 Chapter 49 of THE ART OF STAGE DANCING All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Ramon Escamilla THE ART OF STAGE DANCING by Ned Weyburn Chapter 49. Making a Name One may see big electric signs carrying bright light messages similar to the above, placed conspicuously over theater entrances in all cities of any magnitude. Such signs convey to the passing populace the interesting information that here is located a certain play, and also that in this play a certain person appears as a main attraction. Now to the passerby whose knowledge of things theatrical is merely cursory, or scant or nonexistent, the two signs given above may have exactly the same meaning, bear the same message in both cases. But to all those in the know as to stage matters, the two signs tell two entirely different stories, and the location of the names of the play and the actor convey important information in the theater code that the wise ones interpret at a glance. Here are the two readings as the stage-wise render them, and I have told you about this, you will catch the point at once and ever after be able to read the signs with the clear conception of their import. The name at the top of each sign is starred, the other is featured. In one, the play is given the star position, and Miss Miller is featured. In the other, Marilyn Miller is starred, and the play featured. Well, what of that, you ask? Just this, and here is where the importance of it all comes in. The one that is starred carries the burden of the success of the show. If the play is starred, its failure does not reflect on the person featured. But if the actor is starred and failure follows, the actor and not the play is considered responsible, the actor not having proven a magnet, not having drawn business on the strength of his or her name. The personal difference to the actor is really very great, yet to star is the actor's great ambition. No one should ever be starred unless popular enough to attract plenty of patronage and thereby ensure packed houses. This applies not alone in the signs over the door, but also in all the theatre's publicity. Pick up today's newspaper and look at the stage announcements. Mary Pickford in Blank. You don't care what the play is when you see the star's name. The star carries the play in such a case. Rose Marie with Mary Ellis and William Kent. You are glad to go and see the featured pair, but in this case the play is given the star position, it having registered success, the profits from this musical play having been as high as $18,000 per week during its run in one New York theatre. Now the point of all this that has to do with the stage dancer is how did Marilyn Miller get a name that entitled her to this conspicuous exploitation and how can I go about it to become equally well known and famous myself. You are wise to ask this question seriously early in your stage career and if you have or develop the quality that makes for stardom you can read this chapter with confidence that it is an accurate and correct account of how many a stage celebrity has progressed from an unknown and unheralded place in the theatrical world to one where Broadway producing managers have solicited the privilege of elevating her his name over the doors of their playhouses. Bear in mind that your name is to you what a trademark is to a manufacturer and to continue the analogy you cannot establish a name in a day or two any more than the manufacturer can make his trademark goods universally known in a short period. You are starting out now with a laudable ambition to make a name for yourself and have still to seek your first engagement. You know your dances are continuing your practice and have confidence in your ability to make good. Don't hurry to get yourself before any producing manager until you have had a little experience in some hideaway place like at a church or charity benefit performance some local entertainment or club affair anything of this nature that will enable you to try yourself out before a small or friendly audience test your ability to overcome stage fright and get hold of yourself before a crowd. Having done this away from Broadway and gained assurance then an appearance in some regular theater preferably at some benefit performance usually given Sundays should come next where the dancer is sure to be seen by someone who has the authority and position to offer an engagement. Any sort of an engagement with a reputable management is a good beginning and should be accepted without expectation of a fancy salary an opportunity being what one always needs in order to prove one's ability. If you do not succeed in creating a demand for your services at appearances like this do not become discouraged. Make up your mind to keep on trying until you do attract the attention of the right manager. Always be willing to make any sacrifice as far as remuneration is concerned for an opportunity to appear to advantage and be everlastingly grateful to whoever gives you your first opportunity or foothold which enables you to establish yourself. Send a brief letter to the offices of various managers announcing your forthcoming appearance enclose a good full length photograph preferably in stage costume the best you can afford i.e. taken by the best photographer you can get some of these managers or their representatives will be there and see your performance be sure you are making good before you try to interest any of the big managers it is better for you to be seen by the manager before an audience than in an empty theater be satisfied to make a small beginning for the experience provided you get a chance to do your best dance this will help you establish yourself but it is going to take a long time to prove your ability travel and make territory for yourself go in a vaudeville act if offered such an engagement keep on small time for a year if necessary and get your name known in a certain territory for a pleasing entertainer get on with some act big or little as a solo dancer at a reasonable salary and expect the first two weeks to be at half salary as is usual do not demand a large salary until managers are clamoring for your services make it an inducement for someone to employ you in the beginning when you start on a road tour your first inquiry of your company manager will be for a copy of the route you want to know where you are going what towns your itinerary takes you to so that friends can be advised in advance of your location day by day and letters and communications reach you with certainty to the trooper a town is a stand a week showing in a place is spoken of as a week stand the first and last half of the week is each a three day stand or four day stand or the first or last half then there is a two day stand and a one night stand which are self-explanatory a run is a greater period than a week stand and you hear of a two week run an eight week run six months run etc there is a solid season a theatrical year of 40 weeks of travel experience and development beginning about Labor Day and ending about Decoration Day and a summer season beginning about the first Monday in June and ending about the last Saturday in August your work in progress is being watched unknown to you at every performance the manager back home finally knows all about your work through reports which are kept in the main booking office and to which he and all other managers on his particular circuit have access now you're ready to try for something bigger and better ready for big time vaudeville perhaps in your own act if not that then in someone else's act your second year's advancement is based on the weekly report that has been sent to headquarters regarding your reception by the public and the way in which your act has got over big time may mean Chicago Boston Philadelphia and any or all of the larger cities on the various circuits it may include the Keith Alby Palace Theater in New York the mecca of all vaudeville artists it is at the palace that you know you and your act are seen by every review musical comedy or dramatic manager casting director whose business it is to pick and engage artists there is no school like vaudeville for the dancer, singer, actor or actress in any line of musical work most of the brightest stars in the theatrical firmament have graduated from vaudeville into greater things and many of them return to the vaudeville stage for a flyer now and then it is there that you come into contact with different wise audiences in different cities and learn how to handle them you watch your fellows in their various acts note the bills as they change every week or usually twice weekly and your audience with them you are in two, three or four shows a day in your short time and learning how to get over better at every show the vaudeville audience knows what's what you can't fool them you've got to do your best for them all the time and you will or you will not remain in vaudeville where you have to make good every performance it is an invaluable experience, your first stage years and you will gather lasting benefit from your active vaudeville appearances you must not complain of the number of shows you are required to give daily the more you give, the more practice you get before a paid audience and remember you are gaining experience while being paid for it you may follow a season of this with a road show over your former territory another year and you will find your old friends in the audience ready to boost you you are on the right road to the making of a name which after all is what you are after for although they will not remember your name yet if you really please them they will remember your offering about your third trip around they will learn your name and never forget it provided you make good if you fail the audience will forget you but not the manager once you fail in his opinion he will never forget or forgive it he will never give anyone who fails a second chance that is show business your fourth year should find you in a New York production in some good company for New York is always the objective point since the best and most opportunities are always there there follows naturally a year on the road in the same company as the show abandons New York for a tour of the larger cities always make the road trip in order to create territory for yourself to establish a following to make a still bigger name and demand for you which means a larger salary eventually you are sufficiently established now after five successful years to be able to expect another New York engagement under the same management in all likelihood but with a new vehicle this New York engagement and another year on tour with the same play puts you seven years along the way to a name in the big lights and your name has been growing day by day until it is now known in good territory and consequently through wise exploitation, publicity it has become a magnet and attracts patronage when the time comes that your name is to go up in front of the theater choose to be featured at first rather than start if anything must fail, let it be the show and not you don't risk failing to draw business to the box office there will come a time somewhere along in your progress to fame when you will need a business manager or an agent versed in all matters of a theatrical nature favorably known to all the large