Why are Non-Union tours so looked down upon ?

I understand that you want to see a Broadway tour filled with Broadway quality performers but it seems like (on here at least) That People wouldn't would spend a dime on a Non Union show.

Is there really that big of a difference between a Union touring show and a Non-union touring show besides the level of performers?

I also may not be understanding the complete difference between the two so please correct me if I am wrong, But this is what I understand about the difference:

1. A Non union show doesn't require all of the company to have Broadway Credits. Am I right?

2. If You want to audition for a Union show than you need an equity card and Non union tours don't require that?

3. Do you need an equity card to audition for a Non union show?

I know this is sort of a random question but I was looking through My 'Networks' beauty and the beast playbill and understood that this particular production wasn't a Union show. IMO the set was clearly not up to par with a Broadway show but I thought The Performers were great and I wouldn't mind seeing any of them on Broadway in BATB.

Thanks

That does help, thank you.

"You do not need an Equity to card to audition for an Equity production, either. The Union members will be seen first, then it is up the director (I think it is the director, but may be wrong) gets to decide if he wants to see the Non-Union performers or not."

So what exactly is the point of the Equity card?

IF the director has time and IF he decides he wants to see more people, then he will see SOME non-union actors. The vast majority of the time, you go to an Equity audition, wait around for hours until all the Equity people get seen, and then get told they are not seeing anyone else.

Is there really that big of a difference between a Union touring show and a Non-union touring show besides the level of performers?

I mean...isn't that enough of a difference? Also, tours go non-union after a few years, when they are trying to cut corners and reduce costs, so generally a non-union tour will be lesser quality all around.

That is not to say that non-Equity actors are necessarily less talented than Equity actors. I have worked with many incredibly talented young non-union performers. But there is a stigma, and it proves true often enough to stick around, unfortunately.

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Generally, if an Equity actor has an audition, then it will have been scheduled through the Equity office (so, yes, the director will see all of the Equity auditions).

There are different ways to become an Equity member. In some cases, if you are non-union and get a role in an Equity production, you must join Equity. You can also be in productions at Equity-approved theatres and earned points (through the Equity Membership program - once you get a certain number of points, you become Equity).

I am giving a very general overview, but you can find details at their website: http://www.actorsequity.org/home.asp

Same, same

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 04:11 PM

I've always liked this explanation of becoming equity from Nicholas Hytner from the Making of Miss Saigon... it starts at the 4:00 mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfL4ej3EEHI

1. Do any Non Union shows have a replica of the Broadway show or is it always different?

Non-Equity tours have non-union actors, but everyone else (musicians, stagehands) are union. Those are more likely to be replicas of the Broadway production. Non-union tours have no union members, so you may have to alter/simplify the production.

If a tour is produced by the same producers as the Broadway production, they will probably use the Broadway sets and costumes, since they own them (if the Broadway show has closed, of course). If a tour is being marketed as a tour of the Broadway show, chances are it will look pretty similar. The original direction and choreography can be used as long as the producers pay royalties.

Once the tour has been out for a few years and is now in smaller theaters than before (another cost-cutting technique), some of the sets may need to be altered to fit a smaller stage.

So it may not be an exact replica, but for marketing purposes, it is usually pretty close, at least to an untrained eye.

2. How many shows do you need to be in before you get the Equity card. How does that process work?

Check out the link that GilmoreGirl posted. There are many ways to join the union, and unfortunately not a set number of shows or years. It could be one lucky break or it could be a decade of earning points in regional theater.

3. Have there always been non union and union shows or is this a new thing?

Union shows have been around as long as the union, obviously (100 years). I don't know for sure, but I think there have probably always been non-union shows, but they may originally only have been amateur. I don't know the exact history.

However, the non-union touring market and the whole touring business model have kind of taken shape over the last couple decades, I think since the mega musicals of the 80s, when production costs skyrocketed because people wanted bigger and bigger productions, so producers needed to find a way to make touring more lucrative. There are a bunch of changes they made to the touring model around then (and it is always evolving as the market and economy change), and non-union touring is one of those changes. There are entire management companies now who only do non-union tours.

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Updated On: 5/2/13 at 04:21 PM

Are Equity Principal Interviews a thing of the past? I know actors hated them, but when my husband was doing them for the Hal Prince office, they were a chance for actors to get their photos and resumes--along with notes on their general physical type and personality--into the Prince office files.

And many union members who met my husband in an AEA interview later invited him to come see them in NY area shows. If they were good, he might well become a champion for them when it came time to cast a new show or tour.

Of course, seeing him wasn't the same as seeing Joanna Merlin (his boss), much less Prince himself. But it was more useful than sitting in your apartment.

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newintown is right that views of union and non-union productions vary greatly the farther you get from New York. In Los Angeles, where there is a lot of work, but much less union theater, many, many fine actors are members of SAG and AFTRA, but never bother to pay for an Equity card.

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 04:59 PM

I have a question of my own to add: I know that Jennifer Damiano got her Equity card after being cast in Spring Awakening. She didn't have a card, and I doubt at her age then she was able to sit around and wait to see if she'd be seen. I know she had done some professional work beforehand, but not Equity. Is it possible to get auditions for Equity when you're non-Eq if you have a good agent?

boggess, that all depends on how the producers are running the auditions. For some shows, especially something like Spring Awakening where they were specifically looking for young and up and coming actors, they will have days where they are taking appointments for both Equity and non-Equity, as well as possibly non-Equity open calls.

One good example I can think of a tour turning non equity and not loosing much quality was the Hairspray Tour, I saw the equity tour and later the non equity tour and they seemed exactly the same.