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Thursday, March 30, 2023
How Much Money Do Broadway Actors Make?
Playbill: If you’ve ever wondered how much your favorite Broadway artists earn for the work they do, you’re in luck. Thanks to public standard union contracts, we know what the base salary is for Broadway performers, stage managers, and musicians.
7 comments:
Jasper
said...
I think that pay transparency is always very important, especially when it comes to this industry. Seeing as theater has always been and almost certainly always will be very unstable, knowing as much information as possible allows theater artists to make the best decisions for themselves. It allows artists to make more sure plans for the future, even if they may not know exactly how long a job will last. It also reassures me that wages are increasing. Knowing that I am going into an industry that I know pays a living wage in at least some areas makes me much more comfortable pursuing theater. Even 2nd assistant stage managers make a fairly reasonable wage according to this article. While I think that so many people in this industry are still very much underpaid while being overworked and working conditions are still not fully acceptable in many places, this article gives me hope for the future.
As someone who is looking to make a career out of doing theatre, money is often a large part of the conversation. It is plausible to make a living wage off of a Broadway show? Many people discourage theatre performers and technicians from going into theatre as a profession because there is a perspective that artists are often starving and out of money. However, this article shows how it is capable to be on Broadway and make a livable wage. In terms of these basic minimum standards for musicians, actors, and stage managers, I wonder what the average workday hours are for these positions that make this salary so high for every week. I am surprised by the fact that stage managers on a Broadway musical earn $4,007 a week, which to me is higher than I was expecting for a stage manager. In the end, this article calmed my fears about going into this industry and receiving a livable wage.
I’ve always wondered how much people in theatre generally make, especially actors, stage managers, and musicians. Going into theatre, I’ve been told that I won’t make a lot of money in this career. I kind of found that fact that playbill only listed the weekly income, rather than yearly, a bit interesting. I know the salaries for each person, show, and position can be so different. So, I was curious and did the math. Actors (Equity performers on Broadway) generally make $126,000 a year. That salary while living in New York City (or New Jersey) isn’t that much (I think). Stage Managers make a bit more than I was expecting. A stage manager for a musical on Broadway can make $208,000 yearly. I’m very interested in looking at these salaries a bit more now. I’m always curious to see if I’m able to have a livable wage in working in this industry, or if I’ll even be able to pay off my student loans…
This article was very surprising, because I automatically assumed the actors would be paid more than stage managers and musicians. Though stage managers are making nearly $2000 more than a professional actor. I am always intrigued to learn about how much money individuals working specifically backstage are obtaining. Because often times when going into an industry such as theater, we are taking a risk because of the high possibility that we will be obtaining very low wages. So this article came at a surprise, because I was expecting the wages to be much lower. Though honestly, considering that this article mainly focuses on those working in Broadway. This article may not be the best source for those of us were just starting out in our career and I are wishing to get a rough estimate on how much money we will be making within the industry. Though it is still a helpful article for those of us, wishing to become a part of the Broadway scene.
This article for sure gave me a confidence boost. I know that getting to Broadway is a long road but if you get there? Damn. You’re certainly more set than I thought you’d be. I wonder how regional salaries compare. Of course, I assume it would be less than the four grand base salary stage managers are making as musical managers but I did think that I was going to be a starving artist for the rest of my life. It is comforting to know that if I do work hard that maybe a comfortable living doing what I love is achievable. It was also interesting to learn that stage managers can sometimes make more than the actors. It is something that I was ready to admit defeat on. The transparency around salaries, especially in the theatre industry is something that has been an issue for a long time. Knowing how much people make is important because it helps people advocate for themselves in a way they otherwise wouldn't have the power to do.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
7 comments:
I think that pay transparency is always very important, especially when it comes to this industry. Seeing as theater has always been and almost certainly always will be very unstable, knowing as much information as possible allows theater artists to make the best decisions for themselves. It allows artists to make more sure plans for the future, even if they may not know exactly how long a job will last. It also reassures me that wages are increasing. Knowing that I am going into an industry that I know pays a living wage in at least some areas makes me much more comfortable pursuing theater. Even 2nd assistant stage managers make a fairly reasonable wage according to this article. While I think that so many people in this industry are still very much underpaid while being overworked and working conditions are still not fully acceptable in many places, this article gives me hope for the future.
As someone who is looking to make a career out of doing theatre, money is often a large part of the conversation. It is plausible to make a living wage off of a Broadway show? Many people discourage theatre performers and technicians from going into theatre as a profession because there is a perspective that artists are often starving and out of money. However, this article shows how it is capable to be on Broadway and make a livable wage. In terms of these basic minimum standards for musicians, actors, and stage managers, I wonder what the average workday hours are for these positions that make this salary so high for every week. I am surprised by the fact that stage managers on a Broadway musical earn $4,007 a week, which to me is higher than I was expecting for a stage manager. In the end, this article calmed my fears about going into this industry and receiving a livable wage.
I’ve always wondered how much people in theatre generally make, especially actors, stage managers, and musicians. Going into theatre, I’ve been told that I won’t make a lot of money in this career. I kind of found that fact that playbill only listed the weekly income, rather than yearly, a bit interesting. I know the salaries for each person, show, and position can be so different. So, I was curious and did the math. Actors (Equity performers on Broadway) generally make $126,000 a year. That salary while living in New York City (or New Jersey) isn’t that much (I think). Stage Managers make a bit more than I was expecting. A stage manager for a musical on Broadway can make $208,000 yearly. I’m very interested in looking at these salaries a bit more now. I’m always curious to see if I’m able to have a livable wage in working in this industry, or if I’ll even be able to pay off my student loans…
This article was very surprising, because I automatically assumed the actors would be paid more than stage managers and musicians. Though stage managers are making nearly $2000 more than a professional actor. I am always intrigued to learn about how much money individuals working specifically backstage are obtaining. Because often times when going into an industry such as theater, we are taking a risk because of the high possibility that we will be obtaining very low wages. So this article came at a surprise, because I was expecting the wages to be much lower. Though honestly, considering that this article mainly focuses on those working in Broadway. This article may not be the best source for those of us were just starting out in our career and I are wishing to get a rough estimate on how much money we will be making within the industry. Though it is still a helpful article for those of us, wishing to become a part of the Broadway scene.
This article for sure gave me a confidence boost. I know that getting to Broadway is a long road but if you get there? Damn. You’re certainly more set than I thought you’d be. I wonder how regional salaries compare. Of course, I assume it would be less than the four grand base salary stage managers are making as musical managers but I did think that I was going to be a starving artist for the rest of my life. It is comforting to know that if I do work hard that maybe a comfortable living doing what I love is achievable. It was also interesting to learn that stage managers can sometimes make more than the actors. It is something that I was ready to admit defeat on. The transparency around salaries, especially in the theatre industry is something that has been an issue for a long time. Knowing how much people make is important because it helps people advocate for themselves in a way they otherwise wouldn't have the power to do.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
When looking to this article my first instinct is to ask, fo they make a livable wage in New York City. As is commonly know, New York is a very very expensive and difficult city to live in. Between the high cost of living and the nightmare that is getting housing. New York is a city overflowing with dreamers trying to make it big. When looking at these numbers I think they are quite decent. They are enough for a solid life that is aware of their spendings. It’s quite unfortunate that these paychecks do not in anyway resemble tv and film. Which I understand why but it still makes me sad that these talented artisans are given only this much for the amount of sacrifices they make to work 8 shows a week. I am surprised that stage managers make that much. It comes to show that it is a position with a lot of work and must be rewarded as so. Especially at a Broadway production.
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