Producing FAQ's
How much will an advance against royalties be?
We have a tiered level of advances (a non-returnable advance fee is paid to secure the rights and is held against 10% - or 12.5% for musicals - of total gross box office) depending on the size and length of your production, and will negotiate with you as to what is appropriate. Generally we work to ensure that producers can afford to produce the work whilst ensuring the playwright receives funds upfront for their work.
When you submit your application we will get back to you with the cost of the advance fee, which will be between $60 - $120 a performance (charged in the currency the tickets are paid for in or nearest major currency).
How much time will I have to pay the balance of royalties after the production has finished?
Royalties must be paid in full within 12 working days of the final performance of each production except where any season runs for longer than six weeks in which case the Producer shall pay royalties for each four weeks of the season within 12 working days of the end of such a four week period. A statement of account needs to accompany each royalty payment and every such statement will outline each performance date, time and venue and the daily box office receipt details during the period covered by the statement. The statement will also reconcile the number of performances and house size with the types of tickets available for sale and actual number of each type of ticket sold.
What do I do about comps?
The following complimentary or "no value" tickets don't need to be included for the purposes of royalty calculations:
- Tickets issued for the opening night of the season;
- Tickets issued for the preview night of the season;
- Tickets issued as house seats by venue management;
- Tickets issued to the writer;
- Tickets issued on any night other than a preview night or opening night provided that the total of any such complimentary or no value tickets issued is less than 10% of the total capacity of the venue.
Unless agreement is made with Playmarket, where complimentary or no value tickets are issued (on any night except opening night or preview night), in excess of 10% of the total capacity of the venue, then such additional tickets will be considered to have been issued at the average ticket price for the purpose of royalty calculations. This is variable only by agreement with Playmarket.
There's recorded music in the play. Do I have to apply for the rights to this as well?
You may have to if we don't represent the composer for the music. For
Footrot Flats - the Musical by Roger Hall, A. K. Grant and Philip Norman, based on the cartoon characters of Murray Ball, we represent the score, however for
Mum's Choir by Alison Quigan with musical arrangement by Laughton Pattrick, you'll need to apply to
APRA for music rights.
Generally,
APRA should be your first port of call and we will definitely let you know if there is music specifically involved with the script you will need to apply for.
