What exactly does this mean for an actor? Thanks

actorsequity.org

All info on codes, contracts, etc for Equity productions can be found here in the membership area.

Hope this helps.

Hmm, your "Location" says you're in Wyoming(?) Are you in New York now? The "Basic Equity Showcase Code" is only for New York City theatres.

If you're in Los Angeles, there's a somewhat similar Agreement called the "99 Seat Plan".

Here's the link to Equity's site, where you can find Contracts, Agreements & Codes for working under Equity's jurisdiction:
Equity Contracts & Codes

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What exactly does this mean for an actor?

Read the stuff on Equity's website. Very enlightening.

quote:

All info on codes, contracts, etc for Equity productions can be found here in the membership area.

Hope this helps.

as an actor it basically means you don't get paid.

The main purpose of the showcase code is so a producer can run his show a few times without investing a whole lot of money in order to drum up support for potential investors and show it to other industry people.

You don't have to pay the actors, but there are major limitations to how long the show can run and what you can charge for ticket prices.

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Originally posted by Jon_K:

as an actor it basically means you don't get paid.

The main purpose of the showcase code is so a producer can run his show a few times without investing a whole lot of money in order to drum up support for potential investors and show it to other industry people.

You don't have to pay the actors, but there are major limitations to how long the show can run and what you can charge for ticket prices.

Actually "the main purpose" of the showcase code is not for the producers, but for the actors. From the Equity site: "Equity Codes provide an environment where members can "showcase" themselves for possible future employment."

But, yes, basically it means an actor doesn't get paid. They're doing the project, usually for free, for the chance "to be seen". (...which often turns out to be a very good thing. Appearing for free in an Equity Showcase is entirely different than paying to be seen in a casting director workshop.)

When a producer wants to present his show in order to drum up support from potential investors, they usually do a Stage Reading or a Backer's Audition. Equity has guidelines for those too. (I've done quite a few of those, and have often gotten a "stipend", as a thank-you from the producers, for my participation. Usually it's larger than any amount someone would be paid to be in a Showcase.)

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Originally posted by Broadway2Hollywood:
When a producer wants to present his show in order to drum up support from potential investors, they usually do a Stage Reading or a Backer's Audition. Equity has guidelines for those too. (I've done quite a few of those, and have often gotten a "stipend", as a thank-you from the producers, for my participation. Usually it's larger than any amount someone would be paid to be in a Showcase.)

It's a gradual process. After a staged reading, a play will rarely go straight to Broadway. The producer usually then does a mini-contract or a showcase production so he can attract more support.

Investors are going to be much more apt to drop half a million on a good small-time production as opposed to an experimental staged reading.

The original question was about the Equity Showcase Code and what it means to an actor.

As I said in my earlier response, this Code was created by Equity to serve its members -- the actors. Nearly every Equity-Approved Showcase production starts and ends there -- as a showcase for its actors. Though it may sometimes be used by producers to lure investors, that was not its original intention. In fact, Equity excludes producers and theatres that regularly produce under an Equity contract from using the Equity-Approved Showcase as a means to mount a production, and has numerous provisions entitling showcase participants to payments or offers of employment if a Showcase production is converted to an AEA contract production.