Standbys

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:43pm

So if the principle cast member knows IN ADVANCE that they're not going on, do the standbys step up or does the understudy? Cuz if that's the case, isn't the standby really like the first understudy then? Or is the standby simply there for emergency reasons? Or am I just completely screwed up in my thinking about this?!

[Mythus]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:50pm

Don't quote me on this, but I think understudies are there for when an actor is sick or on vacation. Standbys are in case the actor is injured during the performance and needs to be replaced in the second act.

But, still, don't quote me on that.

[edenespinosalover]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:54pm

That's what my thought about the subject was.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 9:56pm

I hate to say this, but it depends on the show
I know that for Wicked, the Standby (who doesn't perform another role) is the 1st cover and the Understudy (who is in the ensemble) is the 2nd cover

[dancinfan]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:09pm

Generally speaking, standbys go on before understudies do, provided both are available. However, I know of situations when management has decided that the understudy is more prepared or just better at a role than the standby, so they have gone on first.

[gherbert]

Posted: 11/2/04 at 10:16pm

TOTALLY depends on the show and the people. The terms "Standby" and "Understudy" are thrown around loosely though and I suppose it has to do with the type of contract you have. For instance: Hellen Gallagher was Gwen Verdon's standby in Sweet Charity although she had a major supporting part in the show. GENERALLY speaking, the standby is there as a cover and nothing else, therefore being the 1st cover. Usually, a performer wouldn't have an understudy if he/she had a standby, but because performers seem to stay out of shows for little more than a toe ache these days producers hire a standby and sometimes several understudies. It's more clear-cut when there is one, but usually the standby will perform because that is their job despription: a cover. Putting on an understudy when you have a standby also means putting in a swing and I am not aare of the exact percentages, but understudies make more money every time they go on, as do swings. So it might actually be CHEAPER to put on just a standby. REALLY depends on the producers and show, though.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 11/3/04 at 8:28pm

You are correct about understudies getting an eighth of a predetermined salary each time they go on for a role, but swings are paid two different ways, neither of which has to do with getting more when they go on.

A "full swing," who has no nightly performing responsibilities when he is not on, is paid a weekly flat fee to understudy X number of tracks in the show, plus they get paid extra for each specialty they cover and any hazard pay that those tracks entail. (ie A female full swing at Beauty and the Beast gets paid the full swing flat fee to cover all 8 female ensemble members, then also gets paid one specialty fee for covering the Silly Girls, one for the Wolves, one for the Enchantress, and hazard pay for flying as the Enchantress).

A "partial swing," who has nightly performing responsibilities (like being in the ensemble or singing on an offstage mic), gets paid to cover numbers in the show (not tracks), plus specialty and hazard pay. (ie A female partial swing at BATB gets paid to cover the women in Belle, Gaston, Be Our Guest, Human Again, Mob Song, and Finale; plus the Silly Girl, Wolf, and Enchantress pay mentioned above; plus hazard pay. In this case, the partial swing makes more money than the full swing, but that's not always true.)

No extra fees for going on...unless they also cover a principal role, which many swings do. In that case, they are called an understudy and get 1/8 of whatever salary they have negotiated.