The irony of the Broadway money cycle
The irony of the Broadway money cycle
FOCI
Featured Actor Joined: 3/31/04
#0The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:28am
I was reading Matt_G's thread about people being able to afford theatre and I started thinking how interesting it is that all these kids from *pretty* well-off families pay SO much money for acting classes, dance lessons, the best voice teacher, performing arts camp etc. for years and all so they can one day compete with 1,000 other people for a job that if you're very lucky pays 2,000 dollars a week. If you work for 50 weeks that's still only $100,000 a year before taxes. And how many actors are ever lucky enough to make that much steadily for most of their life?
My god, doctors and lawyers make upwards of $400,000 a year. No wonder parents aways want their kids to be in these professions.
For some reason I just find that so ironic. Oh, well it can't stop most people. :)
bbroadwaybb
Stand-by Joined: 10/12/04
#1re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:33amFilm & TV pay A LOT more and you get residuals from television. If you're on b'way you can do commericals and voice overs which can also be A LOT of money.
FOCI
Featured Actor Joined: 3/31/04
#2re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:34amCan't you earn more doing a big national commercial that shoots for like 3 days than working as ensemble on Broadway for like 6 months or am I crazy?
JamieMcG
Broadway Star Joined: 6/12/03
#3re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:36amNobody in their right mind is in theatre for the money. It's just not logical for someone to think that they are going to make a million dollars as a Broadway actor. It's about something else ("Who Am I Anyway?" is now playing in the background of this post) It's about passion, and the desire to create and the applause and the POSSIBILITY of being the next Dorothy Brock and defying the odds to do well. There's my 2 cents.
FOCI
Featured Actor Joined: 3/31/04
#4re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:40am
I know no one is in it for the money but I find it funny that you have to pay so much money to be as good as possible in a profession that makes so little money. I mean in my mind it doesn't make sense, why do you have to pay so much?
Side note: "Chorus Line" was the show that convinced me I needed to act in the first place. I have no visions of large sums of money.
bbroadwaybb
Stand-by Joined: 10/12/04
#5re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:42amIt's not logical. That's why more actors live in LA than in NY.
#6re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:43amIt really does bug me, the fact that it costs so much money to get good lessons in acting/singing etc. I go to this AMAZING workshop where the group is small and we learn lots of good skills but it costs 200 dollars for a few months of once a week classes. dont get me wrong, I Love those classes to death and they help me so much to improve but I just dont get why everyone has to pay so much to do what they love. Its like that with everything....Visual Art-300 dollars worth of supplies, Acting-200 for lessons, Horse Back Riding-100 dollars a lesson and it goes on and on. I know this world isnt all perfect and we cant never pay, and I'm not trying to sound ungrateful for what I have or whiny but i know people who cant do what they love because of money and that is a horrible reason to have to stop. It just seems like everything goes back to money these days and people have stopped caring about thier passions and dreams in favor of making a quick dime. Of course not all people are like that and I dont believe that everyone falls into that category, I'm just giving a clear example.
bbroadwaybb
Stand-by Joined: 10/12/04
#7re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:45amWOW! $200 for a few months of acting class??? Sign me up!!!
#8re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:47amyeah thats actually pretty cheap
#9re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:52amWell I know it can get alot more pricey when you go to the topnotch places and I admit, in LA, tahts a great deal but even though it is a magnificent program, it is viewed by most as less then top notch. Its a real diamond in the rough. If anyone is interested it is at Glendale Centre Theatre and it is phenomenal. I do admit that its not the most snazzy place that hollywood can offer but its like my second home and I do love it despite the fact that some people would scoff at it. The simple fact is that most people who arent celebrities cant afford those really high end classes which is what most people flock to. I think I just got VERY lucky by finding such a great place.
bbroadwaybb
Stand-by Joined: 10/12/04
#10re: The irony of the Broadway money cycle
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:52amHey Jamie, I loved Pippin this year. What are you going to do next year?
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