Broadway Actors/Actresses Salaries — Page 2

The union takes around 2.5% for dues.

You are right Broadwayguy2, that unfortunately is before taxes. And lets not get into how much of that goes towards my Rent.

Doesn't sound like people are in it for the money then!

And having no health insurance is really bad.....

"yes, people (audiences) really have NO idea what the life is like."

At least in the tri-state area - if not beyond as every actor is from somewhere, and there are only 50 states - there are few people who don't have a friend or relative aspiring to/working at a performing career, so yes, quite a few people are in on what it entails.

As far as the 50% thing, that's actually what the majority of people in NYC are spending on rent. It's a very expensive place to live, no matter what your job.

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At my last job, we had 100% insurance paid, but it didn't include vision nor dental. So I paid almost $300 for glasses, as there was no coverage for that. And that was a desk job that I didn't like. We make sacrifices to be able to work at something we're passionate about. Hell, obviously we make sacrifices to work at something we're not passionate about, just for a mediocre paycheck.

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My company is finally offering domestic partner benefits, effective today. Which is a happy thing, because my partner does not get benefits at all in her line of work, and the benefits my company offers are quite good and the portion that employees pay into it is reasonable.

But, IRS tax rules dictate that benefits for a domestic partner cannot be paid with pre-tax dollars. Benefits for a legal spouse, however, can be paid with pre-tax dollars. So the amount the comany pays into her benefits will be added to my taxable income, and it will cost me an extra ~$750 a year in taxes for her benefits. Just a friendly reminder from the federal government that I am little less equal than my heterosexual co-workers.

Even an ensemble member on Broadway has a more "glamorous" life (when they're working) than most people in NYC or otherwise. You do realize that, right? It may not be Julia Roberts' life, but it's certainly more interesting than most people's.

If the performers are telling you otherwise, they're either A. pulling your leg, or B. completely clueless themselves. I don't know any performer who wouldn't agree with me.

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Updated On: 5/1/07 at 03:08 PM

Still...that minimum even with the 13% broadwayguy mentioned is over double what first year teachers make.

It's all relative.

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Gotcha. No harm or insult meant. :)

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