Chapter Seven
When it comes to highring actors and actresses the production companies holding their paycheck expect nothing less then a perfect performance. The presidents of a production company the business firm of the performance industry have the definite, last say in who is highered by previous performances for a future one. The ink will never touch the contract unless approved. Anything less than the expected of an actor is shirking. Shirking through the theatre industry is obvious not just to the companies but to the audiences. If an actor is not in full character, not taking on their full role it is obvious. When a person buys a ticket to view a performance they expect the full effect and realism of the production. Anything less will be scrutinized in reviews and lower the possible future ticketsales for the production company.
If ticketsales drop due to an actors shirking performance it effects the treasury of the companies all tied to the production wanted success. If the tickesales do not benefit the cost of the production the sole proprietorship of the production, the production companies president takes the role of responsibilities. The finances for a company don't receive anything if the production is below par. A production ties in so many companies to pay as well as actors, there are corporations as well as the stockholders invested in the corporations, and the usual partnership play writers. All of those involved are effected by the success of a performance that all depends on the actors.Thankfully there is limited liability when it comes to productions. Depending on how much was purchases or put into the production is all that is at risk to have problems reimbursing. A company is smart to finance and take care of their assets not plugging them al into one huge production. Because if all assets are lost the person at risk has little or no money to benefit from, after putting so much into the production. The treasury branch or accounting branch of a company needs to take into consideration the average total cost for the production and the possibility of furthing to a marginal cost, that will effect the possible marginal revenue to benefit the company.
Besides being the president of a production company the person in full charge is usually the franchiser, and head of the board of directors for decision making on behalf of their franchise. A production companies franchise is viewed through play bills, tickets, posters, billboards, and money invested in a production. A franchisee may be an entrepreneur and branch out to different companies and put the production companies name open different billboard or open in different theatres across the country but still in direct control from the franchise itself. All of this input and output and possibilities lay in the boundaries of the law of diminishing marginal returns that would greatly effect the future input and output of capital in a production companies franchise.
Chapter Eight
The Market structure in reference to the theatre district is all based on popularity and the money brought in through performances. But it is likewise that any producer of a production would want the most for his/her dollar.In the field of Performing arts specifically Broadway there is a wide market as well as a wide variety of performances upping the field of competition(perfectly competitive market). In the sense of market competition in this industry many companies proved the same good needed to put on an admirable performance. Many supply backdrops, props, costumes, fabric, curtains, lights, and make-up. There is a huge need for specific things such as makeup because theatre makeup is not supplied in the everyday drug store. Other things like backdrops are specifically designed for a certain show or setting such as a living room or boardwalk. The supply for such goods are abundant but in only a certain district or market. You cannot find the goods needed for great performances at normal clothing stores, house supply stores, or furniture stores.
Backdrops fantastic supply an enormous array of backdrops for occasion, and performances bringing in a variety of costumers. They provide backdrops for occasions such as new years, birthdays, luos, and Mardi gras. Besides these Backdrops fantastic supplies backdrops for the performances such as The Wizard of Oz, Willy Wong and the Chocolate Factory, Candyland, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and Moulin Rouge. Backdrops Fantastic is a very prominent company in the theatre district providing most needed backdrops with amazing detail. Backdrops fantastic's displays are seen throughout Broadway and our the number one most well known providers.
This provision of backdrops for the theatre district is not so good for other companies such as
David Ludwig who is a very personal designer for backdrops. Despite his personal design and beautiful backdrops, his backdrops are more expensive to rent, and his collection does not have even close to as many as Backdrops fantastic. Many producer are price takers in the sense that they rely on a set budget to finance their spending.Therefore with lower prices and a larger selection many theatre companies would lean towards Backdrops fantastic as a supplier.
In competition for a product it is more profitable to be the only one with a product. In a theatrical stance, a play right, or rights to a musical is a unique product. When a production company buys the right to perform a musical they buy the rights from the writers themselves. In this case lets take Hairspray the musical for example. Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan the writers of the musical are the only providers for the rights to this musical. This would be considered a
monopolistic market. With these two having been the writers and the only providers for the production (any unauthorized production is illegal) are the only holders as well as the only sellers(
price searcher) for this musical. This copyright to the musical for the writers is a loose consideration of a
public franchise in essence that it is illegal to perform without the consent of the copyright holders. And it is hard to break the
barriers of entry due to the fact this is such a unique musical and cannot be copied in any way for a production. And through the plawrites only one production company holds the Hairspray production on Broadway to increase their income and eliminate the competition for this musicals ticketsales.
