In the LORT Contract, the Straight Six counts as 8 hours when you figure out the work week hours (Each six-hour rehearsal block used shall count as eight purposes of calculating the hours rehearsed in a work week - 50.2.B.ii.)
(which is why there is a separate rule if you do a week of straight sixes, since it would take you over the total work week hours - but it is allowed, with additional outside rehearsal hours)
I think, as stage managers, we often look at the straight six and see it as a most wonderful thing in that it tightens up our day to 6 hours total, as opposed to ten hours, an eight with a 2 hour break. But, there a lot of pluses from the producer side as well. Some of them may not always apply, but some I have thought about . . .
1) Reduces the hours a rehearsal room needs to be rented.
2) Reduces the salary of non-union staff members (PA's for example)
3) It allows an actor to put in a full day of rehearsal in a short time, possibly allowing them to do a show at night on another contract (Or, in my case . . . I do a very sneaky three rule combine effort . . . I take an actor who is rehearsing one show during the day, and performing another show at night . . . .add that to uping the rehearsal block to 5.5 hours since we elect NOT to rehearse on a two show day . . . combing that with a straight six, with the "20 minute break at the end of the call . . . I can get 5.5 hours of uninterrupted rehearsal.)
4) For those theatres that have to transport actors during the meal break, they just saved on those costs.
5) As far as a director is concerned, sometimes then block without the meal break is more desirable. How many times have we noticed that after a meal break, rehearsal just goes down the tubes?
6) Sometimes when you have an artistic director directing, they are only available six hours a day, so it’s nice to get in, get the show rehearsed and get out.
I am sure there are plenty of reasons from the producers’ side why they would want the straight six.
But all of this REALLY only makes sense when it’s all free time anyway – when everyone is on a weekly schedule, we are just using the hours we have already bought on the weekly salary.
In the case of hourly, it does seem fair that Equity says if you are doing a straight six, which is a little harder on the cast, then there should be some extra compensation for that. If the producer does not like the result, they can just stipulate that there will be no straight six rehearsals – end of story.
So, I agree with the rep, as confusing as it is, a straight six should be billed as a full day, since, at least in the LORT contract, Equity has set a precedent of 6=a full day.