producing managers and able to advance your fortunes materially by protecting and looking after your interests he is entitled to receive 10% of your earnings from whatever source and the services he can render you are well worth it nearly every successful actor and actress has a manager stage celebrities have not the time let alone the experience and ability to promote their own business interests watch for opportunities to secure the choice engagements and attend to the very necessary publicity and negotiations for contracts for the future the reputable agent or artists manager is always on the ground and in touch with the best management and things theatrical daily but no such representative worthwhile will bother with you until you have made good the best artist managers or agents know in advance what is being planned for the coming theatrical season they are in close contact with the very high ups in the theatrical world men whose contracts you hope to sign on the dotted line soon a good agent may save you several years time in advancing to a stellar position he knows the value of publicity which often is half the battle in getting yourself before the public you must have publicity whether or not you secure a representative to attend to it for you interesting newsy stories about you with effective art studies of yourself and costume accompanying them are gladly accepted by many newspapers and magazines the roto gravure sections of Sunday papers contain many pictures of theatrical folks a beautiful picture will usually carry a story and you are wise to get a few good ones rather than many cheap prints every first class theater has its own press agent and every production of any size its own press representative both are glad to cooperate with you if you have real ability and help you with the preparation of your stories and photographs and getting them into the daily newspaper there are also many publicity concerns who make it a business to keep your name and picture in the public eye at a moderate charge but you must be able to make good first neither publicity nor anything else will avail to establish a permanent name for you unless you are prepared to deliver the goods duds and dumb ones never make a big noise in the world there is no star name awaiting the inferior person in this profession all the front page publicity in Christendom won't do the trick if you haven't back of your real talent and something the public is clamoring for and you cannot hope to fool the wary producer by any false representation or exaggerated claims you are not wasting your time while on the way to the bigger things seven years may seem a long time to wait but you are not starving on the way and you are not really waiting at all you start with a reasonable salary that advances from year to year and engagement to engagement as you deserve it you must build all the way on solid rock then the structure that you finally rear because of its firm foundation will endure forever build up a public interest in yourself if you expect any producing manager to pay you what you are worth perhaps you will never pay you what you think you are worth but if you bring money into the house he knows he must pay you well in his own interest and believe me he knows whether you are an asset or a liability to his show you have simply got to prove to the box office that you are producing not stage money but the real stuff there is such a thing in stage lingo as an overnight hit someone suddenly stops the show in a town that is gets an unusual number of recalls but wait a while before you decide that you are ready to star on the strength of that your next audience or the audience in the next town may not be so enthusiastic over your act an overnight hit is seldom continued beyond the single performance it is pleasant while it lasts but it doesn't last long you must perform consistently and make a hit at every performance with every audience be patient you who would star and see your name go up in the bright lights on the great white way do not get discouraged you will meet with obstacles on the route to fame undoubtedly as others have done and like the others who have finally arrived you must overcome them one at a time as they appear by sheer force of willpower, determination, pluck or whatever you desire to call it if you are a weakling and lack strength of character do not ever take up a stage career for you will get many a bump so be prepared to stand it for only those who are determined to succeed will ever reach the top where there is plenty of room always Chapter 50 of The Art of Stage Dancing this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Anna Simon The Art of Stage Dancing by Nett Wayburn Chapter 50 Forms of Stage Contracts I offer no apology for posting the inexperienced ones about to enter upon a stage career as to how best to make the start the signing of a mutual contract entering into a legal engagement on the part of manager and dancer to perform certain duties and pay certain salaries for a stated period of time is of sufficient importance to have serious consideration I want my pupils to know in advance just what a proper stage contract looks like how it reads and what they will be called upon to sign as a party of the second part when the hoped full time comes that their dancers are to have public presentation on the professional stage to this end I reproduce here the wording of various forms of approved contracts now in general use by American theatrical managers and commend their reading to all who are interested in the intimate side of stage affairs The theatrical law requires that a chorus girl or a boy need not less than $30 per week in New York City and $35 outside of New York besides their transportation this is the lowest salary all first-class managers pay choristers not less than $40 per week in New York and $50 on the road the salary always includes transportation not living expenses which you are required to pay some chorus girls receive as much as $75 or $100 weekly depending upon what they can do their appearance, personality etc about the smallest salary ever offered a solo dancer with a vaudeville act would be $50 in New York and $60 on tour while the majority of solo dancers without name or reputation would receive $75, $85 or $100 per week to start provided they really can do a real dance in a professional manner and put it over with some personality one who receives $100 per week in New York should receive $125 on tour after one salary reaches $125 per week it can be increased on a sliding scale to $150 and $175 on tour then $200 in New York and $250 on tour from $250 to $300 after reaching $300 it generally jumps to $400 from $400 to $500 after that to $750 then $1000 to $1250 then to $1500 a week and then to 10% of the gross receipts usually a STARS contract though contracts and terms vary a salary is fixed for one theatrical year and usually increased each year as indicated but it's never increased at all unless there is a demand for your services by reason of the fact that you've made a hit and registered genuine success this contract must not be issued to the chorus equity minimum contract standard form issued by the Actors' Equity Association affiliated with the American Federation of Labor 45 West 47th Street, New York City Los Angeles office 6412 Hollywood Boulevard San Francisco office Theodore Hale 369 Pine Street Chicago office 1032 Capitol Building Kansas City office Haiti theater building to be used by independent New York managers and others playing same class of attractions agreement made this blank day of blank 1900 and blank between blank manager and blank here and after called actor regulations and rules over leaf regulations covering rehearsals notice of termination before and during rehearsals lost rehearsals individual termination closing of play and season clothes number of performances lost performances transportation layoff method of giving notice and other matters are set forth in the regulations on the reverse side of this page and in rules governing minimum standard contract on the pages following and except as here and after provided are a part hereof agreement of employment one the manager engages the actor to render service in part of blank here insert name of part also if actor is required to understudy in the play now called blank here insert present title of play and the actor hereby accepts such employment upon the terms herein set forth opening date two the date of the first public performance shall be the blank day of blank 1900 and blank or not later than 14 days thereafter employment here under shall begin on the date of the beginning of rehearsals and shall continue until terminated by notice given as herein provided and not otherwise compensation three the manager agrees to pay the actor the sum of blank dollars each week on Saturday thereof from and after the date named in paragraph two and until this agreement is duly terminated duties of the actor four the actor agrees to be prompt at rehearsals to pay strict regard to makeup and dress to perform his services in a competent and painstaking manner to abide by all reasonable rules and regulations of the manager and accept as otherwise herein provided to render services exclusively to the manager from the date of beginning of rehearsals and shall not render services to any other person firm or corporation without the consent of the manager five the manager agrees that he has noticed that the actor herein is a member of the actors equity association and as such member is bound to conform to its lawful rules and regulations and that it is a lawful rule and regulation of said association that as far as the manager herein is concerned the actor is to work only in companies operated by the manager herein when all members of said company or companies are members of the actors equity association in good standing and continue to be such during the entire term of employment here under and the manager agrees that the actor shall not be required to work here under in violation of said rule or other lawful rule of said association and further agrees to the full extent to which said agreement is lawful that all actors in the company in which the actor herein is employed shall be and shall continue throughout the term hereof to be members in good standing of the actors equity association except as provided in paragraph 37 of the rules should the manager employ any non-member of the actors equity association or any member not fully paid up or not in good standing or one who fails to continue himself in good standing or should the manager breach any covenant herein made the actor may the actors equity association consenting not only terminate this agreement forthwith but the manager also agrees to pay the actor all sums due to the date of termination plus his return fare and plus as liquidated damages no present basis for calculation existing a sum equal to two weeks salary arbitration six in event that any dispute shall arise between the parties as to any matter or thing covered by this agreement whereas to the meaning of any part thereof then said dispute or claim shall be arbitrated the manager shall choose one arbitrator and the actors equity association the second blank shall be the third these three shall constitute the board and the decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be decision of all and shall be binding upon both parties and shall be final the board shall hear the parties and within seven days shall decide the dispute or claim the board shall determine by whom and in what proportion the cost of arbitration shall be paid and the parties hereby constitute said board their agents and agree that its decision shall constitute an agreement between them having the same binding falls as if agreed to by the parties themselves further that they and each of them will if required signed such individual arbitration agreement as to make said arbitration comply with the legal arbitration and the laws of the state of New York and the rules of the Supreme Court thereof and that judgment upon the award may be entered in the Supreme Court of the state of New York the oath of the members at the board of arbitration shall not be necessary unless specifically requested by one of the parties in witness whereof we have signed this agreement on the day and year first above written blank manager blank actor regulations to be printed on independent standard minimum contract rehearsals A1 the actor if required shall give four weeks rehearsal without pay in case of musical comedy, review or spectacular production five weeks and obligates himself to be ready to rehearse four or five weeks before the date mentioned in paragraph two on phase of contract hereof if further rehearsals are required then for each additional week or part thereof the manager shall pay the actor full compensation as provided in paragraph three on phase of contract hereof on Saturday night of each week A2 it is agreed that rehearsal shall be continuous from the date of the first rehearsal to the date of the first public performance of the play as stated in paragraph two on the phase hereof notice of termination before rehearsal B, this contract may before the beginning of rehearsals be terminated as follows one, if the contract be signed and entered into prior to two months before the specific date mentioned in paragraph two on phase hereof by the manager giving to the actor written notice and paying him two week salary if however previously to giving such written notice and making such payment the manager shall have given to the actor written notice that the play will not be produced or that the actor will not be called for rehearsals and the actor thereafter secures a new engagement under which payments to him are to begin not later the date specified in paragraph two on the phase hereof then and in that event instead of said two week salary the only sum if any which the manager need pay the actor shall be the amount if any by which said two week salary exceeds two week salary of the actor under said new engagement two, if the contract be signed and entered into within two months of the specific date mentioned in paragraph two on the phase hereof and the play is not placed in rehearsal or is abandoned the manager shall pay the actor a sum equal to one week salary notice of termination during rehearsal see, this contract may during rehearsals be terminated as follows one, at any time during the first seven days rehearsals of the actor by either party by giving written notice if this contract be signed and entered into within two months of the specific date mentioned in paragraph two on the phase hereof except in case the actor be re-engaged by the manager for a part which he has previously played in which event he shall be paid two weeks compensation or two, any time after the first seven days rehearsals of the actor by the manager giving written notice to the actor and by paying him forthwith a sum equal to two weeks compensation note in the above two subdivisions C1 and C2 wherever the word 7 appears in reference to the probationary period of rehearsals the word 10 shall be substituted if the actor be employed in a musical comedy review or spectacular production three, the actor may cancel the contract by giving written notice and with the same paying to the manager a sum equal to two weeks compensation individual termination after opening D, either party may terminate this contract at any time on or after the date of the first public performance of the play by giving the other party two weeks written notice E1, if the play runs four weeks or less the manager may close the play and company without notice and terminate the right of the actor to further compensation provided he has paid the actor for all services rendered to date and in no event less than two weeks compensation two, if the play shall run more than four weeks the manager shall give one weeks notice of the closing of the season of the play and company or pay one weeks compensation in lieu thereof clothes F1 if the actor be a man he shall furnish and pay for such conventional morning afternoon and evening clothes as are customarily worn by civilians of the present day in this country together with wigs and footwear necessarily a pertinent there too all other wigs, footwear, costumes clothes, a pertinences and properties including those peculiar to any trade occupation or sport to be furnished by the manager two, if the actor be a woman all wigs, gowns, hats, footwear and all properties shall be furnished by the manager three, it is understood that in every case where the manager furnishes costumes if the notice of cancellation of this contract be given by the actor he or she shall reimburse the manager for the necessary and reasonable expense to which he may actually be put in having costumes altered or rearranged for the successor and repay for current shoes notices g all communications which refer to the company in general shall be posted upon the call board notice to the manager must be given to him personally or to his company or stage manager number of performances work h 1 8 performances shall constitute a wigs work 2 a wigs compensation shall be paid even if a less number than 8 performances are given except as herein otherwise provided in paragraph J 3 a sum equal to 1 eighth of the weekly compensation shall be paid for each performance over 8 in each week this also applies to understudies 4 it is assumed that Sunday rehearsals and performances will take place only where it is lawful and the actor shall not be required to perform in the play and part above named on Sunday in any theatre except those where Sunday performances were customarily given on May 1st 1924 lost performances 1 the actor shall travel with the company by such routes if the manager may direct and the actor shall not demand compensation for any performance lost through unavoidable delay and travel which prevents the giving of performances by the company J 1 it is further agreed if the company cannot perform because of fire, accidents, strikes, riot, act of God the public enemy or for any other cause of the same general class which could not be reasonably anticipated or prevented or if the actor cannot perform an account of illness or a valid reason then the actor shall not be entitled to any salary except as otherwise herein specified for the time during which said services shall not for such reason or reasons be rendered should any of the foregoing conditions continue for a period of 10 days or more either party may terminate the contract and the manager will pay for all services to date and transportation back to New York City 2 strikes within the meaning of this paragraph is construed to mean any strike of any name or nature which shall prevent the manager from giving performances in the usual cause of his business in any of his theatre or theatres lost rehearsals K if the manager is prevented from giving rehearsals because of fire, accident, riots, strikes illness of star or prominent member of the cast act of God, public enemy or any other cause of the same general class which could not reasonably be anticipated or prevented then the time so lost shall not be counted as part of the 4 or 5 as the case may be week's rehearsal period herein provided after the 4th or 5th as the case may be week of rehearsal including any layoff period on the above account the manager will pay half salaries for 2 weeks at the end of which time the actor shall be free unless the manager wishes to continue the services of the actor and pays him full salary therefore transportation L the manager agrees to transport the actor when required to travel including transportation from New York City to the point of opening and back to New York City from the point of closing also the actor's personal baggage up to 200 pounds weight M the manager shall reimburse the actor for all loss or damage to his property used and or to be used in connection with the play while it is wholly or partly in the possession or control under the supervision of the manager or of any of his representatives and also when such baggage and property has been in any way shipped, forwarded or stored by the manager or any of his representatives but the actor shall have no claim if the loss or damage occurs while the baggage or property is under his control upon payment of said loss or damages the manager shall be subrogated to all rights of the actor therefore N 1 if individual notice of termination is given by the manager he agrees to pay the actor in cash the amount of the cost of transportation of the actor in his baggage back to New York City whether the actor returns immediately or not 2 if this contract is cancelled by the actor he agrees to pay his own railroad fare back to New York City and to reimburse the manager for any railroad fare the manager may have to pay for the actor's successor up to an amount not exceeding railroad fare from New York City to the point where said successor joins the company whether for rehearsal or for playing 3 if the company is organized outside of New York City the name of such place is hearing agreed to be substituted for New York City in paragraph L, N1 and N2 and elsewhere O the manager shall not be responsible for any loss occurring to the personal baggage of the actor whose duty it is if he desires to protect himself against loss to ensure the same P the actor hearing may play in any benefit performance by or under the auspices of the actor's equity association deputies of said association will be permitted in each company and a duly authorized representative shall have the right to be on the stage before and after rehearsals and before and after performances and said association may represent its members in any dispute which may arise with the managers actors will be tentatively engaged on their paid up cards only which card will be prima facie evidence of membership in said association until the manager is otherwise notified rules governing minimum standard contracts to be printed on independent standard minimum contracts one, should the manager of any production consider the same spectacular and therefore entitled to five weeks of free rehearsals he shall notify the actors equity association before the beginning of rehearsals and advise fully as to the nature of the production and secure its allowance of his claim two, rehearsals begin with a date when the actor is first called if the manager chooses to start with a reading to the company or substantial part thereof said reading is a part of and begins the rehearsal period three, in case of company rehearsals being held