difference between equity and non equity tours

What is the difference between non eq and equity tours. I know there are some broadway shows such as RENT that choose to do non eq tours. But, why is it that there are some peopel on this board who say that they hope such and such a broadway tour does an equity tour cus it would suck if it were to be non eq. I mean is it like there wouldbe a difference between the acting? I think that a non equity cast can put on just as good a show as an equity cast.

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I just ran into Michael a little over a month ago.


We kissed and made up.


I still have to read his book.

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Ive always assumed that an equite show remains as alose to the broadway version as possible (sets & costumes) while a non equity tour can do as they like, usually wuth disasterous results.

but i could be wrong

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winston, they chose to be non equity to save the butt load of money. Not to have more young actors. They can find young actors and make them union if they want.

The difference is they pay non equity actors FRACTION what they pay union actors. Non are less experienced, younger and generally not as talented or polished. Shows like "hairspray" it doesn't really matter because they always use young people anyway...HOWEVER....it sucks for people in the union because they are loosing precious jobs!

Avenue Q also hires Non eq. actors...so I hear.

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I know they need 30+ for the adult roles for "hairspray"....however....75% of that show is kids.

the money for non equity tours is nothing compared to a production contract. They probably offered around the $800 mark, when on a production contract that is simply your per diem. The money is not unemployment here....but it is a fraction of a equity production contract.

The bottom line is: the producers are charging the same price for tickets....but paying the actors half the amount. The producers make out like bandits when choosing a tour to go non equity.

that's awesome it was so much. I have a friend who is a dynamite, and I thought her pay was offensive. We should be paid MUCH MUCH more. Especially that show is so physically taxing.

Yeah, I don't know what they were being offered. My part wouldn't have required any dancing, so hardly physically taxing.

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Would just like to make three points:

1. There is no definitive answer about talent, experience, use of original sets or production values, in non-Equity vs. Equity productions.

2. I have never seen even one non-Equity show that charges the same price for its tickets as any Equity show. In any case, the venues set ticket prices, not the tours.

3. If Equity is so concerned about these non-Equity tours, there's an easy solution. Extend an offer of Equity cards to these actors, or at least ease the ridiculous requirements for earning through the membership route.

Rath, I'm well aware of that. That was my point! They should quit bitching and moaning about non-Eq tours and the fact that those shows are "taking away Equity members' jobs".

So much mis-information in this thread. Erin-Equity wants as many people as possible to join as possible. IF you knew the status of the Health fund, you would never make such a claim. This year they have made all qualifying actors pay a quarterly fee to continue health benefits. This is in addition to working the minimum qualifying weeks. As a member I am not at all threatened by the union having more people. However I wonder what Non-Union performers would think if Equity started allowing its members to perform Non-union work. There would be riots at Chelsea, Nola, and Ripley Grier!
The membership requirements are not at all restrictive to join Actors Equity. If anything they have made it easier than ever to join and get seen. Since last year, Equity has allowed all membership candidates to be seen at all auditions before non-membership candidates when time allows(and after all full members have been seen). There are currently over fifty theaters in the U.S. that offer the membership candidate program, as well as hundreds that just simply offer you a contract. If you are an Actor in the New York area who has the talent and the drive to have a career, then there should be no problem getting your Equity Card. The requirements are there to make sure that those who become members are serious about their commitment to making acting their profession and not just something that they do for fun.
As for the statement that Non-Eq tours don't charge the same amount for tickets as Equity ones-I know first-hand that this is not true. I performed in Non-Eq tours years ago and when we went into major markets (Boston,D.C, Atlanta, etc.) we were charging the same prices as Les Mis or Phantom. Really sobering when you are cashing your $300 paycheck. That being said, I wouldn't trade that experience for the world.
P.S. -we used the sets and costumes from the Broadway production on that tour.

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Well, I was all prepared to audition for Motormouth, but I was typed out, if you can believe it.

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Neverandy, I'm am very well acquainted with the requirements to become an Equity member, and I fully understand the issues involved. My point is that Equity continues to bemoan the fact that there are an increasing number of non-Equity tours, yet those same tours are the ones which give jobs to newly graduated actors and allow them the experience they need in a professional environment. Instead of supporting this, even just in theory, Equity denigrates the tours, organizes boycotts of the shows, and complains that its members are losing these jobs. I was somewhat facetiously suggesting that a solution would be to give every graduating actor an Equity membership and it would eliminate the existence of non-Equity tours. I am well aware that this will never happen and is not practical, I'm not delusional. I simply get tired of the Equity complaining and attitude. I have many friends who are currently on tour in non-Equity productions and, amazingly enough, they are very happy with their experiences and are gaining valuable professional experience and, honestly, are having a blast.

As for ticket prices, the non-Eq tours I've seen in the past five years have usually had a top price in the $50-60 range. I haven't seen a price that low for an Equity tour in more than ten years.