Is it normal to be charged a bond in amateur musicals?

David, You haven't said anything new to defend this concept. I have performed in many professional venues with professional lighting and sound. This is not an out of the ordinary thing! It's a great opportunity, but not really all that rare, and I've never had to pay a bond for the privelege of being in the show. In fact, I've just finished working on a season of Singing in the Rain with a community theatre company. The show went on in a professional venue with professional lighting and sound AND professional effects - we had real rain on stage! They didn't ask anyone to pay $200 bond and $100 membership to do the show. The only cost involved was $23 for a show t-shirt and a show lanyard and $45 if you didn't return your libretto. I think it's very nice that this director is paying out so much of their own money to put on a show. Huge kudos to them - we need more people who are willing to sponsor shows the way they do, but I stand by the fact that I think it is unfair to ask an amateur performer (someone who does this for LOVE, not money) to fork out $300 (200 bond, plus 100 membership) at the outset just to be in the show. And before I get told again that you get the $200 back - this is an amount of money that can be quite difficult to get together all at one time, particularly if someone is still studying. Asking for this outlay is unfair to the performers, and probably unfair to the company, because a lot of extremely talented people will be unable to even consider auditioning due to an inability to fund this ridiculous requirement. They're not just doing performers a dis-service, they're doing their company a dis-service! And finally - you say this situation has occurred because a couple of principles dropped out leaving the company high and dry - well why should newcomers have to pay for other people's wrong-doings?? The way you deal with this situation is to not cast the unrelaible people again. And just a couple questions - What happens if you get sick and CAN'T perform?? Do you get your bond back? Or is it a case of too bad - you didn't perform so you lose the money. Do performers sign legal contracts with the company? What assurance do the performers get that they WILL get their money back? A receipt?? Too many questions left un-answered! I stand by the advice I gave in my previous posting - this bears a lot of thought, but personally I would reconsider working with this company on the grounds that I can get all the special things they say they need the bond for with other companies that won't charge me for the privelege! Darren