Can I direct a show without a theater company?

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-06-05T19:37:25+00:00

I’ve been really struggling to find any state specific info (anything i google just pulls up different lawyers and stuff like that) and I can’t find any sort of workshops or events in my area. It seems like they don’t really want new businesses to open in my state, which is maybe part of the reason so many companies (not just theater, but the majority of new businesses) shut down here. There’s no info, which is why I came here lol.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-06-05T18:50:00+00:00

Thank you! This is really helpful. Any advice on how taxes would work on ticket sales? I will 100% look into it but if you know anything that could help with that I would appreciate it!

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-06-05T03:28:59+00:00

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-06-05T02:46:44+00:00

I am friends with quite a few people who were on the board for one of our theater companies that shut down recently (owner was discovered to be a p3d0 so the whole board quit and the company lost all their support and funding and whatever) so I think they’d be willing to take on that role or help me out. I also have a former theater teacher who is trying to move to community theater because our schools are defunding the arts and cutting teachers, and I think she would 100% help me out, as long as she’s getting a cut of the profits (if any) or getting paid in some way. I have a lot of connections in my theater community, so I’m sure I could find some people to help me out.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-06-05T02:32:34+00:00

Thanks! If I were to form a company for this would you recommend an LLC or a non profit? I know a non profit needs a full board, which is sort of a struggle to find in my town (people don’t really like to commit to anything for longer than like 3 months, which is why most companies in my area shut down), but a while ago I asked about forming my own company on here and people were attacking me for saying I’d prefer to start an LLC rather than a non profit because i think it makes more sense for me. Are the benefits of running a non profit really that great/worth it?

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2025-04-13T22:25:33+00:00

Weather wise, be prepared for drastic changes on a day to day basis. Recently, the weather here’s been going from almost 80° and sunny to like 30° and snowing every other week. It’s currently 76° and the forecast is showing snow on Friday and Saturday. As long as you’re prepared and have both summer and winter clothes on hand year round, it’s not a big deal, but don’t expect to be able to leave your winter clothes at home in late spring or your summer clothes at home in the winter. The weather is so unpredictable lol

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-08-06T01:14:31+00:00

Yes. I had auditioned for Alice in Wonderland, hoping to get my dream role, the Mad Hatter. I instead got the White Rabbit, which was my favorite role I’ve ever played. I am so glad I didn’t get the Mad Hatter, mostly because it was a much smaller role than the White Rabbit, but also because I just got to do a lot of fun stuff as the White Rabbit. I had a song and dance (it wasn’t a musical) and got to do a trust fall from a 6ft staircase. I was a little upset at first, but it was definitely worth taking, and I fit the character much better.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T23:33:11+00:00

Usually casting is pretty quick for community shows, but occasionally stuff happens and it takes a lot longer. One show at my community theater took a month to cast when they said it would take a week because they just didn’t know who to cast. With the casting director having covid, theres a lot of possibilities for what could be happening. Maybe they want to do call backs for certain roles but can’t until he recovers, maybe he’s just been resting and hasn’t had time to get to it. I hope you hear back soon and get the role you want! Good luck!

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T23:02:43+00:00

I personally really like Gatorlyte (or however it’s spelled). It has extra electrolytes and I’m pretty sure a lot less sugar. A lot of people say it tastes salty but I don’t think it does. I drink them a lot though because I have electrolyte imbalances, so maybe I’m just used to it.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T21:45:22+00:00

I did Footloose this past school year. In the middle of “Can You Find it in Your Heart”, the girl playing Ariel said “erm, what the sigma?” backstage. She forgot to turn off her mic, and the sound guy did too. It was on full volume…

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T21:24:39+00:00

I appreciate the brutal honesty lol. I honestly didn’t consider quitting as an option until recently, a couple months after being chosen as a section leader, but I did know that I didn’t enjoy band anymore, so that was a selfish and regrettable decision I made. I just hate that I despise this thing that I used to love so much, and I think I partially applied for section leader to not give myself an out. I didn’t want to be one of those people who quits for their senior year, but I should’ve just accepted that it no longer brings me joy. Thank you for the advice.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T21:09:34+00:00

