I don't charge any mandatory fees for productions. I have an order form for each show where students can buy a show shirt (not mandatory), a makeup kit ($20 and mandatory for actors who don't have one, lose theirs, or have used theirs up), and access to our cast party after strike ($7.50--we have a great local pizza place that loves our schools).
I collect the money a few weeks into the production. I always tell people if money is an issue to see me and we'll work something out. Mostly this means I'll cover their costs with our theatre funds.
I save the charging of money for our conferences. State runs about $175 for the weekend and ITF around $900. Of course, I earmark $1 of each paid ticket and the sales of our wooden roses to our conference fund, and we have an upcoming improv nights benefit to help fund for ITF. At this point, students attending State will only pay $90-$100. And we have about $300 per person raised for ITF it we take about 10 students.
We have a really strong speech team, and that does cost several hundred dollars (and that's after some really strong fundraising). As I am trying to build the stature of our Thespian program, charging much would turn people away, let alone those who might be too proud to come ask for help in paying.
So we rely on our box office and concession sales, along with our patron program. This year patrons brought in about $3000. Of that, 25% went to our conference fund, with the remaining 75% going to the general theatre fund.
Like others, we repurpose everything! This year and last (my first two years at this school), I have had to make some decent investments in things like storage containers, tools, and the like. I'm hoping by next year things will be a bit quieter on the capital investment front, and I can build up my funds a little bit more.
Great conversation! I love hearing everyone's stories!
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Raymond Palasz
Auditorium Director/Director of Theatre
Schererville IN
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-15-2017 13:29
From: Mark A. Zimmerman
Subject: Participation/Costume Fee?
Yeah. I get wanting to under-right the cost of production but I am not on-board at all with charging a costume fee or any other pay-to-play situation.
Instead, I ask parents who can afford it to be a patron and gratefully accept and acknowledge their donation. This helps to keep our ticket prices low and gives more access to all students.
I firmly believe that charging a fee like this turns under-privileged kids away at the door. Of course, waiving the fee for them is an option but even then I would wonder how many kids don't even ask because they don't want to have the conversation with me or with their parents about it.
I have spoken with some of my students about this particular issue and they agree with me: a lot of kids would not even think about getting involved once they knew there was a costume or other fee involved.
I do not envy directors who work in districts with an actual pay-to-play system for extra-curricular activities. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to get a good crew if I needed to charge them $300-$400 for the privilege.
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Mark A. Zimmerman,
Theatre Director
Akron School for the Arts
Firestone Community Learning Center
470 Castle Blvd
Akron, Ohio 44313
Troupe 5570
mzimmerm@apslearn.org
Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2017 20:27
From: Trinna Pye
Subject: Participation/Costume Fee?
I am considering charging a $30-50 free for students cast in our Spring musical. Does anyone else do this and if so, how much? Do students get to keep costumes then? It's a public high school. Thanks!
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Trinna Pye
Port St. Lucie FL
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