Author Topic: SPT Previews  (Read 6427 times)

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ErgoCue

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SPT Previews
« on: Oct 03, 2013, 09:00 pm »
Hi Everyone,

I'm working on an SPT-4 contract and had a question regarding previews versus performances after opening, and I'm hoping someone can help!  In the SPT-4 contract, performances are limited to five per week. After the fifth performance, there is an increase in pay for each additional performance.  For this particular production, there are three previews scheduled, followed by opening night and then two more shows, for a total of six.  Do the previews count as rehearsals or performances in terms of shows per week?  Considering that they have paying audiences, I'm inclined to think the latter, but I'm not sure.  I've worked at SPT theatres a lot, but I've never run into going over the "allotted" performances during the week of previews and opening before.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thank You!


ejsmith3130

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #1 on: Oct 03, 2013, 10:05 pm »
According to my all knowing boss.... (please correct me if I'm wrong... we are working an SPT 8 contract) previews count towards your rehearsal hours, not shows. The rehearsal hours counted begin at half hour.


EDIT:
After reading through the sections of rehearsal and performances in the SPT contract I can't seem to find any mention of this either way. Anybody else ever run into this?
« Last Edit: Oct 03, 2013, 11:19 pm by ejsmith3130 »

EFMcMullen

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #2 on: Oct 03, 2013, 11:20 pm »
Funny, I would have said the opposite.  As far as I know Equity doesn't distinguish between Preview & Performance.  If the audience is paying, it is a performance.  Equity sets these performance minimums based on Salary/Box Office Gross.  Your theater is only paying your Actors/SM for 5 shows.  If they are charging for a 6th or 7th performance, the actors need to be compensated.

In this situation, it seems like there is one action that puts you into two different OT situations- 1) working more hours than you have (as all previews/performances/rehearsals count towards your total number of hours allowed to work in a week) 2) Adding the additional show.  As you generally can't bill for both OTs, one trumps and that's what the theater is paying for.

Now if you don't charge the audience and call it a dress rehearsal, it is not a performance....

MatthewShiner

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #3 on: Oct 03, 2013, 11:41 pm »
So, I have never worked on a SPT, so can take this with a grain of salt . . .

But on the SPT contract, there are no mention of previews.  Under definitions, there is no preview definition . . . given that, the do tell you what "opening" is.

Opening. "Opening" shall be defined as the first paid public performance.

So, although a theater may define a performance a preview for marketing purposes, I read the contract that your first paid public performance would be opening - and thus all performances, marketed a preview or not, would count towards your performance count.

Do check with AEA, but the way I read it . . . and the fact the word "preview" doesn't appear ANYWHERE in the contract, it lends weight to the fact a performance is a performance.

Now, I also disagree with the fact if they do a non-paid public performance . . . if that would count as a performance a not - if it's public, it should count as a performance regardless if people pay or not.
« Last Edit: Oct 05, 2013, 01:33 am by MatthewShiner »
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RuthNY

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #4 on: Oct 03, 2013, 11:59 pm »
I read it exactly the same as Matthew does. There is NO language referring to Previews, but very clearly, in the Rehearsal Rule, there is a header entitled "Rehearsal Hours Before First Public Performance." "First Public Performance" is the germane phrase here. It is used again and again throughout the book, and clearly is a separate thing from a "rehearsal." Your producer is either trying to get around the rules or genuinely doesn't understand them. Please get in touch with your Business Rep. tomorrow!
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loebtmc

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #5 on: Oct 04, 2013, 01:05 am »
I work SPT a lot. A paid public performance is just that - preview or regular show. It qualifies for additional pay if you go over your contracted limit.

And you need to tote up the weekly hours to make sure your afternoon tweak sessions or after-preview notes don't take you over the weekly max. Show times from half-hour to curtain down.

ErgoCue

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #6 on: Oct 04, 2013, 10:17 pm »
Thanks for your responses! 

The use of "first public performance" throughout the rulebook was a bit confusing, and I'm glad to see that many of you were having the same issue I was in terms of how to distinguish performances.  That being said, what Matthew said makes sense:
"Opening" shall be defined as the first paid public performance.

So, although a theater may define a performance a preview for marketing purposes, I read the contract that your first paid public performance would be opening - and thus all performances, marketed a preview or not, would count towards your performance count.

I brought this to the attention of the producers, who then looked at the calendar and realized that they accidentally wrote in another preview instead of calling it and invited dress rehearsal.  That being said, it looks like it's supposed to be an invited dress and 5 performances.  I'm interested that some of you said that the invited dress should count as a public performance, when its name includes rehearsal in the title.  Has anyone run into this issue before?  I will definitely check with Equity on this portion of it, because the problem of paying for an additional performance would still exist if that's the case.

In terms of work hours, even with 5 performances and an invited dress, the current schedule keeps all rehearsals and performances under 30 hours, so that's good there.
« Last Edit: Oct 05, 2013, 01:32 am by MatthewShiner »

loebtmc

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #7 on: Oct 05, 2013, 12:58 am »
It's simple. If your audience has paid for their tickets, it counts. If it is a rehearsal with a handful of invited folks who didn't pay, it's a rehearsal. That's the bottom line.

MatthewShiner

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #8 on: Oct 05, 2013, 01:28 am »
if it's truly invited dress, as opposed to open to the public . . . then it's fine.

if it's a dress that is open to the public, any public, then it could be a performance.
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RuthNY

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #9 on: Oct 05, 2013, 10:03 am »
It's more complicated than if the audience has paid or not.  Was the performance advertised publicly?? Then, it's a public performance. Even if it's free. Was everyone invited privately to a rehearsal? Then, it's a rehearsal. Money does not enter into it.
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ErgoCue

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Re: SPT Previews
« Reply #10 on: Oct 05, 2013, 10:11 pm »
It's more complicated than if the audience has paid or not.  Was the performance advertised publicly?? Then, it's a public performance. Even if it's free. Was everyone invited privately to a rehearsal? Then, it's a rehearsal. Money does not enter into it.

I'm certain this is a calendar for internal use, not the one for the public.  I think they just made a clerical error, which is a relief.

 

riotous