Following on from the MD thread HERE

I was wondering what if anything techies got paid for different work.

I know most of it seems to be for love of the challenge, but what about where an outside group come to use your theatre.

Do you insist that they use your techies and charge accordingly?
Do you let them run riot with your equipment but charge them accordingly?

If you get paid how does the theatre reconcile the payment to you?

Virtually it is a given, that to hire any theatre venue a Duty Technician is included within the standard hire fee, for either pro & am spaces.
With community theatre this is generally a fixed fee starting at $100 [AUD], with pro spaces it averages around $30/hour. The Duty Tech generally does nothing more than being the custodian of the venue - first in & last out. Also as an empirical guide to the venue logistics & in case there are hiccups, in turn assurance the equipment is being used safely & correctly, further in an emergency, acting as the safety marshal.
The payment in community theatre is regarded more as an ex-gratis or perdium allowance, not as a payment, because members are excluded to pecuniary profits from membership.
In all cases, it is a form of insurance for the group, where the premiums are paid by others.

If I get hired out as a Duty Tech at my theatre they charge the group ?30 p/h

as for personal fees - I'm normally free, maybe travelling expenses for distance.

Proffesionally rates rnge from ?300 - ?500 per day plus travel and substance depending on job

Where have you been Martin. We miss your technical experience here.

I'm also usually free. I think I've only every charged a couple of times and that was for band gigs. But then most of the shows have been low budget, charities, schools or 'for the kids'.

Robin

I also tend to charge nothing (beers and fuel - remember which one to drink and not at the same time!), except where I put my Engineer hat on. If I have to do mains distro and sign it off, then I charge. Not saying that everything else is a bit iffy, but I also make sure that events that need this sign off are so safe that it doesn't put my Charter in any danger!

Dave

I am free to the groups I belong to. As I take time off for other shows which costs money I normally get some expense money

Yup, that's the problem isn't it? Get-ins at our theatre usually start at 2pm on a Sunday, so the techies usually have to take at least Monday off work and often Tuesday and/or Wednesday as well, for a Wednesday opening night.