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chorus in a Broadway show earns on www.talkinbroadway/allthatchat--very
interesting for anyone who wants to go into show 'biz'--this was one of
the more intersting and honest posts!
| Just some facts -- Long -- but I hope it clarifies some things. | |
| Posted by: | brucedow 12:19 am EST 11/22/08 |
| In reply to: | Broadway Salaries. - portenopete 10:33 pm EST 11/21/08 |
| While 60K a year might seem a lot -- living as an actor in NYC? It is not a lot of money. First, most shows don't run anything near a year -- so seeing that salary is highly unlikely. If you do get a long running show, you have to save for the next "lean time"... Most B'way chorus folks do not go "right from one show to another". Some do, but they are not the majority. Even if they do, there are often long lag times between shows. With rare exceptions, most of the chorus folks on B'way are doing the lion's share of the physical work in any show. They hit the door to the theatre running and don't stop till they are changed and out of the building. (God Bless YOUTH! HA!) Doing 8 shows a week in the chorus of a B'way show is more than a full time job. When doing 8 shows a week, plus understudy rehearsals etc. (often two extra "shows" a week), media work is not an option. No film or TV producer is going to hire an actor who has to "leave the set" at a designated time. It doesn't happen. (The folks doing Law & Order do it between B'way gigs. Rare exceptions, but it ain't the kids in the chorus.) Workshops are not a money making venture. Workshops only happen if you can get released from your present contract for the period of the workshop (very rare)-- during which time you are working for "workshop salary" (below poverty) and are not receiving your B'way salary for that time period. You can't do a workshop while appearing in a show -- very rare the schedule allows for such a thing. If it does, you are most likely doing it for "the love of it"; i.e. FOR FREE. (Most of an actor's expenses are "investments in one's future"; i.e. workshops, cabarets, fundraisers, etc.) Extra duties in a show amount to a small ($25-ish sort of thing) a week, per duty, over the base chorus salary -- and usually involve a lot of extra work. UI in Manhattan IS a starving salary. Not that, as artists we aren't used to it. $1509 minus 10% for your agent (most actors only have either an agent OR a manager), minus deductions for 401K, minus taxes, minus gym membership (almost mandatory), minus classes (dance and vocal), minus coachings, minus any additional promotional work (cabarets, websites, audition prep.)... minus costs for make-up, minus costs of maintaining two sets of personal supplies (one for home, one for the dressing room), minus rehearsal and audition clothing (dress wear and dance wear ain't cheap)... the list goes on. (A Broadway dancer will attend multiple classes per week -- very expensive. A Broadway singer or actor will attend at least one, or more private singing or acting lessons/coachings per week -- very expensive [$100/hr. is a conservative estimate.]) All in a B'way show receive a minimum salary for the rehearsal period. Then your salary goes up to your negotiated "performance" salary -- but there is no guarantee that your show will run. A studio apartment in NYC (under 45 minutes travel time to/from Broadway) averages more like $2100 to $2500/mo. Most B'way chorus folks travel more than 45 minutes each way. If they are closer, and their rent is less, they lucked out). Rent control is an idea of the past. Even sublets are now being offered at "actual rents", even if the apt. is rent controlled. Not nice, but it's done a lot. And aren't we all advised to spend no more that 1/4 of our monthly income on rent? Acting is not a "just show up and do it" job as most people think. But -- it's part of our job to make you believe it is. | |
