Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Budget Percentages

Author

Message

RoseColored Gla
Player
Player

Joined: 8/15/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 27

Topic: Budget Percentages
Posted: 12/09/08 at 5:21pm

Was wondering if anyone happened to have a percentage breakdown for their budgets for musicals?

For example, if we are budgeting 6k, what percentage of that should go toward sets, what percentage should go toward costumes, etc.? I know that budgets are not perfect, but i would love to see how other's break down their money.

Dennis Dippary
Artistic Director
Songs for a New WorldRoseColored Glasses
May Dionysus smile upon your every performance!

IP Logged

dexter74656
Lead
Lead

Joined: 12/29/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 36

Posted: 1/07/09 at 6:21pm

I think that's going to be largely dependent on the specific show... something with elaborate costumes or sets are going to require a lot more monetary emphasis put on those aspects, while something like Songs for a New World like you're doing... totally different story with very minimal expenses at all for costumes/sets.

I'm looking at two musicals for my company in the near future and I know the budget for one will be totally different than the budget for the other based on the complexity of the show and the size of the cast.

IP Logged

lparks
Star
Star

Joined: 1/12/10
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58

Posted: 4/01/10 at 3:19pm

See our budget for DRACULA THE MUSICAL:
http://www.brtlive.org/BRT EXPENSE SHEET.pdf

Landon Parks,
Producing Artistic Director,
Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co

IP Logged

lagazza
Player
Player

Joined: 8/24/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Posted: 4/01/10 at 3:58pm

The Wildhorn Dracula. How did the Show do? Have been thinking about the it for October.

Thanks

IP Logged

lparks
Star
Star

Joined: 1/12/10
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58

Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:02pm

We have not done it yet. It's coming up this fall. they way I see it, we need to sell 176 seats to each performance in our 561 seat house to pay for the production expense, so I hope it does pretty well.

It totally flopped on Broadway, but I love the show so much, that I decided to do it anyway. We'll see. Smile

Landon Parks,
Producing Artistic Director,
Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co

IP Logged

lagazza
Player
Player

Joined: 8/24/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:18pm

That's a nice ratio. Might have to take another look at my budgeting. Though you seem to have one advantage over me... Labor and musician costs.

IP Logged

lparks
Star
Star

Joined: 1/12/10
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58

Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:42pm

Well, we make up for it in Administration expenses, which will end up running somewhere along the lines of $100,000 a year, or $20,000 per production. So that $31,000 Dracula budget is not including the $20,000 admin. expenses. Thankfully, Our fundraisers, grants and Sponsorship should cover a majority of the admin. expense.

We are luck in that we tap the free talent base of technical theatre students at the local high school for most of our production work. They get 'professional' experience, in exchange for helping us. We MIGHT end up paying the musicians; that is yet to be determined.

Edited by lparks - 4/01/10 at 4:44pm

Landon Parks,
Producing Artistic Director,
Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co

IP Logged

lagazza
Player
Player

Joined: 8/24/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:58pm

Makes me feel better he says with a wink. Your theater work straight fee or %? I basically lose 20% of each ticket to the theater.

IP Logged

lparks
Star
Star

Joined: 1/12/10
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 58

Posted: 4/01/10 at 5:10pm

If your referring to our rental, we pay a flat fee per day to rent the Theatre. It ranges between $220 - $990. Seeing as how we are the primary user of the Theatre, we receive a 25% discount over the normal rental rate. In addition, we have to pay for the IATSE tech director who has to be with us at all times, at $29/hr - $40/overtime.

Landon Parks,
Producing Artistic Director,
Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co

IP Logged

lagazza
Player
Player

Joined: 8/24/09
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Posted: 4/01/10 at 7:21pm

Thanks for the insight. Now, I will say that the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area is larger than Bloomington. Theater also seats 1075. So the rates do seem in line. Always interesting to compare though.

All the best

IP Logged

Money Talk
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Theater Administration :Money Talk

Author	Message
RoseColored Gla Player Joined: 8/15/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Topic: Budget Percentages Posted: 12/09/08 at 5:21pm
	Was wondering if anyone happened to have a percentage breakdown for their budgets for musicals? For example, if we are budgeting 6k, what percentage of that should go toward sets, what percentage should go toward costumes, etc.? I know that budgets are not perfect, but i would love to see how other's break down their money.
	Dennis Dippary Artistic Director Songs for a New WorldRoseColored Glasses May Dionysus smile upon your every performance!

	IP Logged

dexter74656 Lead Joined: 12/29/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 1/07/09 at 6:21pm
	I think that's going to be largely dependent on the specific show... something with elaborate costumes or sets are going to require a lot more monetary emphasis put on those aspects, while something like Songs for a New World like you're doing... totally different story with very minimal expenses at all for costumes/sets. I'm looking at two musicals for my company in the near future and I know the budget for one will be totally different than the budget for the other based on the complexity of the show and the size of the cast.
	IP Logged

lparks Star Joined: 1/12/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 4/01/10 at 3:19pm
	See our budget for DRACULA THE MUSICAL: http://www.brtlive.org/BRT EXPENSE SHEET.pdf
	Landon Parks, Producing Artistic Director, Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co
	IP Logged

lagazza Player Joined: 8/24/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 4/01/10 at 3:58pm
	The Wildhorn Dracula. How did the Show do? Have been thinking about the it for October. Thanks
	IP Logged

lparks Star Joined: 1/12/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:02pm
	We have not done it yet. It's coming up this fall. they way I see it, we need to sell 176 seats to each performance in our 561 seat house to pay for the production expense, so I hope it does pretty well. It totally flopped on Broadway, but I love the show so much, that I decided to do it anyway. We'll see.
	Landon Parks, Producing Artistic Director, Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co
	IP Logged

lagazza Player Joined: 8/24/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:18pm
	That's a nice ratio. Might have to take another look at my budgeting. Though you seem to have one advantage over me... Labor and musician costs.
	IP Logged

lparks Star Joined: 1/12/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:42pm
	Well, we make up for it in Administration expenses, which will end up running somewhere along the lines of $100,000 a year, or $20,000 per production. So that $31,000 Dracula budget is not including the $20,000 admin. expenses. Thankfully, Our fundraisers, grants and Sponsorship should cover a majority of the admin. expense. We are luck in that we tap the free talent base of technical theatre students at the local high school for most of our production work. They get 'professional' experience, in exchange for helping us. We MIGHT end up paying the musicians; that is yet to be determined. Edited by lparks - 4/01/10 at 4:44pm
	Landon Parks, Producing Artistic Director, Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co
	IP Logged

lagazza Player Joined: 8/24/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 4/01/10 at 4:58pm
	Makes me feel better he says with a wink. Your theater work straight fee or %? I basically lose 20% of each ticket to the theater.
	IP Logged

lparks Star Joined: 1/12/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 58	Posted: 4/01/10 at 5:10pm
	If your referring to our rental, we pay a flat fee per day to rent the Theatre. It ranges between $220 - $990. Seeing as how we are the primary user of the Theatre, we receive a 25% discount over the normal rental rate. In addition, we have to pay for the IATSE tech director who has to be with us at all times, at $29/hr - $40/overtime.
	Landon Parks, Producing Artistic Director, Bloomington Repertory Theatre Co
	IP Logged

lagazza Player Joined: 8/24/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 4/01/10 at 7:21pm
	Thanks for the insight. Now, I will say that the Greensboro/Winston-Salem area is larger than Bloomington. Theater also seats 1075. So the rates do seem in line. Always interesting to compare though. All the best
	IP Logged

Topic: Budget Percentages( Topic Closed)