before opening at a place different from that of organization the manager shall pay the actor his reasonable living expenses during said rehearsals except that the manager shall be allowed two days of free rehearsal in cities within 1,000 miles of New York City and one additional day free for each additional 1,000 miles or fraction thereof four, if the actor shall absent himself from rehearsals for seven days or more by reason of illness the manager may cancel this contract without payment for service to date the association may in its discretion upon appeal by the manager reduce this period five, contract between manager and actor shall be deemed to be entered into between the said parties on the date when the terms of the contract are agreed upon between the parties and contract must be issued and signed as of that date six, if after joining a company which has opened and is on tour an actor is dismissed at rehearsals within the seven day probationary period provided the seven day probationary period has not already been deleted from his contract the manager shall pay to the actor his transportation both ways and for each day of rehearsal a sum equal to one fourteenth of the weekly salary agreed upon set rehearsals to be deemed continuous and to begin not later than the day after the actor's arrival in case the actor is dismissed after the seven day probationary period the manager shall pay the actor two weeks salary and his transportation both ways seven, if the full rehearsal period to which the manager is entitled be not used by him before the date of opening he may employ the balance thereof immediately before the New York opening provided that said New York opening takes place within six weeks of the original opening of the play eight, all performances for which admission is charged except bona fide benefits are to be counted and considered as performances under the minimum standard contract nine, if the employment under any contract relates to the second or subsequent season of any play then the period of free rehearsals is three weeks instead of four but this provision shall not obtain a 50% or more of the cast were not members of the production the preceding year ten, if the play for which the actor is engaged is rehearsed seven days or less and then rehearsals are discontinued or postponed or if the production is abandoned during rehearsals on or before the seven day probationary period would have expired the manager shall pay the actor as follows if the contract has been signed or entered into within two months of the date mentioned in paragraph two of the standard minimum contract a sum equal to one week salary otherwise a sum equal to two weeks salary eleven, in case the play is abandoned before rehearsals or the actor is entitled to compensation under the preceding paragraph payment shall be made by the manager to the actor not later than three weeks prior to date of opening specified in paragraph two of the main contract twelve, seven days rehearsals means seven consecutive calendar days counting Sunday when Sunday is used for rehearsals and said seven days terminate with the dismissal of rehearsal on the seventh day as herein reckoned thirteen, if the part of an actor who shall have been dismissed before the end of the rehearsal on the seventh day shall be cut out the manager shall pay to the actor a sum equal to one week salary fourteen, the manager shall use reasonable care that his press department shall not announce the engagement of the actor until after the seven day probationary period and shall drop the name of the actor from advertising on publicity matter as soon as possible after the actor leaves the company fifteen, if the actor is not allowed to work out any notice properly given under his contract the amount to which he is entitled to shall be paid forthwith upon the giving of the notice sixteen, the writer the manager to close a play in company without a week's notice within four weeks after the opening date does not apply to the second or subsequent season thereof seventeen, notices of termination or closing given at or before the end of the performance on Monday night effective at the end of the Saturday night following shall be deemed one week's notice and such notice effective at the end of Saturday week following shall be deemed two weeks notice eighteen, the essence of this contract is continuous employment and a play once closed shall not be reopened during the same season within eight weeks of the date of previous closing without the consent of the actor's equity association such consent if given shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be considered just and equitable by such association nineteen, except in a case of notice given on Monday as otherwise provided in these rules a week's notice shall be seven calendar days and two weeks notice fourteen calendar days twenty, should the manager require the actor to purchase his clothes from a special tailor or shall require exclusive or unique designs or unusually expensive clothes then the manager shall pay for such clothes anything to the country in clause G of the standard minimum contract notwithstanding twenty-one, the actor shall be responsible for transporting his own baggage to and from the station or theater in New York City the manager will pay the cost of or reimburse the actor for such transportation anywhere on Manhattan Island twenty-two, should the citizen's jury provided for in New York decide adversely to the continuance of a production because salacious or against public morals the actor shall forthwith terminate his employment without notice, payment or penalty twenty-three, should the production in which the actor is engaged be complained of as being in violation of any statute, ordinance or law of the United States any state or any municipality in any state and should a claim or charge be made against the actor on account of his being engaged in such production either civil or criminal, the manager shall defend the actor at his own expense or shall pay any and all reasonable charges laid out or incurred by the actor in his defense and the manager agrees to identify the actor against any loss or damage which he may suffer on account of being engaged in any such production this rule shall not apply to any case or any set of conditions where his enforcement would be illegal or against public policy twenty-four, the manager shall have the right to lay off his company the week before Christmas and Holy Week should such lay-off take place the manager shall not during set lay-off period be entitled to the services of the company except for a run-through rehearsal on the day of reopening and except further that additional rehearsals may be allowed by the Actors' Equity Association in case of illness of the star or prominent member of the company or change of cast twenty-five, if in any production the star or featured member of the cast shall be ill and the lay-off shall take place on that account Actors receiving less than one hundred dollars weekly but no others shall be paid by the manager and amount equal to their board and lodging for the first week if set lay-off continues beyond one week half salaries shall be paid to the entire company for each day the Actors are retained up to and including two further weeks from and after the beginning of the fourth week the manager shall either pay full salaries to all members of the company or may abandon the production twenty-six, when understudies are employed or there is a change in the cast announcement shall be made to this effect either by a slip in the program or by announcement from the stage at the rise of the curtain or by conspicuously posting a notice to that effect a reasonable time before the rise of the curtain at the box office twenty-seven, in case after the opening of the play and after at least two weeks employment the manager shall desire a lay-off for the purpose of rewriting or making changes in the cast or any other reason deemed sufficient by him he may apply to the Actors equity association for the right to do so if the association agrees to such lay-off it may do so upon such terms and conditions as may seem equitable to it under the circumstances but in any event if a change or changes in the cast is made the actor or actors dismissed and not employed upon the renewed run of the play shall be paid at least one week's additional salary twenty-eight musical comedies, reviews or spectacular plays shall immediately after a New York run be allowed one day's lay-off before the opening in either Boston or Chicago this does not apply to premiers that is original openings in those cities twenty-nine should the actor deem that he has any claim against the manager under his contract he shall present the same to the Actors equity association or to the manager or both within two months after the time when such claim has arisen unless he shall give to the board of arbitration good and sufficient reason for any delay after such period of two months thirty should either party give the other any notice under his contract which terminates the same at any future date and should the actor have or secure a new engagement he shall be permitted to attend the rehearsals under the new engagement as may be necessary and it do not conflict with his performances under his then existing contract thirty-one the actual salary of the actor agreed upon shall be stated in the contract and a lesser or fictitious salary shall not be stated in the contract thirty-two unless special consent otherwise is given by the manager under studies shall be present at each performance thirty-three tryouts during May June and July are permissible where the manager agrees to pay and pays one week's salary for two weeks rehearsals and an additional half week's salary for each additional week of rehearsal one week's salary to be guaranteed payment for part of a week's rehearsal shall be pro-reata thirty-four Sunday performances referred to in regulations under subdivision four of paragraph H are regular dramatic and musical productions and do not include vaudeville recitals concerts and the like thirty-five equity will raise no objection to the trying out of vaudeville acts in reviews or similar type of productions for one performance provided the act understands and is agreeable to this arrangement provided further that this entails on the company no rehearsals thirty-six the actor shall be required to work only with the manager who employs members who are and continue to be members in good standing of the actors equity association exclusively in his company or companies thirty-seven the parties have noticed that pursuant to special resolution of the actors equity association the actor shall file at its office an exempt list containing the names of non-members of set association with whom the actor herein will work thus creating an exception under paragraph five on the face of this agreement the parties know they may examine this list at any time and therefore know the names of non-members with whom the actor herein will work while the resolution of the association creating set exempt list continues in force and the actors not required to work with any other non-member in any company end of chapter fifty chapter fifty part two of the art of stage dancing this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Ramon