Omnibus Antes the Ups
Sat, 9 Oct 1999, 05:41 amBrooke Forward5 posts in thread
Omnibus Antes the Ups
Sat, 9 Oct 1999, 05:41 amThis is the first time I've really checked this out, but perhaps
pre-maturely, I am going to defend Omnibus productions for the cost in
tickets.First and foremost, I am a cast member, and no, actors are not paid.
Musicians, and crew are though. Please keep in mind that "The Secret
Garden" is only running for three days, putting on five shows. I dont
know if anybody here has put on a show at the Regal, but hiring the
venue for nine days is not a cheap venture.Quite frankly I think it's great to see Omnibus move on from their
productions at the Fremantle Town Hall. I have done several shows for
Omnibus, which were earlier on, and by far this is the most
proffesional show they have done. The leads are superb, and the show
has an all round strong cast. I dont believe I have seen a cast so good
since Playlovers did their production of "Chess" in 1996. Everybody
should do themselves a favour, and try and come along to see the show.
You might all get a nice surprise.Brooke Forward.
pre-maturely, I am going to defend Omnibus productions for the cost in
tickets.First and foremost, I am a cast member, and no, actors are not paid.
Musicians, and crew are though. Please keep in mind that "The Secret
Garden" is only running for three days, putting on five shows. I dont
know if anybody here has put on a show at the Regal, but hiring the
venue for nine days is not a cheap venture.Quite frankly I think it's great to see Omnibus move on from their
productions at the Fremantle Town Hall. I have done several shows for
Omnibus, which were earlier on, and by far this is the most
proffesional show they have done. The leads are superb, and the show
has an all round strong cast. I dont believe I have seen a cast so good
since Playlovers did their production of "Chess" in 1996. Everybody
should do themselves a favour, and try and come along to see the show.
You might all get a nice surprise.Brooke Forward.
Re: Omnibus Antes the Ups
Sat, 9 Oct 1999, 07:04 amHi BrookeThanks for joining in!> This is the first time I've really checked this out, but perhaps
> pre-maturely, I am going to defend Omnibus productions for the
> cost in tickets."really checking it out" is just the problem. Practically all amateur theatre companies are structured as Incorporated Associations. As such they are legally bound to comply with the relevant Act, sections of which require the Association to maintain accurate accounts and make these available to members of the Association. What is more, the membership through their voting rights have a say about who runs the association and how the money is spent. If the association folds, the committee doesn't get to keep the money and run. By law, they are required to pass any remaining funds on to another association with similar aims or another registered charity.Has anyone involved in The Secret Garden, apart from the "business partners", ever seen the financial records? As far as i am aware, the Ominbus business partners are not incorporated and can do what they please with the proceeds from a production without anyone else having any say whatsoever. If the partners decided (and i'm not suggesting they would - i know them personally!) to fold the company and fly to America on the proceeds of The Secret Garden and the other shows, my understanding is that they can do just that without consulting another soul.Fine, we live in a capitalist, economic-rationalist, get-rich-at-other's-expense society, if someone has found a way of making a buck let's cheer them on.Remember that, though, when the friends you've worked and trained with turn "pro" and leave the state to find work. Remember it when you see families split, children leaving home to find work in the eastern states. Remember that when you've spent 3 years at university and another three at the Academy of Performing Arts and are sitting on the dole queue looking for work in your profession, trying to raise the money to buy a ticket to the promised land - Sydney.At $49 a full price ticket, it's well past time some of the deserving actors began to see some benefit.> First and foremost, I am a cast member, and no, actors are not
> paid. Musicians, and crew are though. Please keep in mind that "The
> Secret Garden" is only running for three days, putting on five
> shows. I dont know if anybody here has put on a show at the Regal, but hiring
> the venue for nine days is not a cheap venture.Who is being paid? Which members of the crew? All of them? Or just the Regal staff?What are they being paid? Are the musicians all getting a full professional rate? If so, why is this courtesy extended to the musicians but denied to the actors? Did anyone count the number of hours the cast spent rehearsing? How many hours did you see the musicians rehearsing? They can't even remember their lines, they have to play with the music in front of them (that's a joke folks - poor taste i know).A few of us on the list have been involved in staging shows at the Regal. We know that it costs! Bear in mind though, that the ITA used the Regal last year for the Finley Awards. I gather it wasn't quite full and it was nothing like $49 per ticket but the show about broke even.> Quite frankly I think it's great to see Omnibus move on from their
