New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-06

our way Is the only possible way Of doing business
with them If ever 20 get through our work.
As they know that the agent has their Interest a.
heart and can get good engagements for them. they
do not mind his rough talk.7 ,..
Some interesting facts about the variety business
In this country were furnished BY John AieAahoSr
cccdngly hopeful about the prospects OF inc variety
business.
HOPEFUL VIEW OF THE VARIETY STAGE.
when John stetson and Josh Hart went out Of
the variety business and Tom Donaldson died. no
said, salaries, which had previously run high al
through the East owing to the hot competition be
tween these managers, took a big drop and up 10
within the last few years have remained comparatively
low with the introduction OF special variety com
panies such as Iiermanns TransatiantaueS ana the
variety business took turn for the better ana the
Improvement will probably be permanent hS" Lock sex
out for the best possible talent They are able to oner
the performers far larger salaries than can be o.
tanned from the road company manager or music
hall nronrictor tbc reason of this being that they
can command class of people VINO VIII pay donhe
and treble the the rd PTGes variety i oase
Ing to see variety entertainment at leading fash
to an% the the e
classes of patrons take particular care to improve and
"A corresponding ambition is excited in the minds
Of the humber members Of the profession who work
hard and study how to qualify themselves for places
in the star companies and the result is general and
rapid Improvement all around Again the loyt cone,
number OF clever variety people who could act parts
and at the time introduce their best specialtics
METHODS OF MANAGEMENT.
allow many variety people there in this conn
try ?" repeated Mr. Brown. "Good Heavens cannon
tell you that and believe no else Yon would
be safe In putting the number at 10000 or 10000
All the business done in this country is with combna-
TONS In England the agents make their engagements
for individual artists who have their own tours OF
sixteen or twenty weeks mapped out for them Thus'
HE nfFl
acer finds himself face to face with set Of people
brought together from different parts OF the country
who make mp the company lha' Sh'" p'"'"o "'o
weeks entertainment. 49,. ,,... T.,
I'm this country. however, the variety business IS
arranged on the model OF the regular dramatic road
organizations. The agent acting for the man VINO
runs the combination. engages me company III i Ncw
York, and arranGcS all the details OF .,e eo"I vn
every performer he receives commission OF per
cent Of his or her salary. From the managers ne gels
nothing
HOW THE RECEIPTS ARE DIVIDED.
Sometimes in the dull summer season variety
theatre PROPRIETOR who has few weeks vacant VIII
get together scratch crew on his own account o"'
otherwise his engagements are made with companies
The terms made by the road combinations win me
Theatre managers arc much the same As In the drsc
bnsiness-5O per cent of the gross receipts or 90 per
cent after the nrss $500 sometimes the MANAGER
Will offer the combination man crr'A hl,H1t
in other words fixed sum GoTn cas ana The no compaYv
must be one OF exceptional strength q, ....
"What is the best paid line of business was
@SH We'll. that is hard to tell" said Mr. Brown at
all depends ON the talent OF the actor or actress g
the whole. perhaps, sketch song an"
dance ducttist are the most popnlar
They command salaries ranging from 80 70 f-oo
week, Serio- comic songstrcsScs. who We're once an
the rage have lost much OF the popularity OF a!e
and cannot obtain than $50 a week. WINE conn.
singers OF the George Leybournc and MscdcrmGtt
school will now seldom earn as much as SlOo We'h;
Negro or Irish comedians are always III favor ana
are worth all the way from So to $500 week.
SALARIES OF AcRoBATS.
nC,orcr ocrobotic families receive anything from
800 70 $500 week. according TO their numbers
salaries to specially pcrformcrs-such as huNoal
mimies jucglcrs, boxers. transformation and pedestal
dancers vertrilooulsts and the like. run exceedingly
high and the best Of these performers are paid n
much as $500 week. when variety
actors are worked ont in this part OF
the country they remember the prccept
and 20 West, where new towns are everywhere
Swinging ND ana where. # they arc toe'aby clever
they can command lg salaries . ~. .,,a.
Il am convinced" continued Mt. HroWm w.. , inh'
the Introduction Of variety performances INTO hiSn
class theatres IS hut the beginning OF lrN"Iuu"n
i'm the business. which VIII end IN a brighter era
wherein refinement and purity viii hold hrst place.
The old pamy days OF The typical Bo"eY snow, VII,
is rbaIdrv coarseucss and influence for evil are
hope, at an end forever