True but guess who never rises with the tide when a show is successful, in a direct financial way I mean... the actors. They get paid generally the same amount (stars, and Tony winners who can renegotiate, notwithstanding) regardless of how well the show sells or what outrageously above-standard price becomes the price of the ticket for the show. Writers and producers profit in direct relation to the box office, actors do not, and actors only get paid until they leave or are replaced... the others get paid as long as the show runs (and for some, for all future productions). So I think there are factors you're not considering. Including that to compensate actors originating roles for their part in the development and therefor success of the show, it isn't like give them 5% or nothing... even if it were 0.001% that's better than nothing.
And I write in another post in this thread about the issue of workshops and readings and how to more fairly try to compensate in backpay, since those, unlike contract production jobs, pay WAY less than even normal stage rates, and I don't think that's fair at all. |