Introducing the role of the theatrical producer in the live performing arts.

Types of theatrical producer

There are many flavours of producer working in the live performing arts, to the extent that the job description from company to company is rarely the same. However, producers fall into two primary categories defined by the question, who do you work for? 

The Independent Producer

In theory, as an independent producer, you work for yourself. You may be responsible for other parties, but it’s your project. You secured the funding, and you control most of the decisions. You are only answerable to investors and the balance sheet.

This means that the Independent producer has a significant say in artistic decisions. After all, they are the person who will have to answer for the financial implications of the production’s success or otherwise. This describes the producer often found on Broadway, the West End, or the Mel Brooks film. Yet, this is only one type of independent producer.

In practice, the term Independent Producer encompasses a wide variety of producing styles. 

The Line Producer

In contracts, as a Line Producer, you work for someone else. Line producers are hired-hands and produce on behalf of an organisation. The responsibilities remain the same, but you are answerable to a company or co-op.

Working for an organisation has a lot of benefits, mainly in terms of the more developed support structure. However, that does mean that other people have input in the creative mix. As a result, a line producer may be almost entirely responsible for delivery.

Here are some of the more common types you’ll come across.

Creative Producer

You will find Creative Producers in productions of all sizes. The title emphasises that the focus is on creativity. The creative producer aims to make something new. 

They often work in collaboration with another artist or co-op. They support the creative process and build the framework which supports the production.

A Creative Producer is typically independent; however, they also exist as line producers in organisations with additional management support from ticketing, marketing and production staff.

Company Producer

This producer works for a specific company (often as a full-time employee). They are responsible for the production, but not the strategic decisions. This makes them a line producer.

The role is different from that of the creative producer. This is because the company manages the artistic direction of the production.

Many producers gravitate to these roles because of their stable income.

Producer-for-hire

The producer-for-hire is a freelancer who will take on projects as they come up. This technically makes them a line producer as they are often employed by small companies or co-ops who cannot hire a full-timer. This producer may move from show to show and even be running many projects at once.

The producer-for-hire may work with a company on creative tasks. What separates them from creative producers is how much say they have in decisions. If they have a vote in vital creative choices, they are not a producer-for-hire.

Self-producing Artist

The self-producing artist is an Independent Creative Producer who also fills another artistic role. If you are trying to produce something that shows off one of your other creative talents, then this is you. 

You probably consider yourself an artist who self-produces as a necessity. In my experience, almost all producers begin here.

The Emerging Producer

This article is aimed at the emerging producer, and you’ll likely start by working with emerging artists. So you might be asking, why talk about all these different ways a producer fits into a production?

The aim is to help you understand where you fit when starting out. Of course, the lines between are often blurred, but you will have recognised at least one of the scenarios.

You will most likely be a self-producing artist or a creative producer working as part of a co-op, or company, assembled for a specific project. 

You may even be a producer-for-hire, although it is rare for a company to take anyone on before they’ve produced shows and proved their skills.

As a note: Don’t take on a producer-for-hire job where there isn’t money to pay you. If a company can’t afford to pay you a guaranteed fee, it shouldn’t be a producer-for-hire job. If you aren’t getting paid, you deserve to be part of the co-op and share in the decision making, risk and reward.

Conclusion

The theatrical producer is a leadership role that can affect all production elements. It is a role that requires organisation, drive and commitment. Yet it also gives you considerable control over what you create. 

For most readers of this article, you’ll be finding your place as a new or emerging producer and be self-producing or part of a co-op. 

You’ll be responsible for everything, but you won’t necessarily be doing all the work. 

Explore this site further for more detail about how to get started and what it takes to produce live theatre.