Escamilla the art of stage dancing by Ned Wayburn chapter fifty forms of stage contracts part two equity minimum contract standard form as agreed upon by the managers protective association Inc. and the actors equity association affiliated with the American Federation of Labor 115 West 47th Street, New York City Los Angeles office 6412 Hollywood Boulevard San Francisco office Theodore Hale, 369 Pine Street Chicago office 1032 Capitol building Kansas City office Gayety Theater building to be used with members of the managers protective association Inc. only agreement made this blink day of blink 19 blink between blink manager and blink hereafter called actor the regulations on the other side here too are a part hereof as though printed herein at length to ensure in this contract a sufficient degree of flexibility to meet the contingencies and necessities of theater production as the same may arise separately printed rules governing minimum standard contract are also made a part hereof as though printed herein at length agreement of employment one the manager engages the actor to render services in part of blink here in certain name of part also if actor is required to understudy in the play now called blink here insert present title of play and the actor hereby accept such employment upon the terms herein set forth opening date to the date of the first public performance shall be the blink day of blink 19 blink or not later than 14 days thereafter employment here under shall begin on the date of the beginning of rehearsals and shall continue until terminated by notice given as herein provided and not otherwise compensation three the manager agrees to pay the actor the sum of blank dollars each week on Saturday thereof from and after the date named in paragraph two and until this agreement is duly terminated regulations on reverse side regulations covering rehearsals notice of termination before and during rehearsals lost rehearsals individual termination closing of play and season close number of performances lost performances transportation layoff method of giving notice and other matters are set forth in the regulations on the reverse side of this page and in rules governing minimum standard contract and accept as herein after provided are a part hereof duties of the actor the actor agrees to be prompted rehearsals to pay strict regard to make up and dress to perform his services in a competent and painstaking manner to abide by all reasonable rules and regulations of the manager and accept as otherwise herein provided to render services exclusively to the manager from the date of beginning of rehearsals and shall not render services to any other person firm or corporation without the consent of the manager five a actor's employment here under is conditional upon the membership of the companies of the manager being in accordance with the equity association rules set forth in the agreement between the actor's equity association and the manager's protective association ink dated May 12 1924 and the actor shall not be required to work here under in violation of any such rules should at any time the membership of any such company failed to be in accordance with any such rules or should the manager failed to comply with any of the provisions of paragraphs seventh or eighth of said agreement the actor shall at his option provided the actors equity association consents be released from this agreement and the manager agrees to pay to him and he may recover from the manager all sums due to date of said release plus his return fair as provided in the transportation clause plus as liquidated damages a sum equal to two weeks salary any claim under this paragraph may be made by the actor through and with the consent of the actor's equity association and any dispute regarding the same shall be arbitrated under the provisions of this agreement B. this agreement is dependent upon and shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of said agreement with the manager's protective association ink dated May 12 1924 arbitration six in event that any dispute shall arise between the parties as to any matter or thing covered by this agreement or as to the meaning of any part thereof then said dispute or claim shall be arbitrated the manager shall choose one arbitrator and the actors equity association the second blank shall be the third these three shall constitute the board and the decision of a majority of the arbitrator shall be the decision of all and shall be binding upon both parties and shall be final the board shall hear the parties and within seven days shall decide the dispute or claim the board shall determine by whom and in what proportion the cost of arbitration shall be paid and the parties hereby constitute said board their agents and agree that its decision shall constitute an agreement between them having the same binding force as if agreed to by the parties themselves further that they and each of them will if required sign such individual arbitration agreement as to make said arbitration comply with the legal arbitration under the laws of the state of New York and the rules of the Supreme Court thereof and that judgment upon the award may be entered in the Supreme Court of the state of New York the oath of the members of the board of arbitration shall not be necessary unless specifically requested by one of the parties in witness thereof we have signed this agreement on the day and year first above written blank manager blank actor regulations to be printed on standard minimum contract rehearsals a one the actor if required shall give four weeks rehearsal without pay in case of comedy review or spectacular production five weeks and obligates himself to be ready to rehearse four or five weeks before the date mentioned in paragraph two on the face of the contract hereof if further rehearsals are required then for each additional week or part thereof the manager shall pay the actor full compensation as provided in paragraph three on face of contract hereof on Saturday night of each week two it is agreed that rehearsals shall be continuous from the date of the first rehearsal to the date of the first public performance of the play as stated in paragraph two on the face hereof notice of termination before rehearsal b this contract may before the beginning of rehearsals be terminated as follows one if the contract be signed and entered into prior to two months before the specific date mentioned in paragraph two on face hereof lowercase a by the manager giving to the actor written notice and paying him two weeks salary if however previously to giving such written notice and making such payment the manager shall have given to the actor written notice that the play will not be produced or that the actor will not be called for rehearsals and the actor thereafter secures a new engagement under which payments to him are to begin not later than the date specified in paragraph two on the face hereof then and in that event instead of said two weeks salary the only some if any which the manager need pay the actor shall be the amount if any by which said two weeks salary exceeds two weeks salary of the actor under said new engagement two if the contract be signed and entered into within two months of the specified date mentioned in paragraph two on the face hereof and the play is not placed in rehearsal or is abandoned the manager shall pay the actor a sum equal to one week salary notice of termination during rehearsal c this contract may during rehearsals be terminated as follows one at any time during the first seven days rehearsals of the actor by either party by giving written notice if this contract be signed and entered into within two months of the specific date mentioned in paragraph two on the face hereof except in case the actor be re-engaged by the manager for a part which he has previously played in which event he shall be paid two weeks compensation or two any time after the first seven days rehearsals of the actor by the manager giving written notice to the actor and by paying him forthwith a sum equal to two weeks compensation note in the above two subdivisions c one and c two wherever the word seven appears in reference to the probationary period of rehearsals the word ten shall be substituted if the actor be employed in a musical comedy review or spectacular production three the actor may cancel the contract by giving written notice and with the same paying to the manager a sum equal to two weeks compensation d either party may terminate this contract at any time on or after the date of the first public performance of the play by giving the other party two weeks written notice individual termination after opening e one if the play runs four weeks or less the manager may close the play and company without notice and terminate the right of the actor to further compensation provided he has paid the actor for all services rendered to date and in no event less than two weeks compensation two if the play shall run more than four weeks the manager shall give one weeks notice of the closing of the season of the play and company or pay one weeks compensation in lieu thereof clothes f one if the actor be a man he shall furnish and pay for such conventional morning afternoon and evening clothes as are customarily worn by civilians of the present day in this country together with wigs and footwear necessarily a pertinent thereto all other wigs footwear costumes clothes a pertinence is and properties including those peculiar to any trade occupation or sport to be furnished by the manager two if the actor be a woman all wigs gowns hats footwear and all properties shall be furnished by the manager three he understood that in every case where the manager furnishes costumes if the notice of cancellation of this contract be given by the actor he or she shall reimburse the manager for the necessary and reasonable expense to which he may actually be put in having costumes altered or rearranged for the successor and repay for current shoes notices G all communications which refer to the company in general shall be posted upon the callboard notice to the manager must be given to him personally or to his company or stage manager number of performances work H one eight performances shall constitute a week's work two a week's compensation shall be paid even if a less number than eight performances are given except as herein otherwise provided in paragraph J three a sum equal to one eighth of the weekly compensation shall be paid for each performance over eight in each week this also applies to understudies four it is assumed that Sunday rehearsals and performances will take place only where it is lawful and the actor shall not be required to perform in the play and part above named on Sunday in any theater except those were Sunday performances were customarily given on May 1st 1924 lost performances I the actor shall travel with the company by such routes as the manager may direct and the actor shall not demand compensation for any performance lost through unavoidable delay in travel which prevents the giving of performances by the company J it is further agreed if the company cannot perform because of fire accident strikes riot act of God the public enemy or for any other cause of the same general class which could not be reasonably