Hi All!

Anyone aware of the practice of a theatre charging the *actors* a fee to offset costs for their costumes?

I've been acting for over 25 years and directing for at least ten of that in an area that supports over 85 theatre companies and I don't know of even ONE of those theatres practicing such.

I am about to direct a show in a nearby town and the artistic director tells me that the cast will be required to pay a $25 fee to rent their costumes and are responsible for paying the (refundable) deposit on their costumes as well.  This theatre has an agreement with a costume rental business and pays that company to provide costuming for all their shows throughout the year. They pay most of the fee, and the actors pay $25 and the deposit to ensure they will care for their costumes.  In addition, since there's a "deal",  my bringing my costumers, even if they were more economical than the present setup, is questionable, because the rental business will lose that money or the theatre will have to pay it anyway.

Anyone else hear of such a practice?  I never have.  The artistic director is trying to tell me other theatres do this as if I just "fell off the turnip truck," and don't know what other theatres do.

I strongly feel a volunteer cast should *never* be *required* to pay for anything to do with a production, *especially* in an area such as mine where film and theatre work is so abundant that talent can go where they want and NOT pay a fee.

Thanks for your feedback!
Joni

I heard a similar one just last night... It appears our big "Once A Year" musical production company is charging 50 bucks to particpate (ostensibly to cover costuming issues)  That was a bit of an OUCH to hear.  But that wasn't the worst of it. Our arts council runs a youth theater and AFTER they cast the Christmas show they announced that they too were adding a participation fee of $50. (Per kid!) That can be a chunk of money for some families, especially near Christmas. And as Ron Popeal says... "Wait... There's more!"  They even want to charge the participation fee for thier TECH people!!!!

Hoy....

 

What? I have never heard of this.  I did fall off of a turnip truck lately so maybe I am wrong.  I have been designing and making costumes for oh- about thirty years -  from kindergarten to Opera.  Never heard of it.  I think it smells. 

If the actors provide their own costumes are they exempt from the fee?  If not -  then it smells even worse.

Can other costume design/ rental companies bid on this contract to supply wardrobe? 

I'm with you, Joni...volunteers shouldn't have to pay to work -  and Marty....did I read that right?  The Tech people are being charged for "participation"?  I would "participate" in a brisk walk to the nearest exit. 

Imagine that you had two children cast in the "musical"  - now you have to tell them that they can't be in it because you don't have the 100$?  At least the parents should have been informed before they let the children get their hearts set on being in the play.  The arts council should be ashamed of themselves. 

 

pay to tech a show? lol no way!

We've done it in the past ... $25 actor's fee, but essentially it covered part of the costume rental.  Since it's a very small CT and depends solely on ticket sales, there just wasn't enough to make it.

No familiy paid more than $75 and no one ever complained.  They understood the situation.

Since I took over as president we have eliminated the fee.