Mad Cow Theatre delinquent payments

Never received small fee promised for directing workshop of "Stones in His Pockets" in 2008.

My company, Max Merchandising, created a line of T-shirts and other items that Mad Cow sold their audience members. We never got paid for the merchandise. Unacceptable.

Costume designer over three seasons. While I was (usually) paid (eventually), the vendors, contractors, and overhire I worked with quite often were not.

I worked in the production Superior Donuts and had to email the company to receive payment.

Took two years to get paid for stage management work (around 2010-2011). Was eventually paid in full but am sad to hear that this is still an issue.

I have only tentatively been involved with Mad Cow on a handful of projects, on an hourly and short-term basis. I was paid, but know for a fact that many have not, and many have given up on ever getting paid. You hear one grumble and it might be a he said, she said thing- but the payment problems at MAD COW are a WIDELY known 'secret' amongst the professionals and professional theatre makers in and from the Orlando area. If you want to run a community theatre full of volunteers, thats great and noble all by itself, do it!- but don't abuse professionals and take advantage of the taxpayers (in the form of grants, and city subsidized rent) under the moniker of 'professional' theatre- It's insulting to everyone who has ever worked for you and insulting to the community. I stand in solidarity and support of this petition and the artists who were stolen from over the last 20 years of mismanagement by MAD COW.

I staged managed for MCT for one and a half seasons. I was delayed payments for 6 months, for 2 productions from the end of the 12-13 Season and 2 months past due for 1 production from the begining of 13-14 Season. After continuous requests of payment of checks past due, I was finally paid in full in 2014. I was always fearful of being penalized for speaking up publicly. It was always rumored that once you began requesting payment of past due checks, you would no longer be offered any more future roles, which is scary to an artist starting out. I took the leap of faith and parted ways with the company. MCT practices of deliquent payments to non-equity artists cannot continue. We all need to stand up for our fellow artists and say enough is enough promising change. There needs to be action.

As one of MCT's former production managers, I stand by all the artists that have been effected by these practices. I hope this petition can affect change and move the Theatre to realize it's limits and work within realistic parameters.

It's the right thing to do.

Delayed payment for Stage Manager duties for a 2007-2008 production

Was only paid half of what I was owed for Stage Managing the "Circle Mirror Transformation"

Started working for MCT in Jan 2011 as a asst. box office manager and ended in April of 2012 as PM/SM. During my time with MCT there were many instances when the entire staff was told we would not be receiving paychecks that week. The delay in pay was sometimes a few days, up to a week and at its worst was 3 weeks in back pay. It was not easy working 60+ hrs on a fixed salary and not being paid wages you are expecting to live off. At the time, i was doing it because I loved working in the arts and hoped there would be a change. When I realized it would not change is when I left.

I stand by this.

Too many comments to make!

Finally received full payment of money owed at least a year after I discontinued working there. Only got it because they had the ignorance to call and ask me to work on another production, not knowing the prior history. Mad Cow's finances have always been mis-managed completely. There is too much control in the hands of one person. Spread the responsiblities out to more people that can manage money and labor properly, and the theatre will flourish. Continue in the shady manner as has been conducted for so long and I hope the city pulls its funding.

As a Non-Equity (EMC) artist, I have stuck by Mad Cow during its difficult financial times since 2007, not being paid, threatening legal action or enduring long wait times on paychecks or proactively following up with the theatre to finally receive compensation. While unacceptable, I feel fortunate that I have eventually been compensated for my work, but I’m shocked to learn that this practice continues to occur, even after receiving numerous grants, investments and tax/lease breaks with the new facility.

I received delinquent payments during Sunday in the Park with George in which I was a performer as well as during The Letters for which I was a costumer. I am payed in full, but have always entered into work at Mad Cow hesitantly on account of their history of delinquent or non-payment.

Still was never paid for "Next to Normal" when I stepped in for Gabe.

Video projections for Top Dog/Underdog.

Christmas Cabaret, Major Barbara, Assassins, Forbidden Broadway, Company, to name a few. The last show I did at Mad Cow, I didn't get paid until over 9 months after the show closed. I called. I emailed. I was roundly ignored until I threatened legal action. Completely demoralizing experience.