anticipated or prevented or if the actor cannot perform on account of illness or any other valid reason then the actor shall not be entitled to any salary except as otherwise herein specified for the time during which said services shall not for such reason or reasons be rendered should any of the foregoing conditions continue for a period of 10 days or more either party may terminate the contract and the manager will pay for all services to date and transportation back to New York City lost rehearsals K if the manager is prevented from giving rehearsals because of fire accident riot strikes illness of star or prominent member of the cast act of God public enemy or any other cause of the same general class which could not reasonably be anticipated or prevented then the time so lost shall not be counted as part of the four or five as the case may be weeks rehearsal period herein provided after the fourth week of rehearsal including any layoff period on the above account the manager will pay half salaries for two weeks at the end of which time the actor shall be free unless the manager wishes to continue the services of the actor and pays him full salary therefore transportation L the manager agrees to transport the actor when required to travel including transportation from New York City to the point of opening and back to New York City from the point of closing also the actor's personal baggage up to 200 pounds weight M the manager shall reimburse the actor for all loss or damage to his property used and or to be used in connection with the play they are wholly or partly in the possession or control or under the supervision of the manager or of any of his representatives and also when such baggage and property has been in any way shipped forwarded or stored by the manager or any of his representatives but the actor shall have no claim if the loss or damage occurs while the baggage or property is under his own control upon payment of said loss or damage the manager shall be separated to all rights of the actor therefore N 1 if individual notice of termination is given by the manager he agrees to pay the actor in cash the amount of the cost of transportation of the actor in his baggage back to New York City whether the actor returns immediately or not 2 if this contract is cancelled by the actor he agrees to pay his own railroad fare back to New York City and to reimburse the manager for any railroad fare the manager may have to pay for the actor's successor up to an amount not exceeding the railroad fare from New York City to the point where said successor joins the company whether for rehearsal or for playing 3 if the company is organized outside of New York City the name of such place is herein agreed to be substituted for New York City the manager shall not be responsible for any loss occurring to the personal baggage of the actor whose duty it is if he desires to protect himself against loss to ensure the same P strikes within the meaning of paragraph J hereof is construed to mean any strike of any name or nature which shall prevent the manager from giving performances in the usual way any name or nature which shall prevent the manager from giving performances in the usual course of his business in any of his theater or theaters rules governing minimum standard contracts to be printed on standard minimum contracts 1 should the manager of any production consider the same spectacular and therefore entitled to five weeks of free rehearsals shall notify the actors equity association before the beginning of rehearsals and advise fully as to the nature of the production and secure its allowance of his claim 2 rehearsals begin with the date when the actors first called if the manager chooses to start with a reading to the company or substantial part thereof said reading is a part of and begins the rehearsal period 3 in the case of company rehearsals being held before opening at a place different from that of organization the manager shall pay the actor his reasonable living expenses during said rehearsals except that the manager shall be allowed two days of free rehearsals in cities within 1000 miles of New York City and one additional day free for each additional 1000 miles or fraction thereof 4 the actor shall have sent himself from rehearsals for seven days or more by reason of illness the manager may cancel this contract without payment for service to date the association may in its discretion upon appeal by the manager reduced this period 5 contracts between manager and actor shall be deemed to be entered into between the said parties on the date when the terms of the contract are agreed upon between the parties and contracts must be issued and signed as of that date 6 if after joining a company which has opened and is on tour an actor is dismissed at rehearsals within the seven day probationary period provided the seven day probationary period has not already been deleted from his contract the manager shall pay to the actor his transportation both ways 7 said rehearsals to be deemed continuous and to begin not later than the day after the actor's arrival in case the actor is dismissed after the seven day probationary period the manager shall pay the actor two weeks salary and his transportation both ways 7 if the full rehearsal period to which the manager is entitled be not used by him before the date of opening he may employ the balance thereof immediately before the New York opening provided that said New York opening takes place within six weeks of the original opening of the play 8 all performances for which admission is charged except bonafide benefits are to be counted and considered as performances under the minimum standard contract 9 if the employment under any contract relates to the second or subsequent season of any play then the period of free rehearsals is three weeks instead of four but this provision shall not obtain if 50% or more of the cast were not members of the production the preceding year 10 if the play for which the actor is engaged is rehearsed seven days or less and then rehearsals are discontinued or postponed or if the production is abandoned during rehearsals or on or before the seven day probationary period would have expired the manager shall pay the actor as follows if the contract has been signed or entered into within two months of the date mentioned in paragraph 2 of the standard minimum contract a sum equal to one week salary otherwise a sum equal to two weeks salary 11 if the play is abandoned before rehearsals or the actor is entitled to compensation under the preceding paragraph payment shall be made by the manager to the actor not later than three weeks prior to date of opening specified in paragraph 2 of the main contract 12 seven days rehearsals means seven consecutive calendar days counting Sunday when Sunday is used for rehearsals and seven days terminate with the dismissal of rehearsal on the seventh day as herein reckoned 13 if the part of an actor who shall have been dismissed before the end of the rehearsal on the seventh day shall be cut out the manager shall pay to the actor a sum equal to one week salary 14 the manager shall use reasonable care that his press department shall not announce the engagement of the actor until after the seven day probationary period and shall drop the name of the actor from advertising and publicity matter as soon as possible after the actor leaves the company 15 if the actor is not allowed to work out any notice properly given under his contract the amount to which he is entitled to shall be paid forthwith upon the giving of the notice 16 the right of the manager to close a play in company without a week's notice within four weeks after the opening date does not apply to the second or subsequent season thereof 17 notices of termination or closing given at or before the end of the performance on Monday night effective at the end of the Saturday night following shall be deemed one week's notice and such notice effective at the end of the Saturday week following shall be deemed two weeks notice 18 the essence of this contract is continuous employment and a play once closed shall not be reopened during the same season within eight weeks of the date of previous closing without the consent of the actor's equity association such consent if given shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be considered just and equitable by such association 19 except in a case of notice given on Monday as otherwise provided in these rules a week's notice shall be seven calendar days and two weeks notice 14 calendar days 20 should the manager require the actor purchasing his clothes from a special tailor or shall require exclusive or unique designs or unusually expensive clothes then the manager shall pay for such clothes anything to the contrary in clause G of the standard minimum contract not withstanding 21 the actor shall be responsible for transporting his own baggage to and from the station or theater in New York City the manager will pay the cost of or reimburse the actor for such transportation anywhere on Manhattan Island 22 should the citizens jury provided for in New York decide adversely to the continuance of a production because salacious or against public morals the actor shall forthwith terminate his employment without notice payment or penalty 23 should the production in which the actor is engaged be complained of as being in violation of any statute ordinance or law of the United States any state or any municipality in any state and should a claim or charge be made against the actor on account of his being engaged in such production either civil or criminal the manager shall defend the actor at his own expense or shall pay any and all reasonable charges laid out or incurred by the actor in his defense and the manager agrees to indemnify the actor against any loss or damage which he may suffer on account of being engaged in any such production this rule shall not apply to any case or set of conditions where its enforcement would be illegal or against public policy 24 the manager shall have the right to lay off his company the week before Christmas and Holy Week should such layoff take place the manager shall not during said layoff period be entitled to the services of the company except for a run through rehearsal on the day of reopening and except further that additional rehearsals may be allowed by the actor's equity association in case of illness of the star or prominent member of the company or change of cast 25 if in any production the star or featured member of the cast shall be ill and a layoff shall take place on that account actors receiving less than $100 weekly but no others shall be paid by the manager an amount equal to their board and lodging for the first week if said layoff continues beyond one week half salaries shall be paid to the entire company for each day the actors are retained up to and including two further weeks from and after the beginning of the fourth week the manager shall either pay full salaries to all members of the company or may abandon the production 26 when understudies are employed or there is a change in the cast announcement shall be made to this effect either by a slip in the program or by announcement from the stage at the rise of the curtain or by conspicuously posting a notice to that effect a