Union's bid to ensure fair pay and safer working conditions

Performers’ union Equity is launching a Comedians' Charter to help ensure stand-ups get fairer pay and safer working conditions.

The group hopes venues and promoters will sign up to the document – and say it is step towards their aim of unionising comedians.

It says those running gigs should be transparent about pay, have anti-harassment and discrimination policies, and take steps to ensure the safety of acts working late at night.

The charter is launched at the Edinburgh Fringe today, seven years after Equity launched a comedians’ network, with the aim of formalising the arrangements between performers and promoters.

It comes after anecdotal reports that comedians have witnessed an increase in abusive behaviour from audience members post-lockdown as well as ongoing concerns about late-night safety and predatory and disturbing behaviour on the circuit.

The new charter condemns shows put on at the artist’s expense, such as pay-to-play and bringer gigs, where new acts must promise to bring an audience along. ‘Where comedians are hired to provide a professional service, they should be professionally compensated,’ Equity says.

The charter adds that  door or bucket splits should be agreed in advance, in writing and says that money is exchanged between venue and promoter or audience and promoter, then acts should be paid.

Other points are that venues and promoters should

• Tell acts about what changing room or green room facilities there are, whether they are shared and who they are shared with;
• Give clear information about parking and public transport, and discuss individual circumstances for each act about how to get to and from the give.
• Have anti-harassment and discrimination policies that should be clearly visible in venues, made available to acts when they are booked for a gig, and visible online when audience members purchase tickets. 

The charter is being launched at The Stand’s New Town Theatre, with the club chain – which has permanent venues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle – being the first to sign up.

Rob Lugg, Equity’s organiser for comedians, said: ‘In the months ahead, we’ll be reaching out to venues and promoters across the country and seeking to work with them to make the Charter the industry standard.

‘Our members will also need the support of audiences to help us achieve this by making sure that they only attend comedy gigs that carry the Comedians’ Charter Mark once it is rolled out.

‘However, the Charter is only one part of our strategy to improve the working conditions of live comedians. As the cost-of-living spirals out of control, adding to the enormous pre-existing pressures of accommodation and transport costs at festivals like the Edinburgh Fringe, the time to act is now.

‘We’re calling on every working comedian in the country who isn’t already a member to join Equity. By coming together and acting collectively through their union, comedians have the chance to push for real change and for a fairer and more sustainable industry.’

Equity says it intends to work with venues and promoters to implement the charter and will be producing an information pack detailing how to do that.

• Download the Equity Comedians’ Charter here.

Published: 7 Aug 2022