How do people direct at community theatre?

[Leadingplayer]

Do the theatres pay them.....or do they pay to put on their show?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

It depends on where they went to school.

[Kad]

The community theatre I worked with paid local directors.

Most community theatres have a budget, usually meager, derived from donors or local grants.

[AEA AGMA SM]

There is no set standard for community theaters. Some pay, others don't. Some the directors will dump some of their own money in, some don't.

[dramamama611]

For the most part, the community theater will have a budget for rights & royalties, costumes and sets. Directors aren't usually paid, but would more likely be paid than anyone else in the production. (Although I know a lot of places that pay thier musicians only).

The only time Ive ever know a director to use their own money for MAJOR things would be if they are also part of the board, especially if it is an uptart group (and those are the people more likely to derive a profit -- but seldom make money). (Not pretending to speak for all community theaters, just what I know of them.)

[ggersten]

Our local community theatre pays directors, music director and choreographer a small stipend. I donate my stipend back to the company or ask that it be used for other aspects - such as costumes or set.
Musicians get paid. Actors do not get paid.
As to "how" - well, it's love or a desire to direct and see if you can do it or a desire to see a show put on in a certain way.

[dramamama611]

But I've never heard of a fee to have the right to direct a show with an organization.

[Gothampc]

Many of the theaters that I know about have paid their director a stipend. Usually anywhere between $200 and $500 for the entire production.

I have known one company that required their participants to be the financiers. People put in money based on their level of participation in the show. If the show made a profit, their investment was returned with a payout. In the shows I know that they did, they always received their initial investment back and usually something around $50 extra. It was never a huge amount.

[JoeKv99]

If yours is an "uptart" group you might get other sorts of compensation. If you know what I mean...