How do broadway salaries work?- Page 2

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:17am

And your accountant is a lot smarter for doing that, Pippin. The odd deductions we often claim as members of the performing arts communities are huge red flags for auditors. I'd rather claim a little less and avoid that hassle than have an accountant who lets everything go and puts my return at a higher risk for an audit.

[Pippin]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:33am

Exactly.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 12:02pm

It's theater. A show isn't guaranteed to last a day, let alone a year. Breaking it up weekly is much easier to deal with than yearly. Contrary to what many of the people on this board would like to believe, employment in the theater is NOT stable employment.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 1:31pm

Good thread!

[kchenofan]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 2:11pm

This is really interesting. Thanks to everyone who asked/answered these questions. I feel like I learned a lot. We should have these threads more often.

[algy]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:46pm

Ditto to what Kchenofan said - i learned a lot and it's interesting stuff that I wouldn't have a clue about otherwise - being in the UK and working in a profession that's not linked to the theatre...

[Tag]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 5:54pm

Algy - Keep in mind that BEA may have different rules from AEA.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 6:07pm

Was just about to ask about that ^^

[algy]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 6:12pm

Oh i know BEA would have different rules. It's just interesting to know how things work your side - i always get the impression that US Equity is really strict.

[Hank]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 6:29pm

How about health care? How many weeks a year do you have to work to get full coverage?
This is a major concern in any other industry, and I'm wondering how you guys a doing.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 7:07pm

12 weeks of qualifying work gets you six months of coverage. 20 weeks will get you a full year. There is a $100 quarterly premium. Adding dependents on to your plan is absurdly expensive, so hopefully if you have children you have a spouse with a decent plan to cover them under. Vision is included, dental is an additional premium.

In addition to health most contracts also contribute to your pension plan. Certain contracts also have a 401k option.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 7:11pm

About the rehearsal question...

Understudies actually usually have 2 or 3 rehearsals a week, but it depends on how often they go on during the week. If they haven't gone on for quite some time, they have more rehearsals just to make sure they are still always ready to go on.

I'm pretty sure there's also a rehearsal for the cast every once in a while. I know casts with kids and alternates have a lot of rehearsals, also.

[singtopher]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 9:41pm

^ Not sure where you got some of that info, but it's not been my experience.

Kids of course do plenty of extra rehearsals since in a lot of shows they only go on 2 or 3 shows per week. Billy Elliott has rehearsals a couple of times a week for the girls, and the Billys are tutored and take dance class on a regular basis (I think daily)

In regards to the taxes, meals while you are out doing a regional show count as well. And don't forget union dues, agents fees, headshots, accompanists, classes, voice lessons, and make up are also tax deductible. Actor's Equity (in New York at least) has free tax preparation for all actors through VITA. Granted, it's not always easy to get an appointment.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 9:54pm

What singtopher said, shrekster. Rehearsals cost money, and are nowhere near as frequent as you think, at least, not in my experience.

"I'm pretty sure there's also a rehearsal for the cast every once in a while."

I haven't heard of that happening since, well, ever.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 10:12pm

I heard it from an actually broadway understudy, who I'll keep nameless.

The cast indeed does have choreography brush up rehearsals sometimes.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:03pm

I posted this in a thread awhile back, but I'll repost here since it might be of interest.

Hi. I was on Broadway for close to 4 years. I see a lot of misinformation on this board, particularly when it comes to finances. I'd like to shed some light on this. I aim to be helpful.

I've just dug out a random pay stub from my time in Hairspray. At this time I was a swing with several principal understudies (Penny, Prudy, Amber) and chorus feature covers (Dynamites).

4/01/2004

Earnings - 1643.00

Deductions -
Fed w/h : 316.37
FICA INS: 101.87
FICA MED: 23.82
NY w/h: 91.03
NY DISB: .60
NYC tax: 53.38
UNION: 32.86
MISC (Agent): 164.30

401K: 49.29

weekly take home pay = $809.48
monthly take home pay = $3237.92

At the time I rented a 435 square foot apartment in the 100s on Amsterdam that was a rent stabilized $1250 per month.

$3337.92 - $1250 = $1987.92

I took 4 45 min voice lessons per month with Liz Caplan (who is wonderful) @ $660 per month.

$1987.92 - $660 = $1327.92

I'm going to estimate phone, electricity, gas, internet, tv, and monthly MetroCard costs at $310 per month.

