Ethics in Improv
Somebody please explain this to me...because maybe i'm Johnny Retarded, but I just don't get it.
How can an organization like Theatre Sports tell their players that they are not allowed to take gigs from anyone who charges less than them, yet pay their players LESS THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!!
If i have this information wrong and this is NOT a policy of theirs, please enlighten me.
I eagerly await being bitch slapped with knowledge.
Diana
How can an organization like Theatre Sports tell their players that they are not allowed to take gigs from anyone who charges less than them, yet pay their players LESS THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!!
If i have this information wrong and this is NOT a policy of theirs, please enlighten me.
I eagerly await being bitch slapped with knowledge.
Diana
posted by urban improv at 3:21 AM
2 Comments:
The only way any company can do something is if the members in that company let it happen. If they let themselves be intimidated and think that by playing ball with unfair rules things will get better in the long run. Well, they'll soon find out that's not the case.
My advice is if actors find themselves in this position, file a complaint with Equity. Even if it's anonymous or you're not an Equity member, Equity cuts theatre companies slack sometimes and if enough people point out unfair business practices then Equity can make them tow the line and that'd cost the company enough money that maybe they'll just do the right thing. If you are an Equity member they can stop the company from pulling that shit right away.
If a company isn't paying a living wage they have NO RIGHT at all to demand the performers' exclusivity. This is like what Yuk Yuks demands but in Yuks case they at least guarantee a cetrain amount of work.
Ian Boothby
I certainly don't understand this "conflict of interest" thing. If it's the individual performer undercutting someone else, that's one thing. But if it's competing companies doing all the legwork and then hiring the performers on a case by case basis, doesn't that remove any liability on the performer's part?
Vancouver has such a small community for improv that there's definitely going to be overlaps with players.
We're not Toronto, Chicago, or New York. Chicago has 2000 improvisers. Vancouver has (I'm just guessing here) about 60, 30 of which are currently listed on vtsl.com as "current players." Does that mean that 50% of the performers in the city are cut out of the picture merely because they might get a show every other week with Theatersports?
Some of the city's best performers are with vtsl. It's true. But they're not getting huge paycheques. It ain't high paying stuff. Many of them are actors who rely on corporate gigs to do things like Chistmas shopping or paying rent.
I myself have never come into conflict with any of the organizations in this city, but I would hate to be blackballed from any of them for doing something that I feel perfectly within my rights doing. This is just an outsider's perspective. If I am off base on any of this, please let me know.
Post a Comment
<< Home