea that hasn’t changed: Its resident company of actors, the Bats, whose members appear in many productions, isunpaid. “The Bats are a volunteer company, and we are at their service here at the Flea,” said Carol Ostrow, the Flea’s producing director."

Last I checked you didnt have to audition for a volunteer program, atleast they arent forced to clean the bathrooms anymore, but this is ridiculous, they are opening a $23 million dollar space and are still taking advantage of young actors."

Sounds like somebody didn't get a callback!

The Flea is a VOLUNTEER company. It's none of your business why these actors are doing it or what goes on outside of their performances. They audition just like everybody else and if they didn't like it, they wouldn't keep doing it. No one is threatening them to stay. The artistic director even says "we are at their service" here. 

Maybe take a step back from your ignorant view of it and just be thankful that a company of people are willing do what they are passionate for and put on artistic, affordable and accessible theater for people... and in a newly renovated and beautiful facility at that. 

Updated On: 8/31/17 at 07:03 PM

Hi please don't personally attack me, it is not constructive to the conversation, thank you

Updated On: 8/31/17 at 07:19 PM

yep, and notice nothing has changed 

I wouldn't mind hearing from some actual Bats about their experiences ...

And, for the record: *one* is not a statistically valid sample, even if the one happens to reinforce my preconceived notions!

 

If this was any other industry/profession, we wouldn't even be having this conversation. But for some perverse reason, there's a widespread belief that artists should feel like it's a privilege to work for free.

LightsOut90 said: "
Last I checked you didnt have to audition for a volunteer program, atleast they arent forced to clean the bathrooms anymore, but this is ridiculous, they are opening a $23 million dollar space and are still taking advantage of young actors."

Actually, this is not totally true about volunteer programs.

I've worked in a public library for the past few years which has a volunteer program, and though the volunteers don't "audition", they are required to sit for a  formal interview, bring their resume and cover letter , and agree to a BCI before they get a call back to say whether they're chosen or not to be part of the 'volunteer team'. (These are adult volunteers who are former teachers, bankers, business owners, etc. who want to be part of the community). The same with our local zoo which heavily relies on volunteers (I have a friend who didn't get to be a volunteer because she didn't have enough 'customer experience' after working in an HR department at a medical facility - go figure). All in all, the library (as well as the zoo, and a few museums) believe it's a "privilege" to be associated with them in any working capacity - whether it's paid or volunteer, and have high standards of who they allow.

This theater may feel the same way.