All our staff positions are strictly volunteer with the exception of a music director. We don't do musicals very often (our summer fundraiser is the only thing regularly on the schedule), and therefore don't have those skills within the group. However, we have been very successful otherwise with using (qualified) volunteers for directing shows.

God, I wish we could say that we don't pay, but we do.

Musical:  Director $400, Music Director $400, Producer $400, Choreographer $200, Rehearsal Pianist $ 250, Orchestra $175 each (limit 10)

Straight Show: Director $300, Producer $300

We are even having talks about starting to give a stipend to the primary set builder and set dresser.

It never ends...

I belong to the same theatre as MartyW, and I think there's a lesson to be learned from our experience.  You may have noted that he said "we are even having talks about starting to give a stipend to the primary set builder and set dresser". 

THESE ARE VOLUNTEER THEATRES, FOLKS!!!!

30 years ago, our theatre was bullied into giving a director's stipend in order to "attract better directors".  Well, the directors that we attracted were the same people that had been directing for free all along (with a few minor and fleeting exceptions throughout the years.).  My objection to doing so at that time was this:  where will it all stop?  I think that if you look at Marty's listing of all who are "paid" now (or want to be paid in the near future), you'll see that it doesn't stop!!  And, in the minds of the other people that give an equal amount of time and effort to the productions, why should it stop?  Why shouldn't they be paid, too? 

At the risk of being boring and repetitive, THIS IS VOLUNTEER THEATRE, FOLKS!  We are doing it, ostensibly, for the love of it and, frankly, all the bickering that seems to evolve over who is going to be paid and how much they are going to be paid really takes away from the pleasure of participating.

I know the question that is going to be asked by someone is "what if you can't get someone to do it without being paid?"  Well, how about taking some time and effort to train new people that could then take on the position?  How about sending people to workshops, or studying theatrecraft books?  How about reaching out to others in the community that have the necessary skills, but who might not be involved strictly (or at all) in theatre?  Local shop teachers, art teachers, artists, hairdressers - professionals, or even those that use those skills strictly as an avocation!  They might be tickled to be asked and, in fact, have been pleased in the instances that I have experienced!  They might even stick around and become valued members of your theatre! How about calling on people that used to be involved in your theatre in years past but, for whatever reason, have had to stop participating?  They might be available now and just need that little nudge to become active again.  How about calling on people that participate in other theatres in your area, if you are in a place that has a number of theatres in existance?

Don't let yourselves be bullied into paying just because "no-one else can do my job"....no-one is indispensible, even though they may try to make you think that they are.  Don't be snookered into believing that.  There are always other options. 

If you don't pay people now but are thinking about doing so, you might want to learn a lesson that we learned the hard way.....don't open Pandora's cash box.  There are other ways to have a successful theatre.  Think creatively.....after all, aren't us theatre folks supposed to be creative?

(Marty:  you knew this one would smoke me out of the woodwork, didn't you.)