$1327.92 - $290 = $1017.92

This left me with approximately $255 per week for food and anything else that might come up. Accompanist fees to learn songs for auditions, for example, or anything else life might require that isn't food or shelter.

Principals who aren't names from non-Broadway work do not make the kind of figures I've seen tossed around here on the board. Unfortunately, due to contract obligations I can't discuss my B&theB pay.

Hope this sheds some light on things for those aiming for Broadway. It is beyond wonderful.

Save your pennies. I've made more money in my first 13 days of on camera work than I did in an entire year of full time work on Broadway.

I should add that I was very frugal during these years. I managed to get out of $11,000 of credit card debt that I racked up during the years before Broadway. I also managed to sock away around $12,000 into a 401K that I liquidated last year in order to get together the down payment for the house in L.A. that my husband and I bought last year after the housing bubble burst.

:) Brooke

[singtopher]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:08pm

Brooke- I was trying to find that yesterday to repost here. Thanks! It's always nice to see you here.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:09pm

You're welcome. I love your avatar photo :)

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 9/1/10 at 11:47pm

How about the average Broadway or SDC director? What's the weekly salary like for that?

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 12:05am

"I heard it from an actually [sic] broadway understudy, who I'll keep nameless.

The cast indeed does have choreography brush up rehearsals sometimes."

I absolutely believe you, Shrekster, without need to name names. Of course, on occasion, a cast will have brush-up choreography rehearsals. Shows with fighting will often have rehearsals as well. Hell, even in a play a rehearsal might be called if timing is off or blocking has strayed. Point is, these rehearsals don't usually happen as a matter of course - they have to be called for, usually by a director, or more frequently, a stage manager. Sometimes a dance captain - even an actor can call for a rehearsal, but they may not always get it - they cost money.

Every show differs, and the fact is rehearsals really aren't that frequent as a rule as you think they are. Other than a very short rehearsal for a very specific moment in a show (usually choreography, yes), in my many shows I've never known one to be called for an entire cast except for a major put-in.

For more info on how different shows handle even major put-ins, just look at the link in this thread regarding Tom Hewitt into Chicago. He talks about how nice it is to have full orchestra, cast, lights and sound, because he's had to jump into other shows without having those luxuries.

ETA: Directors don't usually get paid a weekly salary. They're more likely to get a fee and royalties, like many creatives. Updated On: 9/2/10 at 12:05 AM

[mikem]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 3:15pm

In terms of the tax deductions, the clothing rule by the IRS is very clear -- if you could wear the item in your everyday life, even if it is not something that you would otherwise choose to wear, it is not deductible. For example, let's say your job requires you to wear a tie. Even if you would never wear a tie in your personal life, you still can't deduct the tie. However, you could deduct the cost of a police uniform, because you probably aren't allowed to wear the uniform when you're not on duty, so you can't use that item for non-job-related life.

If your accountant is okaying your deduction of clothing that you bought for an audition that is "regular" clothing, I would seriously think about hiring a different accountant. Like I said, the tax rule is very clear. It is extremely tempting to fudge on taxes, but some very good advice I once heard was, "Do not mess with the Federal Government. They have a lot more money and a lot more resources than you do."

Updated On: 9/2/10 at 03:15 PM

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 5:10pm

I've always wondered if I could write off my Broadway Bares pasties :)

But I don't have cojones that large and mighty.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 5:24pm

"In terms of the tax deductions, the clothing rule by the IRS is very clear -- if you could wear the item in your everyday life, even if it is not something that you would otherwise choose to wear, it is not deductible. For example, let's say your job requires you to wear a tie. Even if you would never wear a tie in your personal life, you still can't deduct the tie. However, you could deduct the cost of a police uniform, because you probably aren't allowed to wear the uniform when you're not on duty, so you can't use that item for non-job-related life. "

While I agree that one ought be cautious regarding deductions, that's ridiculous. If you're buying it solely for the purpose of your role, if it isn't covered by your employer it should be deductible. An officer of the law can certainly wear a uniform off-duty - I can't see why they would, but it isn't disallowed.

"I've always wondered if I could write off my Broadway Bares pasties :)

But I don't have cojones that large and mighty."

Brooke? It ain't your cojones in question there. Besides, I can think of no better place for a deduction other than such a fine charity.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 5:27pm

If you did, the pasties would have cost more.

[BrookeTansley]

Posted: 9/2/10 at 5:30pm

True, ghostlight.