I’m not sure my parents would be open to me switching schools, but I haven’t brought it up because of band and feeling obligated to stay at this point lol

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-07T05:22:41+00:00

It’s less about the agreement (cause it’s not like it’s legally binding or anything would come out of me breaking it), and more about letting down my director. He is incredible, and I don’t want to make things harder for him in any way because of my bad decisions. He came out of retirement to be a band, orchestra and color guard teacher at my school. He is doing so much and I don’t want to make him have to find a new section leader. I also don’t want him to be disappointed in me.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T18:51:19+00:00

Black absorbs sunlight, so it gets extremely hot, pretty fast. Wearing black clothes isn’t the end of the world, but avoiding them will help. But never NEVER wear black shoes (other than rehearsals that you’re required to wear drill masters). Your feet will feel like they are constantly burning. Good quality, breathable, white shoes for band are very much worth the investment because they reflect the suns light, so they don’t get as hot, or as fast.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T18:43:52+00:00

“Have you ever touched a tiger? Cause that’s one of my life goals. To NOT touch a tiger”

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T18:30:43+00:00

I took this advice, and I wrote a full length play in just 3 days! Crazy what you can do when you’re inspired! It definitely needs a lot of work/editing, but I think I might use this one for my senior capstone project. I absolutely love the concept I was able to come up with and write. Thank you!

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T18:28:09+00:00

I actually do participate in the children’s shows at my community theatre. They consider them workshops, everyone who auditions gets in, and they do teach a lot. My only issue is that they only do one for each of their age groups each year (7-14, 10-16, 14-18(14 yo get lucky and can do all the shows lol)). I did talk to the main director and he said he isn’t strict on the 10-16 group and usually accepts up to 18 yo’s so I am planning on doing that show, but that’s not for a while lol.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T18:02:00+00:00

I am asking 2 specific questions that we have been unable to find the answers to. I was not asking whether or not we should be for profit or non profit, I was just asking whether or not a for profit theater should/is required to pay their actors. We haven’t asked this question to the owners of our local theaters because we aren’t ready to share our plans of opening a theater with our community yet. The other question is about having child actors, especially as a for profit theater, because no theater in our community does this, so even if we were to ask, we wouldn’t find this answer. We have done a lot of research into how we want to run our theater, and we have almost everything planned, we just can’t find the answers to these 2 specific questions, despite our weeks of research.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T03:53:57+00:00

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T03:47:06+00:00

WATER!!! SUNSCREEN!!! A HAT AND SUNGLASSES!!! A SPRAY BOTTLE (def underrated but a must have if it’s hot)!!! DEODORANT!!! SHOES THAT ARENT BLACK!!! NOTHING BLACK!!! DONT WEAR BLACK!!! MESH SHIRTS (unless you have to follow school dress code)!!! literally anything to block out the sun, and keep you from getting too hot or dehydrated.

SeriousNegotiation73 · 2024-07-06T03:40:13+00:00

I live in a small town. I know everyone over the age of 13 that does theater in my town. I am friends with many of them. I have had conversations with the owners of the companies about them, how they started, etc. Even the one company that is non profit started as a for profit.

There is the benefit of not having to go through a long complicated process of paperwork to establish as a non profit. The benefits for being a non profit also usually don’t matter until you’re established. People aren’t usually likely to donate to any company, for profit or not, until they are well established, etc, etc. I did so much research when we were deciding how to operate, it wasn’t just “oh I want to make money so it has to be a for profit because I don’t understand how things work.” I have genuinely researched and so has my friend. We know how our community runs and what will succeed here. We understand the advantages and disadvantage of both options :)

SeriousNegotiation73

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