One of the major issues on the small theatres, the 99 seat
in LA and Showcase code in NY, has been that producers are USING actors to get
rich while not paying them. Per the NY
Showcase, NO ONE on any show can make more money than the union actors, so there
goes the fat cat illusions. I’ve repeatedly asked for statistics, which Equity
can whip out when it benefits them, but NO ONE can give me 99 seat/Showcase
code examples or statistics showing where there are examples of
producers/directors getting rich off the backs of actors. It’s like a Hans
Christian Anderson fairy tale.
How many
shows transfer to code now than they did in say, 1989? These are important
numbers? Did any of the 2014 900+ NY showcases break even and transfer? AEA CAN
PROVIDE THESE STATISTIC - THEY JUST WON'T!
The only answer I get it that 'most of these theatres are
501(c)(3)’s – (again, statistics please) and that they can’t expect to make
money as they are charities'. (Yet, whenever I’ve referred to our company as a charity, I get told we’ charge tiny admission’
and therefore are not by Union Standards.) While legally unsound – (“All candidates proudly proclaim
they are NOT lawyers” but if you are running for office – you wouldn’t consult
one???) museums, memorials, nursing homes are non-profits, yet they charge fees
in order to continue. Why shouldn’t we be allowed the CHANCE to
continue? And yes, in RARE cases, 501c3 directors, secretaries, etc receive a
salary. They are not working on just one show but have full time, year round
duties (And I’d bet that almost all of us who do these full time jobs, get NO payment. As far as 501c3 staff, they can
legally make something like 20-30% of what they would doing the same job in the
commercial market. IF they’re making more, let the IRS get them.
THE STATISTICS ARE OUT THERE – IF A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
DOESN’T HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, THEN WHO DOES? 
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