How does shows closing so fast effect actors and crew?

[classicalmusicplayer2]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 11:44pm

Hi all!

So as we all probably know by now that Doctor Zhivago us closing this Sunday. I was wondering what happens to the actors? Does their contracts guarantee pay for an amount of time even if the show closes? I just think itust stink to land a show and then have no income so quickly. Yes broaadway is a great risk but I wouldn't think that anyone has anything lined up this close to the opening. Sure they can get other work but the audition process takes time. It would suck to not have any income for a few months. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/7/15 at 11:49pm

I'm pretty sure they are paid for however many performances are given. I also assume if the producer's cannot afford to keep the show open they definitely don't pay unemployment to actors from their closed productions. The actors and crew know that there is the risk of being unemployed, but hopefully they will be part of new productions soon.

Updated On: 5/8/15 at 11:49 PM

[team elphie]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 12:17am

It's "affect' with an a. Sorry don't mean to be critical but for some reason I must always correct people when they make that mistake :)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 12:28am

It sucks, but better to work for a few months than not at all.  All jobs in the arts are a gamble.  Well prepared folks seldom live extravagantly and prepare the best they can.

 

There are union rules about how much notice/pay they must get at the end, but I'm not sure of the details - but its no more than 2 weeks.  

However, closings seldom are a surprise to them -- they know what the house is like and often have a good sense of what the nut is.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 12:49am

The Union contracts only require one week's notice of closing. 

What it means for the people working on the show is that they were just earning a decent wage, and are now stuck dealing with the NYUI office, and back to looking for a new job. Undoubtedly, a high percentage of those working on the show moved to NYC for this job, as well, and now need to figure out how to continur to pay for their apartment, or move elsewhere and find a sublet, etc... I'm sure you can imagine the other logistical complications with suddenly losing your job in one of the most expensive cities in the world. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 1:00am

"That's showbiz, kid"

[mc1227]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 6:29am

Even when shows do not close quickly, many ensemble members will be seeking future employments to other shows.  They audition for new shows all the time so that they are not out of work for long.  If you read the Playbill closely you will find that many actors are fresh off another show that they left while the previous show was still playing.  Happens all the time for veteran ensemble players who have ties with many directors who are launching new shows.  

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 9:58am

The crew members are employed by the theater owners so they will keep their jobs and be paid handsomely for the long hours of a load out and then any improvements that need to be done to the theater. If they're lucky and there is another show coming in soon they will just have a short time before the load in work.

If there's a long gap they end up going on unemployment.

Source: friends who are current Broadway stagehands

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:00am

I thought they got paid for two weeks, even if they only get one week's notice, but I could be wrong. There's no guarantees in this business. That's the way it is-- the show closes, no more job, no more money. Move on.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/8/15 at 10:17am

I also assume if the producer's cannot afford to keep the show open they definitely don't pay unemployment to actors from their closed productions.

....Huh? The producers pay into a pension, 401k, health care and unemployment insurance fund every week. It is a percentage of the total salary pay. This fund is administered by AEA and then used for the benefit of the union members of the company once the show has closed.

With respect to shows closing and the AEA stipulations that regulate those closings, I would encourage you to visit: http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/rulebooks/Production_Rulebook_League_11-15.pdf

 

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 10:26am

"The crew members are employed by the theater owners so they will keep their jobs and be paid handsomely for the long hours of a load out and then any improvements that need to be done to the theater. If they're lucky and there is another show coming in soon they will just have a short time before the load in work.

If there's a long gap they end up going on unemployment.

Source: friends who are current Broadway stagehands"

 

Sounds like you misunderstood. Only the heads of departments (props, carpentry, electrics) "keep" their jobs, and that only for as long as the load-out lasts (anywhere from two days to a week, usually). Only the show crew plus a few more are usually on the load-out, which are most often 8 hour days, and they are paid less than show rate for it. So, no, rarely are there "long" hours or "handsome" pay for a load-out, unless there is a very quick turnaround, which is uncommon.

 

Any improvements (restoration is what you probably mean) involve only the house heads and a couple-few more people, who may or may not be stagehands, depending on what needs to be done. The rest of the crew are out in the street or at the union hall taking any work they can find - as are the house heads if the theater remains dark. No show in the theater = no pay for the crew who worked on the last show - and no guarantee they'll be on the next show.

 

Just like anyone else, crew can apply for unemployment as soon as they are unemployed, though it is a fraction of what they make while working.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 11:51am

As with many other things in the theatre, there are very few absolutes, notwithstanding pronouncements here to the contrary. Actors are guaranteed a week's pay minimum but there are never limits on what can be negotiated over and above that. In practice, however, that usually only applies to fairly major roles. The other reality that seems to escape the radar of the posts in this thread is that most people working on Broadway have other prospects of one kind or another in between gigs (and also during) whether it is actors doing voiceover or commercial work, waiting tables etc or other short term gigs for stage hands and musicians, either through the union or otherwise. (Some stage hands do construction work if times are tough, many musicians teach, whether they are in a show or not. So while yes, there are folks who go on unemployment, many many people find other ways of making money, perhaps not as lucrative but sometimes even more lucrative. 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 5/9/15 at 5:32pm

"Only the show crew plus a few more are usually on the load-out, which are most often 8 hour days, and they are paid less than show rate for it. So, no, rarely are there "long" hours or "handsome" pay for a load-out, unless there is a very quick turnaround, which is uncommon."
 

Thanks for the further explanation. The people I know are department heads so their perspective was where I was speaking from and I tried to paraphrase and clearly did miss some stuff regarding the rest of the crew. The reason I said the long hours and good pay was because they told me they would work a 60+ hour week for load out and load in so they make good money but it's hard work. Maybe they were just talking about one experience though. I'm certainly not super well-versed in this.

Hope I didn't imply that it's not a tough situation for all involved.