ringsider

I am not sure if I am in the right area but I wonder if I can ask for some professional help.

I was in a trying-to-be-trendy pub at the weekend, oggling the female half of a room full of youngsters partying for their lives. My friends and I got round to questioning how the scene tied in with the credit crunch and other financial woes. I should add that this pub charged £3.40 for a pint, so god knows what the cocktails sold for.

We started a conversaton discussing salaries in respective professions and we got round to speculating what actors might earn in the cinema and on the stage.

Let us take for example, say, the female lead in (a) a British film. (b) in a West End musical and (c) in the RSC. What sort of money would they earn? Or is the profession so diverse that it is impossible to say?

Does anyone know please?


Regards - Bernie
(I am not asking for any reasons of jealousy as I am fortunate enough to have retired on fairly generous terms).

batman

Equity has minimum rates for theatre performers. I am not sure what the rates are now but I think they may vary according to the type and location of the production. Obviously performers can be paid above the minimum so 'stars' can earn mega-bucks.

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

Gazza

The Equity minimum in the West End is currently £381 per week though there are negotiations going on to increase that to £550.

Stars and 'names' can negotiate for as much as they like in the commercial sector and there is no fixed fee. Someone like La Paige doing Evita could earn very well indeed.

Performers in the subsidised sector work for much less, regardless of status; this is usually above Equity minimum but nothing like what they could command in the West End. Judi Dench, for example, says she does the Bond films to enable her to work at the National Theatre at minimum rate as she prefers to earn the same as the rest of the cast.

The current Equity/RSC minimum is £361.50 per week

Windthrop

Most of the profession are probably lucky to earn 10k in a year form acting due to the inconsistent nature of the work.

Thats the joke that killed the Music Hall !

ringsider

£381 a week - wow, we were well out in our speculations. We were guessing that a non star actor in a leading role wouldn't get out of bed for less than £1000-£1200 a week.

Those earning £10k a year must either be dedicated to their art, or mugs.


Regards - Bernie

narabdela

They've usually got other part-time jobs that they can slot into while they're 'resting'.