Budgets

There's been a lot of talk about the am/pro productions and budgets. I just wanted to share my experience, and perhaps add to the debate: My current show is a premiere. This means that I have to fully fund the production myself (though it's under my company's name, I have not used company funds, to be fair to my partners who do not have any involvement in this particular production). The playwright is a friend of mine; I don't have to pay royalties (something most am. companies do far more than professional ones), but he expects a share of the profits. I have three performers, who all expect profit-share as well. Insurance has cost me about $400. My production is puppetry - which is extremely expensive, for more than a 'normal' theatre performance. While I've been lucky to have some set pieces to use from previous shows (two big benches for instance), much of the puppets I have had to make from scratch. This accounts for about a third of my budget (say $1000). There are no costumes (actors providing their own blacks), and no makeup required. Venue hire is fairly cheap - through Trades Hall in Melbourne - but I have had to hire some extra equipment from them. Hire is about $500 all up. I have spent about $500 on marketing. In total, I have spent about $2500 - perhaps more because I have not done a final budget check. This is roughly what I set aside and roughly what I expected to spend. The performance has run for 8 shows. We have been getting on average 25 people each night; with 40 seats in the venue to sell. However: venue costs and booking fees all come out of my box office. Despite our good ticket sales, I have only now paid off the venue (with 2 shows left in the season). What is leftover will only recoup the money I spent on the Lego puppets - let alone the materials to make the city for the Lego, the three 'moppets', insurance, etc. I plan on remounting this later on in the year. But this means more outlay of money, and it's probable that I will not be able to recoup my money for simply making the show in the first place, let alone the second run costs (ie. remaking posters, etc.). This is all without: having to pay actors, having to pay royalties, having an expensive venue, having to pay or use additional technical/production staff, having to pay award rates for anyone at all, having to pay for costumes or makeup... the list goes on. It's hard enough doing this stuff without sponsorship, without funding, and without a local council to support you (my local amateur group is three suburbs over!). But amateur groups at least have some governmental support. Whether you are amateur or professional - there's no guarantee that you will ever see your money back. No matter how small your costs.