Help me provide the coup de grace at this event!
April 24, 2008 11:51 AM Subscribe
Where can I hire actors and actresses in Chicago to play flappers/gangsters for a prohibition era party?
I need about 4 actors for 2 hours. Where can I get them? How much will it cost?
I need about 4 actors for 2 hours. Where can I get them? How much will it cost?
Hire some non-union actors through Backstage. Before I joined the unions, I read it as my bible. I worked a few parties like yours, as well, that I found there.
I usually got paid in the neighborhood of $200 for an event. 2 hours is quite short, so you could offer less. You might want to think about hiring a costumer and make-up artist (also easily found in Backstage) if you'd like it to look really great.
posted by minervous at 12:14 PM on April 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
I usually got paid in the neighborhood of $200 for an event. 2 hours is quite short, so you could offer less. You might want to think about hiring a costumer and make-up artist (also easily found in Backstage) if you'd like it to look really great.
posted by minervous at 12:14 PM on April 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think you want to bring the funny for your party. Hire some of these guys. They often do private events.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:56 PM on April 24, 2008
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:56 PM on April 24, 2008
Professional actor of fifteen years here, started out, lived and worked in Chicago professionally for ten years:
You might look for students at The Theater School at DePaul University, Columbia College or Roosevelt University. Post a notice approved by the Student Affairs Office (for obvious security/"let's avoid porn/erotic massage" reasons) stating clearly what you're looking for, what the pay rate is, what exactly you want your actors to do, when, where and for exactly how long. I would say offer them ten to twelve bucks an hour cash each and give them train and/or bus fare to and from the event.
You might also put an ad in Performink, which is the Chicago trade paper. Backstage is not as common there as it is on the east and west coasts. As minervous points out, non-union actors are more likely to do this sort of event. Pay them enough money to tempt them to take the night off from their regular restaurant or temp job to do your party. I'd say $25 an hour each is fair.
If you want Second City performers to write and perform a custom performance for you, or come to your home and conduct an extended two hour improvisation, you are going to have to pay them a handsome fee, make no mistake. Most of the private events they do are corporate and there will be a written contract.
No, actors don't generally take whatever jobs we can get if we've worked enough to be able to join the professional unions or are working steadily at Second City.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 2:27 PM on April 24, 2008
You might look for students at The Theater School at DePaul University, Columbia College or Roosevelt University. Post a notice approved by the Student Affairs Office (for obvious security/"let's avoid porn/erotic massage" reasons) stating clearly what you're looking for, what the pay rate is, what exactly you want your actors to do, when, where and for exactly how long. I would say offer them ten to twelve bucks an hour cash each and give them train and/or bus fare to and from the event.
You might also put an ad in Performink, which is the Chicago trade paper. Backstage is not as common there as it is on the east and west coasts. As minervous points out, non-union actors are more likely to do this sort of event. Pay them enough money to tempt them to take the night off from their regular restaurant or temp job to do your party. I'd say $25 an hour each is fair.
If you want Second City performers to write and perform a custom performance for you, or come to your home and conduct an extended two hour improvisation, you are going to have to pay them a handsome fee, make no mistake. Most of the private events they do are corporate and there will be a written contract.
No, actors don't generally take whatever jobs we can get if we've worked enough to be able to join the professional unions or are working steadily at Second City.
posted by TryTheTilapia at 2:27 PM on April 24, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by autojack at 11:58 AM on April 24, 2008