reasonable time before the rise of the curtain at the box office 27 in case after the opening of the play and after at least two weeks employment the manager shall desire a layoff for the purpose of rewriting or making changes in the cast or any other reason deemed sufficient by him he may apply to the actors equity association for the right to do so if the association agrees to such layoff it may do so upon such terms and conditions as may seem equitable to it under the circumstances but in any event if a change or changes in the cast is made the actor or actors dismissed and not employed upon the renewed run of the play shall be paid at least one week's additional salary 28 musical comedies reviews or spectacular plays shall immediately after a New York run be allowed one day's layoff before the opening in either Boston or Chicago this does not apply to premiers i.e. original openings in those cities 29 should the actor deem that he has any claim against the manager under his contract he shall present the same to the actors equity association or to the manager or both within two months after the time when such claim has arisen unless he shall give to the board of arbitration good and sufficient reason for any delay after such period of two months 30 should either party give the other any notice under his contract which terminates the same at any future date and should the actor have or secure a new engagement he shall be permitted to attend the rehearsals under the new engagement as may be necessary and as do not conflict with his performances under his then existing contract 31 the actual salary of the actor agreed upon shall be stated in the contract and a lesser or fictitious salary shall not be stated in the contract 32 unless special consent otherwise is given by the manager understudies shall be present at each performance 33 tryouts during may june and july are permissible the actor to receive employment commencing with the opening date for at least one half the time spent in rehearsals minimum employment one week 34 Sunday performances referred to in regulations under subdivision four of paragraph H are regular dramatic and musical productions and do not include vaudeville recitals concerts and the like 35 equity will raise no objection to the trying out of vaudeville acts in reviews or similar type of productions for one performance provided the act understands and is agreeable to this arrangement and provided further that this entails on the company no rehearsals form I are number one this contract must not be issued to the chorus actors equity association completed with the American Federation of Labor 45 West 47th Street New York City Los Angeles office 64 12 Hollywood Boulevard San Francisco office Theodore Hale 369 Pine Street Chicago office 1032 Capitol building Kansas City office City theater building run of the play standard contract for independent New York managers and others playing the same class of attractions agreement made this blank day of blank 19 blank between blank here and after called manager and blank here and after called actor the regulations and rules contained on the reverse side are apart here of as those set forth on this page in full agreement of employment one the manager here by hires the actor to render services as such in the part of blank in the play here and after mentioned and the actor here by accepts the set engagement such hiring to be subject to the terms here and after set forth period of employment two the term of employment shall be the run of the play now called blank during the season of 19 blank to 19 blank which said season is agreed to be the period between the first day of September and the following first day of June opening date three the date of first public performance shall be the blank day of blank 19 blank or not later than 14 days thereafter employment here under shall begin upon the date of beginning of rehearsals which date shall be not earlier than four weeks prior to the date of first public performance compensation four the manager agrees as compensation for services here under to pay the actor from and after the date named in paragraph three and continuing for and during the run of the production for which the actor is engaged the sum of blank dollars each and every week on Saturday guaranteed period five he will give the actor not less than blank consecutive weeks work commencing with the date of the first public performance and pay him therefore rehearsals six the actor if required shall give four weeks rehearsal without pay if further rehearsals are required then for each additional week or part thereof the manager shall pay the actor on Saturday of that week at the rate of the full salary mentioned in paragraph four rehearsals shall be considered to be continuous from the date of the first rehearsal to the date of the first public performance of the play as provided in paragraph three if the above play is a musical play or a spectacular production wherever the word four appears in this paragraph and in paragraph three the word five shall be substituted notice of closing seven the manager shall give one week's notice of the closing of the production and company for which the actor is engaged duties of the actor eight the actor agrees to be prompt at rehearsals to pay strict regard to make up and dress to perform the services herein required in a competent and painstaking manner to abide by all reasonable rules and regulations and to render services exclusively to the manager from the date of beginning of rehearsals and not to render services to any other person, firm or corporation without the consent of the manager miscellaneous nine layoffs and less cause through the fault of the actor shall not be counted as part of the guaranteed period ten if the blank in paragraph five is not filled in and no guaranteed period is agreed upon the manager agrees that this contract shall call for a minimum guarantee of two weeks employment from the date named in paragraph three hereof eleven the manager agrees that he has noticed that the actor herein is a member of the actor's equity association and as such member is bound to conform to its lawful rules and regulations and that it is a lawful rule and regulation of said association that as far as the manager herein is concerned the actor is to work only in companies operated by the manager herein when all members of said company or companies are members of the actor's equity association in good standing and continue to be such during the entire term of employment here under and the manager agrees that the actor shall not be required to work here under in violation of said rule or other lawful rule of said association and further agrees to the full extent to which said agreement is lawful that all actors in the company in which the actor herein is employed shall be and shall continue throughout the term hereof to be members in good standing of the actor's equity association except as provided in paragraph 24 of the rules should the manager employ any non-member of the actor's equity association or any member not fully paid up or not in good standing or one who fails to continue himself in good standing or should the manager breach any covenant herein made the actor may the actor's equity association consenting not only terminate this agreement forthwith but the manager also agrees to pay the actor all sums due to the date of termination plus his return fair and plus as liquidated damages no present basis for calculation existing a sum equal to two weeks salary arbitration 12 in event that any dispute shall arise between the parties as to any matter or thing covered by this agreement or as to the meaning of any part thereof then said dispute or claim shall be arbitrated the manager shall choose one arbitrator and the actor's equity association the second blank shall be the third these three shall constitute the board and the decision of a majority of the arbitrator shall be the decision of all and shall be binding upon both parties and shall be final the board shall hear the parties and within seven days shall decide the dispute or claim the board shall determine by whom and in what proportion the cost of arbitration shall be paid and the parties hereby constitute said board their agents and agree that its decision shall constitute an agreement between them having the same binding force as if agreed to by the parties themselves further that they and each of them will if required sign such individual arbitration agreement as to make said arbitration comply with the legal arbitration under the laws of the state of New York and the rules of the Supreme Court thereof and that judgment upon the award may be entered in the Supreme Court of the state of New York the oath of the members of the board of arbitration shall not be necessary unless specifically requested by one of the parties in witness whereof we have signed this agreement on the day and year first above written blank manager blank actor regulations rehearsals a one the actor if required shall give four weeks rehearsal without pay in case of musical comedy review or spectacular production five weeks and obligates himself to be ready to rehearse four or five weeks before the date mentioned in paragraph three on face of contract hereof if further rehearsals are required then for each additional week or part thereof the manager shall pay the actor full compensation as provided in paragraph four on face of contract hereof on Saturday night of each week two it is agreed that rehearsals shall be continuous from the date of the first rehearsal to the date of the first public performance of the play as stated in paragraph three on the face hereof clothes be one if the actor be a man he shall furnish and pay for such conventional morning afternoon and evening clothes as are customarily worn by civilians of the present day in this country together with wigs and footwear necessarily a pertinent there too all other wigs footwear costumes clothes a pertinences and properties including those peculiar to any trade occupation or sport to be furnished by the manager two if the actor be a woman all wigs gowns hats footwear and all properties shall be furnished by the manager notices see communications which refer to the company in general shall be posted upon the call board notice to the manager must be given to him personally or to his company or stage manager number of performances D one eight performances shall constitute a week's work two week's compensation shall be paid even if a less number than eight performances are given except as herein otherwise provided in paragraph f three a sum equal to one eighth of the weekly compensation shall be paid for each performance over eight in each week this also applies to understudies four Sunday rehearsals and performances will take place only where it is lawful and the actor shall not be required to perform in the play part above named on Sunday in any theater except those were Sunday performances were customarily given on May 1st 1924 E the actor shall travel with the company by such routes as the manager may direct and the actor shall not demand compensation for any performance lost through unavoidable delay in travel which prevents the giving of performances by the company lost performances F one it is further agreed if the company