Rocktopia not paying chorus broadway salaries.- Page 4

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 12:40pm

yall are spending alot of time and energy over a show that's obviously going to be a HUGE flop

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 12:57pm

bdn223 said: "With Rocktopia's defense being "We're a touring show" would that imply that the producers are paying for room and board of its cast?

If so I still think $250/week is unthinkably low, I could understand an argument of paying choir members $750 a week as they are getting free housing and food, but even Disney on Ice pays its cast members a minimum of $500-$800 a week."

Just to add a little perspective: the ushers at the Broadway Theatre earn $56 per performance. If they work all 8 shows, their weekly pay is $448.

[Falslanaland]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 1:56pm

LightsOut90 said: "yall are spending alot of time and energy over a show that's obviously going to be a HUGE flop"

THIS. Where is their target audience anyway? I can't find it.

[felixleiter]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:12pm

dearalanaaaa said: "LightsOut90 said: "yall are spending alot of time and energy over a show that's obviously going to be a HUGE flop"

THIS. Whereis their target audience anyway? I can't find it."

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that it's the friends and relations of the choir members....

[raddersons]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:35pm

dearalanaaaa said: "LightsOut90 said: "yall are spending alot of time and energy over a show that's obviously going to be a HUGE flop"

THIS. Whereis their target audience anyway? I can't find it."

Fans of the TransSiberian Orchestra? They seem to sell out shows every Christmas, and I still can't figure out why. 

[bk]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:38pm

Again everyone is posting about the 275/250/215 as if that were factual.  It is unsubstantiated and put out in the ether by Equity to inflame this situation.  They "heard" from one person (unnamed) that the offer was 250 or whatever.  Until anyone here actually knows what the offer was, and I highly doubt it was that figure, all the breastbeating is just that.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:42pm

bk said: "Until anyone here actually knows what the offer was, and I highly doubt it was that figure, all the breastbeating is just that."

Wouldn't the same go for you insisting that isn't the number?

[Kad]

Posted: 3/8/18 at 4:44pm

The Rocktopia producers could also divulge the offer they've extended, if the low figures bouncing around aren't accurate.

[bk]

Posted: 3/9/18 at 1:13am

Tapping23 said: "First: numbers are being tossed around like they are fact and nobody knows that for sure. 2nd he clearly said he thinks that is incorrect which would equate to his opinion. So in the end nobody on this forum can say yes that is the contract or no it isn’t. Also nobody on this forum has any idea what the terms of the contract are, hours, days, how many performances."

Oh, but common sense in this discussion is not of interest.  

 

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/9/18 at 12:07pm

Perhaps a more interesting question: has anyone here had the experience of SINGING with Rocktopia? The chorus from "Jesus Christ Superstar" that I did last year was offered the chance to sing for their Pittsburgh area production, but life got in the way and they bused in another local choir that had already done their show before.

Their arrangements are nice, but not as immediately iconic as TSO.

[bowtie7]

Posted: 3/22/18 at 9:36am

#EquityWorks: Actors' Equity Reaches Tentative Agreement with Producers of Broadway Production Rocktopia

New Agreement Ensures All Cast Members and Stage Managers Will Be Covered by Equity Contracts

Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 Actors and Stage Managers, has announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with the Producers of the Broadway production Rocktopia to ensure the production will use wall-to-wall Equity contracts.

The agreement comes after thousands of Equity members heeded the call of their Union and spoke out on social media, asking the producers of Rocktopia to ensure that workers be paid a living wage and put on Equity contracts. 

“I hope that every commercial producer who is thinking about a run on Broadway has heard the message loud and clear that all performers on Broadway deserve not only to be fairly compensated but also to have the protection of an Equity contract," said Kate Shindle, President of Actors’ Equity Association. "I am encouraged by and grateful for the thousands of Equity members, as well as all the members of our sister unions, who raised their voices over the last two weeks. Those declarations of solidarity led directly to this contract."

The new agreement for the part-time choir members will more than double the pay when compared to what some Equity members reported was offered early in the process, and the agreement will ensure the performers have the protection of Equity contracts.

The agreement comes after good faith negotiations between the parties, initially commenced in late 2017. With the agreement, Rocktopia will also be removed from Equity's Do Not Work list.

Rocktopia is among a handful of productions that come to Broadway but are not automatically covered by Equity contracts, like other Broadway plays and musicals. As part of Equity 2020, Equity has committed to become more aggressive about finding new work opportunities and higher wages for Equity members, wherever they might live and work.

ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its Members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks

[bowtie7]

Posted: 3/22/18 at 9:38am

Have any specifics been released on the choir contract? Is it a variation on the allowance for extras? The current AEA Production Contract does allows for extras and is unclear under what circumstances a choir would qualify. 
From pages of 43 & 44 of the current rule book:

28. EXTRAS
Producer may employ Extras so long as the Extras comply with the following definition: 
Rule 28, EXTRAS
Rule 29, GUARANTEED PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
(A) Definition. The function of an Extra is to provide atmosphere and
background only. An Extra may not be identified as a definite character, either
singly or within a group and may not be required to change make-up. An Extra may,
however, make a single costume change. An Extra may not be rehearsed more
than two weeks before the first public performance, may not speak except in
omnes, may not sing (except with the consent of Equity in relation to a particular
play), dance, or understudy and may not tour except with a pre-Broadway tryout of
eight weeks or less.
(B) Auditions. When a Producer determines to conduct auditions for Extras,
such auditions shall be conducted consistent with the provisions of Rule 5(A),
Principal Interviews/Auditions, provided, however, that there shall be no required
minimum number of audition days, and performers may be screened for general
type during the scheduled audition.
(C) Salary and other conditions of employment. Rehearsal and Minimum
Performance Salary shall be no less than one-half Actor's minimum salary. During a
pre-Broadway tryout, Extras shall be paid the applicable out- of-town expenses set
forth in Rule 63(B) for each day spent out of town, in addition to their regular salary.
Extras shall receive hospitalization and medical coverage as provided in Rule 30.
(1) Rehearsal hours for the first two weeks after the Point of Organization
opening may be the same as those for Principal Actors, as provided in Rule 58,
REHEARSALS. After said two weeks, Extras shall be paid the rehearsal
overtime rate (see Rule 58(D)(3)) per hour for any hour or part thereof of
rehearsal.
(2) Extras shall be signed on Standard Form Contracts supplied by Equity,
which Standard Forms shall stipulate:
(a) A one week guarantee of salary from the date of opening of the
play;
(b) A requirement of one week notice for termination of contracts.

I find this unclear if it only relates to plays but would seem to potentially allow singing.
Or is this agreement something completely new?

Also
Does this release seem to suggest that AEA is allowing part-time cast members and would this be a new precedent of possibly the prorating of weekly salary? Could this impact future production, especially show with double/triple/quadruple casting of children?

And since I am just full of questions this morning, does anyone know of recent use of extras in production contract shows?