Eligibility and Application

Both the Theatre and production must meet all of the following requirements to engage under the INDIE:

Theatre

• Is a non-commercial company (i.e. functions as a not-for-profit organization and is not incorporated as commercial entity)
• Able to demonstrate to Equity’s satisfaction that it cannot meet the minimum terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) or the Independent Theatre Agreement (ITA), and has not generally operated under those terms in the past
• Annual operating budget less than $55,000 a year

Production

• Production budget does not exceed $80,000
• Box office potential does not exceed $23,000 per week
• Does not compete directly or indirectly with Engagers operating under the Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) provisions of the CTA or ITA
• Not produced under a co-production arrangement with another Engager operating under the terms of the CTA or ITA (though administrative support, publicity, or providing space may be allowed)

If there is any question as to whether or not a Theatre is eligible to engage under the terms of the INDIE, or a production is eligible to take place under the terms of the INDIE, please contact Equity at busrep@caea.com as soon as possible in the planning process.

• Theatre/Engager information
• Production information
  Name of production, rehearsal dates, performance dates
• Security option — Prepayment or Bond (see Article 2)
  Prepayment means all Artist fees and processing fees are paid to Equity in full in advance.
  Bond means providing Equity with two weeks’ contractual fees for each Artist, plus additional fees (e.g. transportation for out-of-town Artists, per diems, etc.).
• Fees — No Deferment or Deferred Fee
  Deferred Fee requires reporting to Equity and a requirement to state the deferment plan on the contract.
• Maximum Box Office Potential (see Article 5)
  Refer to the previous section for how to calculate box office potential.
• Return Transportation (see Article 13)
• Declaration
  The Theatre meets all of the eligibility requirements and will adhere to all of the terms of the INDIE engagement policy.

The following documents must be submitted in addition to the Application Form:

• List of all Artists
• Complete rehearsal schedule
• Copy of the proposed working terms, as agreed to by the Artists
• Copy of the production budget
• Engager anti-harassment/Respectful Workplace Policy
  Read a template version
• Deferment Plan and Schedule of Payments (if applicable)
• Artists outside point of origin details (if applicable)
• Touring production details (if applicable)

Note: Every Artist participating in an INDIE production is required to have an Equity contract, whether they are an Equity member or not.