Class Handouts
Class Notes April 6, 1998
Broadway University™
PRODUCING COMMERCIAL THEATER
Class Notes Volume No. 1 April 6, 1998 Class No. 7
Notes taken by Amy Baldwin
Thanks Amy!
Upcoming: Next week Glen Pompleton of Dodger touring will talk about booking touring productions. The following week: theater licenses.
By the way, the Commmercial Theater Institute is having a three day program on the 24th-26th with Fred Vogel. It is highly recommended.
After the Telecourse on Tuesdays we will now have "The Idea Factory", something like the Think Tank, but no preregistration needed. Call 407-318-2762 for the telecourse from 8-9, and 702-222-2468 for the Idea Factory from 9-10pm.
Next week m-f from 9:30-10:00am is the business builder (jumpstart your show). Take extraordinary actions to get your project off the ground. Set your goal. Decide on 25 actions to get you there. Register by Friday. "One action speaks to the next, and support, encouragement from the class helps you to figure out what you need to do to make it work."
Tonight: ENHANCEMENT PRODUCTIONS:
Take an out of town theater or a resident New York theater and give them money t;o mount your show in their theater. The benefits:
Out of town New York
-develop the script -some script development -cast -smaller investment to get -choose a director moved to an off-Broadway theater -design New York reviews for a small price -find investors -test market -develop a commercial/ advertising -establish financial necessities -make a deal for the physical production -in a good theater, the cache can help to bring it to NY What is the deal with the theater?
Give them money to put the show into their season; it must fit their format/mandate Establish billing to accomodate any LORT agreements they might have. "Produced by special arrangement..." They also want: - a piece of the royalty from the Broadway or off-Broadway production: between 1/4 and1 1/2-2 % of the gross weekly box office -billing as developmental theater in all future productions -bio for the theater and artistic director -a piece of the net profits (2-5%)
Now to the hands on part-we'll be working on the union agreements, filling out the salaries, etc. on the blank forms from the information in the contracts (collective bargaining agreements).
What did you learn? -how to choose a venue -it is very complicated -how to minimize expenses -really look at it-examine the contracts to understand what is involved -pay attention to details -understand the rules -it is a resource we can use to our benefit -it is incredibly expensive just to get to opening night -everything is negotiable within reason-people want to work -you should know where your money is going -budgets are based on reality, it gives you a good perspective on the facts -get to know your union business representative who you will be dealing with. THey can help you or hurt you -pay attention to what is not covered in the contracts
That's all for tonight.
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