This sense of monopoly in the theatre industry comes into he forms of artistic rights. It is only fair and moral that a writer of a musical, song, or script should have all rights to who or what produces or uses their work to their advantage. Advantage being as in credit for the production, and any possible profit from this production. The Mona Lisa is not something that can be taken credit for by any other artist then Leonardo Davinci. It is a beautiful work of art and should be recognized by the public as the work of a finaminal artists. Writer find their works as Davinci found his art. It is their craft they want to be recognized for, not someone else to be recognized for it. Although in reference to the copyright holders this goes against the idea of
antitrust laws, wanting to promote competition, it does not coincide with the copyrights because the artist being he only one to produce it, it is right to be this way and the craft to only be given credit to the crafter.
On the other hand longitudinal to the monopolistic market is the monopolistic competive market of the performance arts industry. When it comes to ticketsales many people, tourists, theatre goers, critics, and just interested people in the arts will purchase tickets to see a performance. The tickets are sold for many performances ranging from scary and funny to romance and comedy. The ticket sellers have a ride array of goods being the different types for tickets to sell to viewers. And when it comes to the sellers they all profit the production but are sold by different companies. Companies such as ticketmaster, Broadway, and Buy Tix, are only some of the many providers of tickets to the general public. It would seem and easy entrance and exit form the market would be somewhat easy but nonprofitable for companies unless tied to contract for a production.
Another possible market the theatre district slips itself into is the oligopolistic market. In the buying and selling of lights specifically stage lights it is very common multiple companies will fights to be the highest seller. Their are few lighting companies that sell the large high voltage lights needed to bring life to a stage of actors and actresses. A huge safeguard for this industry is the knowledge of the trade, electrians are the only certified people to enter this type of industry for the hookup and setup of the lights to the stage and systems required to work the lights. Schooling is needed to become an electrician making it harder to get into the industry of lighting for stage performances.
Different companies in the theatre industry work together to eliminate the competition and the possibility of flourishing companies. Many will make an understanding on timing and releases for performances as well as theatre usage and the highring of actors. If one company wants an actor to perform they may make an agreement for timing of a musical to adjust to each other needs. This cooperation between he two companies is an example of a cartel agreement used to benefit the companies but not other ones.
The theatre industry is a cut throat industry. Specifically acting. Many companies will pay different actors different prices no matter if they are better then the other to accommodate prices and their skills. This price discrimination effects the actors in callings to perform and try out alike.
When it comes to acting, performing, companies, and competition the theatre industry is a prime example of an economy where skills and know how are needed to further a companies future or an actors career. The theatre industry in nothing less then a tough business, a tough market tied into a large and wide spread area. From smaller theatres to Broadway all production's alike and the productions creators fight the industry to succeed and to put on an outstanding show.
Chapter Nine
For actors depending on role and on talent sets the course for their income. If their performance isn't substantially good they would not be payed as much for a fellow actor but with more talent. Their is no set wage rate for actors in the theatre industry just rates for people such as in the orchestra or backstage. The wage of an actor depends on their talent. When it comes to the orchestra their is always a demand for specific musical performers in the forms of instrumental. They want talented reliable instrumentalists who can perform to their highest ability. And with this demand comes a derived demand for orchestration directors. An orchestra cannot perform to their highest ability without an outstanding conductor.
Currently the lowest wage, the minimum wage you can pay someone legaly is $6.75 an hour to coincide with the minimum wage law. This wage does not count for those in productions. Most actors and actresses are not paid hourly wages but wages depending on the number of performances and touring. Most actors although not paid extremely high are paid substantially for the fact that months of theory lives are dedicated to specific productions where as many as three performances can occur in one night. Many actors though are not set on wage. A true passionate actors dedicates his time not for the money but for the love of performing and doing what they love.
It is not common in actors but in companies it is common for the business workers working for a franchise to have a labor union that strices for the best income for their work. The theatre industry through research is not seen to hold or have ever held closed shops just for the few union workers under their employment, as well as neither the holding of union shops before the Taft-Hartley Act was passed.It should be the passion in performing arts would drive people to work to benefit performances. So if not the passion then they should have no place for union workers to strike for better wages and conditions. The theatre industry is not so much of a needed job as a wanted job to pursue. I think the right-to-work law has encouraged the pure enjoyment of working in theatre and not for money.
I believe the working in the theatre industry can't be based on money but based on love for performing. Their are such things as starving artists, what of starving actors. Although actors are more provided for through companies they should have just as much passion in the art of performing as if it were their life which it should be for a dedicated artist.