Editing Actors' Equity Association (section)

==Equity waiver plan==

The [[Equity Waiver Plan]], originally implemented in 1972, was designed to support small theaters in Los Angeles by allowing non-union actors to perform in venues with 99 seats or fewer, offering lower pay scales and flexible production terms. Initially, actors were paid between $5 and $14 per performance, with productions exceeding 80 performances required to transition to a union contract. The plan fueled the growth of small theaters and spurred artistic achievement in the region. However, by 2000, AEA shifted the focus from box office earnings to theater size to determine payments for the first 12 weeks of a production. A 2014 survey revealed dissatisfaction among members, with many feeling the plan favored producers over actors. Despite these criticisms, the plan helped many small theaters evolve into midsize operations paying higher wages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://definitions.uslegal.com/e/equity-waiver-entertainment-law/ |title=Equity Waiver |website=USLegal |access-date=2025-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cardozolawreview.com/actors-sacrifice-amend-labor-law/ |last=Attadgie |first=Shelley |title=Combating the Actor’s Sacrifice: How to Amend Federal Labor Law to Influence the Labor Practices of Theaters and Incentivize Actors to Fight for Their Rights |work=Cardozo Law Review |date=2019 |volume=40 |issue=2 |access-date=2025-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/equitys-99-seat-theatre-plan-will-be-altered-next-year-com-84860 |date=October 18, 1999 |last=Manus |first=Willard |title=Equity’s 99-Seat Theatre Plan Will Be Altered Next Year |website=Playbill |access-date=2025-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gelt |first=Jessica |date=April 23, 2015 |title=99-seat theaters and actor pay: The debate so far |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-99-seat-theater-actors-equity-los-angeles-explainer-20150422-htmlstory.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2025-02-05}}</ref>