cannot perform because of fire accident strikes riot act of God the public enemy or for any other cause of the same general class which could not be reasonably anticipated or prevented or if the actor cannot perform on account of illness or any other valid reason then the actor shall not be entitled to any salary except as otherwise herein specified for the time during which said services shall not for such reason or reasons be rendered should any of the foregoing conditions continue for a period of 10 days or more the actor may terminate the contract and the manager will pay for all services to date and transportation back to New York City lost rehearsals G if the manager is prevented from giving rehearsals because of fire accident riot strikes illness of star or prominent member of the cast act of God public enemy or any other cause of the same general class which could not reasonably be anticipated or prevented then the time so lost shall not be counted as part of the four or five as the case may be weeks rehearsal period herein provided after the fourth week of rehearsal including any layoff period on the above account the manager will pay half salaries for two weeks at the end of which time the actor shall be free unless the manager wishes to continue the services of the actor and pays him full salary therefore transportation H the manager agrees to transport the actor when required to travel including transportation from New York City to the point of opening and back to New York City from the point of closing also the actor's personal baggage up to 200 pounds weight I the manager shall reimburse the actor for all loss or damage to his property used and or to be used in connection with the play while they are wholly or partly in the possession or control or under the supervision of the manager or of any of his representatives and also when such baggage and property has been in any way shipped forwarded or stored by the manager or any of his representatives but the actor shall have no claim if the loss or damage occurs while the baggage or property is under his own control upon payment of said loss or damage the manager shall be subrogated to all rights of the actor therefore J if the company has organized outside of New York City the name of such places herein agreed to be substituted for New York City in paragraph H and elsewhere K the manager shall not be responsible for any loss occurring to the personal baggage of the actor whose duty it is if he desires to protect himself against loss to ensure the same L the actor herein may play in any benefit performance given by or under the auspices of the actor's equity association deputies of said association will be permitted in each company and a duly authorized representative shall have the right to be on the stage before and after rehearsals and before and after performances and said association may represent its members in any dispute which may arise with the managers actors will be tentatively engaged on their paid up cards only which card will be prima facie evidence of membership and said association until the manager is otherwise notified rules one should the manager of any production consider the same spectacular and therefore entitled to five weeks of free rehearsals he shall notify the actors equity association before the beginning of rehearsals and advise fully as to the nature of the production and secure its allowance of his claim two rehearsals begin with the date when the actor is first called if the manager chooses to start with a reading to the company or substantial part thereof said reading is a part of and begins the rehearsal period three the case of company rehearsals being held before the opening of the play at a place different from that of organization the manager shall pay the actor his reasonable living expenses during said rehearsals except that the manager shall be allowed two days of free rehearsals in cities within one thousand miles of New York City and one additional day free for each additional one thousand miles or fraction thereof four if the actor shall upset himself from rehearsals for seven days or more by reason of illness the manager may cancel this contract without payment for service to date the association may in its discretion upon appeal by the manager reduced this period five contracts between manager and actor shall be deemed to be entered into between the said parties on the date the terms of the contract are agreed upon between the parties and contracts must be issued and signed as of that date six if the full rehearsal period to which the manager is entitled be not used by him before the date of opening he may employ the balance thereof immediately before the New York opening provided that said New York opening takes place within six weeks of the original opening of the play seven if the employment under any contract relates to the second or subsequent season of any play then the period of free rehearsals is three weeks instead of four but this provision shall not obtain a fifty percent or more of the cast were not members of the production the proceeding year eight notices of termination or closing given at or before the end of the performance on Monday night effective at the end of the Saturday night following shall be deemed one week's notice nine the essence of this contract is continuous employment and a play once closed shall not be reopened during the same season within eight weeks of the date of previous closing without the consent of the actors equity association such consent if given shall be upon such terms and conditions as may be considered just and equitable by such association ten the manager require the actor purchasing his clothes from a special tailor or shall require exclusive or unique designs or unusually expensive clothes then the manager shall pay for such clothes anything to the contrary in clause B of the standard run of the play contract not withstanding eleven the actor shall be responsible for transporting his own baggage to and from the station or theater in New York City the manager will pay the cost of or reimburse the actor for such transportation anywhere on Manhattan Island twelve should the citizens jury provided for a New York decide adversely to the continuance of a production because salacious or against public morals the actor shall forthwith terminate his employment without notice payment or penalty thirteen should the production in which the actor is engaged be complained of his being in violation of any statute ordinance or law of the United States any state or any municipality in any state and should a claim or charge be made against the actor on account of his being engaged in such production either civil or criminal the manager shall defend the actor at his own expense or shall pay any and all reasonable charges laid out or incurred by the actor in his defense and the manager agrees to indemnify the actor against any loss or damage which he may suffer on account of being engaged in any such production this rule shall not apply to any case or any set of conditions where its enforcement would be illegal or against public policy fourteen the manager shall have the right to lay off his company the week before Christmas and Holy Week should such layoff take place the manager shall not during said layoff period be entitled to the services of the company except for a run through rehearsal on the day of reopening and accept further that additional rehearsals may be allowed by the actor's equity association in case of illness of the star or prominent member of the company or change of cast fifteen if in any production the star or featured member of the cast shall be ill and a layoff takes place on that account actors receiving less than one hundred dollars weekly but no others shall be paid by the manager an amount equal to their board and lodging for the first week if said layoff continues beyond one week half salary shall be paid to the entire company for each day the actors are retained up to and including two further weeks from and after the beginning of the fourth week the manager shall either pay full salaries to all members of the company or may abandon the production sixteen when understudies are employed or there is a change in the cast announcement shall be made to this effect either by a slip in the program or by announcement from the stage at the rise of the curtain or by conspicuously posting a notice to that effect a reasonable time before the rise of the curtain at the box office seventeen in case after the opening of the play and after at least two weeks employment the manager shall desire a layoff for the purpose of rewriting or making changes in the cast or any other reason deemed sufficient by him he may apply to the actors equity association for the right to do so if the association agrees to such layoff it may do so upon such terms and conditions as may seem equitable to it under the circumstances in the event if a change or changes in the cast is made the actor or actors dismissed and not employed upon the renewed run of the play shall be paid at least one week's additional salary eighteen musical comedies reviews or spectacular plays shall immediately after a New York run be allowed one day's layoff before the opening in either Boston or Chicago this does not apply to premiers i.e. original openings in those cities nineteen should either party give the other any notice permitted under this contract which terminates the same at any future date and should the actor have or secure a new engagement he shall be permitted to attend the rehearsals under the new engagement as may be necessary and as to not conflict with his performances under his then existing contract twenty should the actor deemed that he has any claim against the manager under his contract he shall present the same to the actors equity association or to the manager or both within two months after the time when such claim has arisen unless he shall give to the board of arbitration good and sufficient reason for any delay after such period of two months twenty one the actor shall be stated in the contract and a lesser or fictitious salary shall not be stated in the contract twenty two Sunday performances referred to in regulations under subdivision four of paragraph D are regular dramatic and musical productions and do not include vaudeville recitals concerts and the like twenty three the actor shall be required to work only with the manager who employs exclusively in his company or companies actors who are and who continue to be members in good standing of the actors equity association twenty four the parties have noticed that pursuant to special resolution of the actors equity association non-file at its office and exempt list containing the names of non-members of set association with whom the actor herein will work thus creating an exception under paragraph five on the face of this agreement the parties know they may examine this list at any time and therefore know the names of non-members with whom the actor herein will work while the resolution of the association creating set exempt list continues in force and the actor is not required to work with any other non-member in any company end of chapter fifty part two recording by Ramon Escamilla Conway, Arkansas r-a-m-o-n-e-s-c-a-m-i-l-l-a dot wordpress.com