New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
HOW ACTORS ARE ENGAGED.
THE PLAYERS BUSINESS LIFE.


During tho thestrical season. which has now
! drawn TO close, feature has been intro
ducod into what is known az the dramatic agency
business This, which actors generally regard with
faVor, Is tho establishment OF a bureau I'm the
and under the auspices Of the Actors Fund Previously
b. the foundation OF these institutions the agency bust
ness Of this cltyand that OF nearly the entire
prufesson-was mainly confined to three Offices. Two
secured actors for rstclass combinations and stars
the other chiefly patronlzed by the managers OF
variety organizations, Of companies intended 10 play
at lOw-prce theatres. The concentration Of the power
Of employment between three firms practically made
them dcta,ors OF the position and employment Of all
actors who had not attained recognized and wede
fined rank. Many the COMPLAINTS current about
tho tyranny and Injustice Of agencies and though actors
| proverbiay unbusInesslike. touchy, and vain.
there is little doubt that Of the complaints
well.founded. Favornsm was said to close eyes TO
lack Of merit and eXtracommsslons reported to
be often the way 10 securing than usually profit
able engagements.
The Bureau Of the Actors Fund recently made its
first statement which showed profit Of several hun
drcd dollars after having paid all running expenses,
although Its rates Of commission said 10 be lower
than thoss usually charged. In the ordinary agency
actors pay third to Onehalf of the first weeks
salary for a seasons engagement and from to 8
per cent of the entire salary for job which may
last from one TO four weeks. II the agent always
worked for this money. his remuneration would not
perhaps be excessive but he charges the actor Just
ns much when no does nothing mOIc than make
out d contract when all negotiations between manager
and actor have been concluded without bis intro
ducilon or intervention II II in this respect that
arc accustomed complain bitterly Of agencies.
manager may actor play part, and wish
TO him for the following season. They meet,
talk tho affair over. agree upon terms. and then the
manager says, ago 10 SO and Sos Once and sign
Now, IN this case Mr.. So and So. fills in the blank
spaces in couple OF contract forms and Witnesses
Il signature. the entire operation occupying about
five minutes. Yet the poor actor has to for this
anywhere from 40 TO $50 according TO his salary.
II he should say 10 the manager will not go to al
agcnta 10 sgn,r the probability is he win DO told
that tho agent docs all the managers business, aud
that be can follow the usual custom or do without
the engagement AZ . rule managers Of travelling
companies to be afraid Of to be under Obliga
tlons to. dramatic agents 1t Is possible that pc
cnnary advances or former favors in securing
ployment arc the reasons for these feelings But be
the what they may. many actors have grounds
for believing that managers afraid extremely
unwilling TO dispense with tho mediation Of the agent.
Tho Burcan Of tho Actors Fund Is tnt"pded to do
away with or NJ least lessen, some Of tho abuses OF
which actors have been accustomed 20 complain. i
is conducted by q former agent, but all the business
Is done under the close supervision OF committee of
which Louis AIdreh Is the chairman
Although the general public apt to think the actors
life Is COSBY luxurious and we'll paid, ths except In
tho cases Of a comparative few, Is very far indeed
from being correct estimate. The actor whose
salary Is ESQ or less pcr week IS not, rule, as
well on as the clerk salesman who receives half
the amount. The actor rarely gets his salary for
moro than eight months In the yeRr-a fact which
Is alone sufficient reduce the apparent value OF
his salary by third. And when unpaid salaries
prcmaturny closed takon into account
and these unlocked for accidents happen occasionally
10 nearly every actor-s stl further reduction has
20 De made. Then, too, the actor, and more parti-
cularIy the actress, has much greater expense for
dress than that OF any other person earning pro-
porti0nal Income, while the cost OF living, while
travelling in even 6eCondcass hotels Is double that
necessary at home.
Al ali tho agencies lists Of actors classed according
10 their special abilities are kept and the agent
generally knows pretty accurately what salaries Will
photographs Of his clients. manager who wants
either single actor or an entire company states his
wants 10 tic agent, who looks over bis list of UNI
employed people and then submits names and photo
who arc requested TO meet him at tho oico, and from
these q final rhoice - made. Between 5000 and
600 names the books Of some agencies These
include not only every class Of actor, but stage
carpenters, property.men, baSgAgemen, business mana
gers and advance agents.
within the next few days there win be another new
feature IN tho agency business which win probably be
warmly welcomed by many actresses. A lady, hersen
10 tho supplying OF Children ballots and chorusoS, Is
about TO enlarge Dor neh OF operations and will
endeavor secure engagements for actresses. II has
been often unpleasant and sometimes extremely
annoying 10 have their business uansac
tions conducted only by men and the chsnge VIII
probably lind numerous supporters