> productions at the Fremantle Town Hall. I have done several shows
> for Omnibus, which were earlier on, and by far this is the most
> proffesional show they have done. The leads are superb, and the
> show has an all round strong cast.I'm sure none of this is in dispute. I saw some ealier work by Omnibus and will readily second your comments that they've done some good quality work. I hope the cast have a great time and enjoy working in the Regal.> I dont believe I have seen a cast
> so good since Playlovers did their production of "Chess" in
> 1996.Playlovers Inc. financial records are open for all members to see.> Everybody should do themselves a favour, and try and come along to see
> the show.Personally, i'll avoid it. I would much rather support a true amateur company that's incorporated, or a local professional company that provides some employment for local actors.I'm saving my $50 to buy my own way to England.Cheers
Grant
> pre-maturely, I am going to defend Omnibus productions for the
> cost in tickets."really checking it out" is just the problem. Practically all amateur theatre companies are structured as Incorporated Associations. As such they are legally bound to comply with the relevant Act, sections of which require the Association to maintain accurate accounts and make these available to members of the Association. What is more, the membership through their voting rights have a say about who runs the association and how the money is spent. If the association folds, the committee doesn't get to keep the money and run. By law, they are required to pass any remaining funds on to another association with similar aims or another registered charity.Has anyone involved in The Secret Garden, apart from the "business partners", ever seen the financial records? As far as i am aware, the Ominbus business partners are not incorporated and can do what they please with the proceeds from a production without anyone else having any say whatsoever. If the partners decided (and i'm not suggesting they would - i know them personally!) to fold the company and fly to America on the proceeds of The Secret Garden and the other shows, my understanding is that they can do just that without consulting another soul.Fine, we live in a capitalist, economic-rationalist, get-rich-at-other's-expense society, if someone has found a way of making a buck let's cheer them on.Remember that, though, when the friends you've worked and trained with turn "pro" and leave the state to find work. Remember it when you see families split, children leaving home to find work in the eastern states. Remember that when you've spent 3 years at university and another three at the Academy of Performing Arts and are sitting on the dole queue looking for work in your profession, trying to raise the money to buy a ticket to the promised land - Sydney.At $49 a full price ticket, it's well past time some of the deserving actors began to see some benefit.> First and foremost, I am a cast member, and no, actors are not
> paid. Musicians, and crew are though. Please keep in mind that "The
> Secret Garden" is only running for three days, putting on five
> shows. I dont know if anybody here has put on a show at the Regal, but hiring
> the venue for nine days is not a cheap venture.Who is being paid? Which members of the crew? All of them? Or just the Regal staff?What are they being paid? Are the musicians all getting a full professional rate? If so, why is this courtesy extended to the musicians but denied to the actors? Did anyone count the number of hours the cast spent rehearsing? How many hours did you see the musicians rehearsing? They can't even remember their lines, they have to play with the music in front of them (that's a joke folks - poor taste i know).A few of us on the list have been involved in staging shows at the Regal. We know that it costs! Bear in mind though, that the ITA used the Regal last year for the Finley Awards. I gather it wasn't quite full and it was nothing like $49 per ticket but the show about broke even.> Quite frankly I think it's great to see Omnibus move on from their
> productions at the Fremantle Town Hall. I have done several shows
> for Omnibus, which were earlier on, and by far this is the most
> proffesional show they have done. The leads are superb, and the
> show has an all round strong cast.I'm sure none of this is in dispute. I saw some ealier work by Omnibus and will readily second your comments that they've done some good quality work. I hope the cast have a great time and enjoy working in the Regal.> I dont believe I have seen a cast
> so good since Playlovers did their production of "Chess" in
> 1996.Playlovers Inc. financial records are open for all members to see.> Everybody should do themselves a favour, and try and come along to see
> the show.Personally, i'll avoid it. I would much rather support a true amateur company that's incorporated, or a local professional company that provides some employment for local actors.I'm saving my $50 to buy my own way to England.Cheers
Grant