What does "swung out" refer to?

A few weeks ago, Raymond J Lee of Groundhog Day posted on Instagram that he was "swung out" for that evening's show and was instead visiting as a patron.  When I looked at the tag on Instagram I saw a few other similar pictures of actors doing similar things.

Does anyone know what the term actually means?  Google didn't reveal anything.

It means the stage manager asked them to step away from the show that day so an understudy/swing can practice their track.

It means the stage manager asked them to step away from the show that day so an understudy/swing can practice their track.

That doesn't really happen, as it costs money.

Updated On: 8/26/17 at 02:29 AM

Tag said: "It means the stage manager asked them to step away from the show that day so an understudy/swing can practice their track.

That doesn't really happen, as it costs money.

 

"

Actually, this is incorrect. On Broadway (and in any other union house), a swing is on a weekly salary, the same as other company members. The "swung out" company member receives their regular pay for watching the show and noting roles s/he covers; the swing receives their regular pay as well.

The only time that a swing's performance costs a company additional money is when the swing goes on in a leading role.

and also...

An actor cannot be asked to relinquish a performance for the benefit of another actor (as opposed to for his or her own benefit).

Offhand I cannot recall if this is a specific contract provision or an interpretation, but among other things it would have potential application in the Comet scenario with Oak and Mandy (although that's a scenario with far more complications we need not dredge up again). FWIW this works similarly in reverse: an actor who wants to take off time without sufficient accumulated leave (e.g., perhaps most often to film a pilot or something like that) may have to deal with the possibility of being terminated.

Yes to a lot of this. Seeing a show you've built from the audience is an eye opening experience. Ray may have wanted to sit in the audience as well as give his cover a chance to go on and perhaps invite family and friends. Knowing the show is closing gives people the opportunity for things like that. 

 

And it doesn't cost the show a cent. As mentioned above the only time is is extra pay is if they are on a principle contract.