What's a non-Equity tour?- Page 2

[BroadwayBaby816]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 12:07pm

how do u get into a union and become an equity actor?

[eslgr8]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 12:49pm

Natalie 2--Thank you so much for your input into this discussion. I've really learned a lot from you. I've been quite curious about the "life" of someone on a non-Equity tour. I've recently seen a spectacular non-union "Oliver" and have "Best Little Whorehouse" coming up. My personal feeling is that these productions can be great (or not, as the case may be). As you say they offer opportunities for young performers to be paid to perform, and to gain experience, see the country, etc. So what if you don't get points for your Equity card this time. It's my understanding that many regional theater people CHOOSE not to become union. In your own case, if you should elect to become Equity, you are young enough to work on that later, and right now you are learning and improving and I'm sure this will help your career in the long run. So thank you Natalie! On the other hand, Breakneck speed is doing nothing but repeating the union line, which has been done time and time again on this site. For once, Natalie, you've given us something new to think about! I wish I could see your tour! Is your schedule anywhere online?

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 11:38pm

The big issue for me is the deception going on among producers who certainly can afford to produce an Equity tour, but choose not to so that their stockholders can see more profit. (Clear Channel, are you listening?) There have long been non-Equity tours, and some great ones. But they were never First National Tours with non-Equity casts, as the recent tour of the revival of 42ND STREET was. It's fraud, as far as the ticket buying public is concerned.

A non-Equity tour is a great experience for an actor to get legs, and work their way up the ladder. But there is no point for an actor to work their way up this proverbial ladder, if they're going to be confronted at the top with a useless union and a starving wage, which is the way things seem to be headed.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 1/9/05 at 11:58pm

From a pure audience's point of view, I don't want to support Non-equity tour show not b/c the perception that the actors are second rated, but b/c the greedy producers. If the actors are paid a lot less than equity tour actors, and the set and costumes are cheap, yet the ticket prices are pretty similar to the equity shows, so who is getting the profit? The producers!

And I saw Starlight Express tour without knowing it was non-equity and I was very disappointed both by direction and the actors.