A Playwright's Pay Is Called

If you've ever sat in the audience of a play you really enjoy, you've probably wondered who wrote the play and how they got paid for information technology, or maybe you didn't. Either way, playwrights get paid in many ways, including royalties and other fees, such as commission. Then, how much commission do plays pay?

Plays commissions in the US tend to pay around $iii,000-$5,000 committee. However, the commission fee tin can differ depending on the playwright, and the situation. Additionally, plays can pay effectually 6% – 10% of gross ticket sales to playwrights.

The residual of this article will discuss the differences betwixt a commission and non-deputed play, how much coin the average playwright makes, and the unlike means playwrights get paid. So stick around.

What Is a Commissioned Play?

Plays come up in two types, including deputed and non-commissioned. While these two types of plays are pretty much the aforementioned, the main difference is how playwrights receive payment. So, what is a commissioned play?

A commissioned play is when companies pay some of the fees to playwrights before the play is written. The commission fee tin vary depending on the company. However, nearly fees range from $3,000-$v,000 or tin can even achieve up to $25,000 if the play or playwright is well-known.

Commissioned plays are essentially a financial commitment. Paying playwrights before the play'south written ensures that playwrights receive money for their time and the upcoming work they will achieve.

What Is a Non-Commissioned Play?

A non-commissioned play is when companies pay playwrights for a play that is already written. Playwrights are typically paid a share of the profits from the ticket sales, after the bear witness is up and running. 6-ten% of total ticket sales would non be unusual.

The amount playwrights receive for non-commissioned plays depends on several factors, such as the playwright or the play itself. Additionally, if the play's production is successful, the amount playwrights receive could increase significantly.

Who Might Committee a Playwright To Write a Play?

A company or theater might commission a playwright to write a play. The more established a playwright is, the more companies or theaters will reach out to them. Additionally, a playwright tin have a literary amanuensis or publisher get their work published or publish information technology themselves.

It's important to note that many playwrights are besides producers, and so producing their own work is more accessible in this case. However, if a playwright isn't a producer, they are more than likely to work with an agent to discover roads to production. If they are seeking publication of their play, they may also seek an agent.

How Much Does the Boilerplate Playwright Make?

Although beingness a playwright is sure to exist a fun and exciting job, it might non always pay the bills. Unfortunately, for many playwrights, this is often the case.

For people who write a play, merely do non get to the indicate of achieving a professional product, they may receive picayune or no pay. It is common for playwrights to enter 'profit share' agreements with others in order to stage a work without having to pay anybody involved full professional person rates. In this way, everyone involved in a product will work on the understanding that whatever money is generated will exist shared equally.

For professional person playwrights, those at the acme cease of town will exist earning large money. If a play sells $2 million worth of tickets so they will likely receive 5-10% of that, which is $100,000 – $200,000. Plays tin can generate far more than this however – some plays run for years, fifty-fifty decades! Remember as well that a play tin can exist performed in multiple places at the aforementioned fourth dimension, all effectually the world.

Additionally, how much the playwright works, or how many plays they write, can add to how much coin they brand, and the success of those plays can significantly increment the salary of a playwright.

How Do Playwrights Get Paid?

Playwrights are often paid through royalties. Royalties are a playwright'south primary source of income, every bit the number of sales sold increases the number of royalties the playwright receives. All the same, playwrights can also be paid through commission, acquisition, and commitment fees.

There are various ways playwrights can get paid, which, for deputed plays particularly, is essential to interruption downwards. While not every playwright will receive all of the payments I'chiliad going to mention below, they typically will receive the money in one fashion or another, whether bundled together with another payment or paid separately.

Permit'southward now talk about the various ways playwrights become paid.

Commission Fees

As I've already discussed, the commission fee, or the payment given to playwrights before writing the play, is a pregnant sum of coin for playwrights. This sum typically ranges from $iii,000 to $5,000, but it tin can be up to $25,000 or more for more established playwrights.

Royalties

Some other way playwrights earn money is through royalties. The royalty payments differ depending on the theater or company itself, as the percentages of royalties playwrights receive aren't always the same.

The royalties received are based on the percentage of the gross sales. So, if the play is exceptionally successful, playwrights can receive a significant sum of coin from royalties.

Still, almost playwrights receive around half-dozen% of the overall box-function gross sales.

For example, for non-commissioned plays, the theater Playwright Horizons offers a $12,000 advance confronting royalties. So, if the playwright receives around $15,000 to $20,000 total for the play, they will receive $12,000 against half-dozen%.

Withal, theaters such as the Royal Court Theater, located in the United Kingdom, pay playwrights flat 10% royalty.

Commitment Fees

The delivery fee is the money playwrights receive for delivering the play. While delivery fees can vary, they'll most likely exist effectually the same amount. For instance, as of 2012, the Regal Court Theater paid $iv,864 for the delivery.

Additionally, commitment fees are given to playwrights, forth with commission fees, even if the theater doesn't showcase the play.

Acquisition Fees

The acquisition fee substantially gives the visitor using the playwright'south work the correct to use information technology.

Therefore, whether the company decides to use the play or not, the playwright will still receive the acquisition fee, along with the commission and delivery fees.

The acquisition fee is $four,792 at the Royal Courtroom Theater. However, every company will differ, and some acquisition payments may be included within other payments or fees, depending on the company'southward policies and the playwright.

Concluding Thoughts

For commissioned plays, plays in the US commonly pay around $3,000 to $5,000 upfront. While this amount tin can vary depending on the company and the playwright, it's the boilerplate committee fee. Playwrights will also usually share in a percentage of the box role sales, likewise known as royalties.

All the same, for non-deputed plays, royalties alone are the primary way playwrights make money on their plays.