Up until a few years ago, a "token of appreciation" was always given at the cast party.....sometimes (depending on the individual/position) a very nice token!  They were usually purchased by the director, though as time went along the producer usually had the privilege of procuring gifts for the tech staff.  These gifts were purchased with funds out of the director's/producer's pocket, willingly and with great joy and enjoyment in the choosing.  A lot of thought and work went into these gifts (very often handcrafted by the director/producer), and they were frequently chosen with the individual actor/tech person in mind. The cast usually took up a collection (small amount from each cast member/tech person) to buy the director and producer an appropriate and heartfelt gift.  To me, (as an actor, techie, and director) this kind of "pay" means a lot more than a set amount voted impersonally by the Board.  I always took great pride and pleasure in receiving such a gift, and even more pride and pleasure in creating, buying and giving it.

In recent years, this tradition has continued with some people, but many of those involved in the shows have ceased to attend the cast parties, and so are not there to receive verbal thanks and this token at the traditional time.  This time at the cast parties was always referred to as "humility hour", and was looked forward to throughout the whole production. 

Yes, I agree that appreciation also needs to be given on a continuing basis throughout the rehearsal period and not just at the cast party. I agree that not enough of that happens. But isn't it a shame that we consider money to be the most important kind of "thank you"?  It has become so impersonal that it is almost pointless. A lot of the heart, comraderie, and warmth has gone out of the theatre group.

I have been both on stage and backstage, as dresser, props designer, sound, lights, director, etc., and I have to say that I have never felt slighted in the least.  There always has been someone to thank me for my efforts, and even to compliment me on what I have done.  As a matter of fact, I have often received more feedback (except for applause, of course) on my backstage work than for being onstage.  Applause from the audience is wonderful, but thank yous are very seldom given to the actors by the tech people or theatre members for the time-intensive efforts that they have put in.

I agree with you totally about support and thanks for ALL members of the theatre effort. I know that we all need to make more of an effort to do so, and if I am unknowingly at fault, I do apologize to anyone that I may have slighted. But why is money the be-all, end-all solution to this problem?

Sorry for the ramble, but this is a very emotional topic for me.  I feel that it causes more rancor than it solves, dealing with who to pay, how much to pay, etc.

Straight stage productions, no one is paid. Musicals, we sometimes will pay the musicians.  $500 to the Music director, and pit band members each get $100 for the run of rehearsals and shows. Pretty much just gas money.

We also produce 2 - 2 week children's theatre workshops in the summer. One for 1st - 8th grade, and one for 9th - 12th. The teaching staff and administrators are paid $700.00 per workshop. I kept track of my hours one year, and figured I made about $1 per hour.  

Both of the theatres that I work in have paid staff: our local playhouse has an Artistic Director, and two Educational Directors (who work with the student groups and teach the theatre classes/camps), while the other theatre has an Artistic Director and a Resident Artist (who is his wife!), both of whom are Equity members.  I believe Directors and other consultants receive stipends at both, but I don't know how much exactly.

The only paying gig I have had was the Shakespeare festival at the second theatre.  They bring in one or two Equity actors every year for the lead roles, along with a guest director, and everyone in the show actually made some money on a sliding scale.  I made about $150 for that gig, though when you compare it to the hours spent in rehearsal, I think I made about a nickel an hour!!    Oh, well...it was cool to actually receive a paycheck for my passion - more an acknowledgment than real renumeration, but at least I can say I have been PAID to act!!!

We do not pay any of people involved with the production of our shows.

Our director is also a teacher at my HS, so he gets paid for that. I don't think they separate it into the time he's teaching and the time he's directing, though.

I have no idea whether the Tech Director gets paid. I- don't think so? He's a DJ when he's not TD-ing, so I think he doesn't get paid.

And, of course, being students, the actors/crew don't get paid. Well, the professional pit orchestra we get for the musicals to augment our own sad little orchestra does, but I don't think it's much.

And our acting coach is a nun, so she's a volunteer for sure.