Author Topic: Non-Union Pay Rate  (Read 5846 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

LJOsburn

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 7
    • View Profile
Non-Union Pay Rate
« on: Jan 03, 2007, 03:16 am »
I've been looking through past postings with no luck, so I am sorry if someone has already asked.

What is the going rate(s) for non-Union SMs? -- in the Bay Area to be specific.

Thanks,
LJO

ReyYaySM

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 360
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA
  • Current Gig: Freelance
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« Reply #1 on: Jan 03, 2007, 10:47 am »
Not sure about the going rate in the Bay Area, but the topic EMC pay as an ASM has a discussion of non-AEA rates that might be helpful. 

MarcieA

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 371
  • Gender: Female
    • View Profile
  • Affiliations: AEA, AGMA, SMA
  • Current Gig: PSM, Lake George Dinner Theatre/Tri Cities Opera
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« Reply #2 on: Jan 03, 2007, 01:14 pm »

What is the going rate(s) for non-Union SMs?

Thanks,
LJO


Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer. I'm not from the Bay Area, but as an East Coast SM I was paid anthing from $60 a week to $800 for a total of 3 weeks work, depending on where I was working. Ironically, the $60 a week job (which was actually a stipend paid in full at the END of the run) was the job where I had the most to do. Alot of places here pay a stipend and that's it, or the pay is so varied that you can't even give an average. Most fringe shows don't pay, or offer a small stipend for gas.

It honestly depends on the theatre, and what they've budgeted, and how important they think an SM is.
Companions whom I loved and still love, tell them my song.

nmno

  • Guest
Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« Reply #3 on: Jan 03, 2007, 03:50 pm »
I'm union now, but before, I was making between $350-$580/wk as a non-Eq ASM.  This was about 4 years ago at Bay Area LORT or LOA to LORT theatres and I made more because I had worked for several seasons at one theatre (ie. each year I received an increase which brought me up to $580-ish.)  I never really worked non-Eq as a stage manager (really just ASM work, except for small things, readings, etc for which the pay was negligible - mostly did them for the experience, connections, etc.)
I don't know how accurate these rates would be right now - when I was starting here, it was at the very height of the arts seeing the results of the tech boom - that has obviously crashed, theatres are getting less money in donations and grants, subscriptions are down, etc and I don't think that the people who are working in my ASM positions are making the same that I made (or if they are, it IS the same which means they haven't adjusted the rates for cost of living)
Hope this helps!

Tempest

  • Permanent Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 374
  • Gender: Female
  • Learn to love chaos, then tame it.
    • View Profile
  • Current Gig: The Center For Puppetry Arts
  • Experience: Professional
Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« Reply #4 on: Jan 04, 2007, 02:19 pm »
I recently left a show that was a long running show (5 years).  As SM for a four-show week, I started at $180/wk and was making $225/wk when I left just over two years later.  It was an entirely non-equity theatre.
Jessica: "Of course I have a metric size 4 dinglehopper in my kit!  Who do you think I am?"

JenniferEver

  • New to Town
  • **
  • Posts: 40
    • View Profile
Re: Non-Union Pay Rate
« Reply #5 on: Jan 07, 2007, 03:38 pm »
I don't know about the Bay area specifically, but working in NY I've gotten offers for everything from unpaid (festivals, new companies), to $150 for the entire thing, to $375 a week. All on Showcases (which have different names in different places...where AEA mambers can work, but it's a non-eqity show)