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It’s Spring Performance Season!

We get many of the same questions over and over again, so we’ve created this blog called Tips & Tidbits.  Pioneer Drama is already the easiest play publisher to work with, and with these tips, we make it even easier!  Today’s Tips & Tidbits is about making sure you’ve arranged for the correct number of performance right and other royalty details.

Setting up performance rights with Pioneer Drama Service

Pioneer Drama is the most flexible of all the play publishers regarding arranging licensing rights, whether traditional, livestreamed, or prerecorded.  There are no restrictions on any of our plays for the type of performance you want to do.  In addition, all Pioneer plays and musicals have automatic licensing, meaning you never have to apply for rights and wait for an answer.  As long as you purchase scripts for your entire cast and provide the dates and number of performances, we can immediately guarantee you have performance rights!

Our fixed royalty fees also make this a simple process.  All our royalty prices are published online and in our print catalog.  This fee does not change based on the size of the audience, the price of admission, or the type of performance you’re doing.

Best of all, there is no Royalty Application to complete!

Counting the number of royalty fees required

With so many production options now available, arranging royalties has become more about counting the number of audiences, rather than the number of performances.  It is quite possible that one performance will require more than one royalty fee if it is being licensed for multiple purposes.  If a performance is being viewed traditionally by an audience in the theatre while simultaneously being livestreamed, then two royalty fees are due.  If it’s also being recorded to be posted on an organization’s website, then three royalty fees are due for that performance since it's reaching three separate audiences — one in the theatre, one simultaneously watching from home, and one watching at their convenience at any time in the future.

Luckily, our royalty fees are quite affordable, so adding another performance does not put a huge strain on your budget.  To help you make sure you’ve accounted for everything, please add the following numbers for your production:

• # of performances in front of an audience
• # of performances livestreamed
• # of streaming events of a prerecorded performance
• # of websites and cable stations where a recording will be shared
• # of performances recorded and distributed to the cast or others

Changing the number and/or type of performances

We mean it when we say Pioneer is the easiest play publisher to work with!  Even if your plans change once rehearsals have begun, we can easily work with you to accommodate whatever new plans you have.  We can even refund canceled performances.  Just give us a call at 800-333-7262 or chat online with us during normal business hours.

Changing the dates of your production

Again, this is easily taken care of with a simple online chat or phone call to 800-333-7262.  We don’t have the type of plays that require exclusive royalties, so there’s never a problem changing a date.

Communication is key

Please, just remember that communication is key!  Arranging royalties is like signing a contract, so if anything changes — such as the date of your production or the number of performances — you have to let us know as you as possible! 

If you want to contact us to make sure you've arranged for the correct number of performances for your current production, please do!  We're happy to help you and have real people (what a concept!)  to answer your questions Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Shout out!

Congratulations to Native Caribbean Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago for a completely sold out production of seven performances of Rockin’ Robin Hood in their 500-seat auditorium!  In a country that does not support theatre, their determination and focus continues to make a difference, Touching Lives Through Theatre™!