So having spent a lot of time thinking about the low pay/no pay debate, profit share and collaborative theatre making – and having had a very good meeting with Equity’s low pay/no pay officer yesterday. Here are my thoughts moving forwards. There seems to be several things that are clear:
1) We’re not going to have enough money to all get paid for making theatre for many years to come – so we need a positive model of how to do that fairly so everyone has an equal stake in the process and no one feels exploited.
2) We need an organisation which can look after, advise and support people making work collaboratively.
3) At least for the time being Equity do not want to be that organisation – though they would be supportive of anyone who was.
4) There is a real issue with a lack of management at the bottom end of the industry. A new model for how to manage collaborative theatre companies or potentially share resources is clearly needed.
It is fairly clear that no matter who wins the next election the level of funding for theatre isn’t going to increase to a level where all the people currently making work could get paid. So lets stop beating ourselves up about it and work out considering that is the case – how do we positively move forwards. What kind of structures and organisations will allow us to make work, with very limited funds and not feel exploited?
For this to happen it’s clear we need advice and best practice on how to run theatre collaboratively so everyone feels they have an equal stake. Far too often people feel used and under appreciated – not out of malice – but simply because no one really knows how to run a collaborative company. We need an organisation what would be willing to give advice on this, collate and disseminate best practice and to mediate disputes when they inevitably occur. Equity have ruled themselves out from this role. So it either needs to be a new organisation – or we need to find a current trade body willing to expand their remit.
Finally there is a big problem in management at the bottom end of the industry. No one wants to do it. Which means it’s mostly done by creatives, who simply do the bare minimum possible, before returning to their natural habitat in the rehearsal room. This means there are lots of corners cut and potential revenue from activities like private giving campaigns, sponsorship, commercial activity and trust and fund applications – isn’t raised due to a lack of man power. Good management is very difficult without good managers – so we need to think creatively about how we can bring them into our section of the industry – a chicken and egg problem when we don’t have any money in the first place.
Moving forwards – I guess I’d be interesting in hearing peoples thoughts – I realise I have very much just started a conversation – rather than offered any solutions. If anyone would be interested in being involved – or if any current organisation feels they could fill this gap – please do be in touch via the message board below.
A full report on my recent meeting with Equity’s Lo Pay/ No Pay officer will be going live very shortly.
Following up on this thread – as promised I’m hosting a conference afternoon with Middlesex University and the Mimetic Festival on Thursday 27 Nov to get everyone who’s interested in discussing this further into the same room as each other. It will be completely free but please do sign up via – http://www.mimeticfest.com/events/event/cant-pay-can-play/ to reserve your place. It would be great if you could make it down!
Alex
Hi
I just had a book published which might give you some interesting new points of view and possibilities to the debate. I realise you’re talking about meeting with Emmanuel at Equity (who I’ve found to be a very decent chap), but completely understand Equity’s position – they can’t monitor something which runs against their position of demanding the minimum wage.
Have a look at Open Book Theater Management (The eBook is deliberately half the price of the print edition) and see if it can help. Oh, and I’m all for information sharing, so getting the local library to order it or all chipping in like a book club with a quid each and sharing it amongst twelve friends is a great way to keep costs down, in my opinion.
Hope it helps contribute to the debate.
Best to all
Rafe
Fantastic articles, thank you for opening this end of the dialogue up.
We’ve got the Network of Ensemble Theatres here in the States; more of a trade organization I suppose, but I think they are trying to fill this need as well.
“The Hope receives no direct funding, but has an agreement with Equity to pay all performers and stage managers an Equity-approved wage during rehearsals and performances.”
http://exeuntmagazine.com/features/the-hopefull-rep/
Open Book contracts are useful in this context. D
That would be excellent!
OK I will talk to Middlesex University – they’ve been asking me to host another conference – they may well be up for hosting a forum on this to get us all together.
Glad to hear that Equity didn’t tell you off for stating it like it is!
Even just to identify needs/ wants/ desire for such an organisation.
Sign me up. I would love to sit down in a forum and talk this through.
Hi Alexander,
I’d be interested in talking to you about this. I’ve recently worked on a few projects where we paid in shares etc and I have been looking for a long time at ways of increasing financial transparency for profit share companies which would hopefully reduce/remove feelings of being used etc.
I am a director and self producer.
Let’s chat.
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
That would be great. I’m hosting a conference afternoon with Middlesex University and the Mimetic Festival on Thursday 27 Nov – completely free – to get everyone who’s interested in discussing this further into the same room as each other http://www.mimeticfest.com/events/event/cant-pay-can-play/ it would be great if you could make it down!
Alex
Hey claude, the other article should be going live shortly – it’s just being approved now. I’ll post a link in the face book group when it does.
:)
I’d never heard of the FEU before – that’s absolutely fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing!
Did you see this? http://bit.ly/1kSgXtW You might also want to contact the FEU and suggest they do a course or seminar on possible business models http://www.feutraining.org The problem also extends to journalists who set up projects but can’t earn from them or are exploited as long term ‘interns’ or find themselves told they should just write an article ‘for the byline’ while the publication has ad revenue & I expect there are similar parallel probs for tech crew and other members of unions involved with the FEU.