THREAD: On being asked to waive royalties to allow for your work to be streamed for free.

Firstly, at a time when all other work for members has dried up, it’s entirely fair to expect theatres to pay for the use of your ideas. Electing to stream work for free is a *choice* on their behalf, it is not an obligation.

Therefore, theatres platforming shows for free who are not paying royalties are wilfully *choosing* to not remunerate precarious, out of work, self employed artists, so they may maintain a “connection” with their audiences and a presence for their brand.

Relationships are an important thing in theatre. It’s understandable that you may not wish to withhold consent for fear of being overlooked for work in the future or being seen as a troublemaker and not a team player.

However this is why it is difficult to establish where consent has been truly freely given.

So if you do find yourself in a position where this is being asked of you and for whatever your reasoning may be, you aren’t happy to give consent, consider the below steps.

STEP 1: Firstly make sure the conversation is happening through your agent if you have one.

Don’t handle this yourself if you do have an agent.

STEP 2: Discuss it with your fellow production team members.

Are they ok with being asked to give their work away for free? - It takes the pressure off when there’s more than one person saying no!

If your colleagues are happy to consent, your position is still legitimate.

STEP 3: *Most* theatres and producers are entirely approachable and reasonable individuals. If you are happy to, there’s no harm in voicing your position to them. It’s more likely to be an unthinking question on their part rather than a malicious approach. (At least, you’d hope!)

STEP 4: If you don’t feel as though you can go to the manager, or if the negotiations break down. You should then turn to @EquityUK.

Depending on where you stand we can offer specific advice, or step in to come to an agreement, or act as the messenger to say consent is being withheld.

We are here to help if you need us!

We are more than just the nuclear option in a dispute. We can advise and act as you instruct.

Email Jamie Briers [email protected]

(For the avoidance of doubt, we are speaking hypothetically here. We aren’t saying that this is frequently occurring across the industry. This information is purely for the benefit of our members should the situation arise.)