DR Jrand65, you probably told us this in previous discussions, but if your playhouse relies solely on volunteer work from musicians as well as cast and crew, then I understand the challenge. Among the several local theaters in this area, one has maintained that position through all the decades they've been around. The other non-union ones of similar size and activity do pay, and I hate to say it but those houses are where all the good musical action is.
It just happens that the first show I decided to become involved in after moving here was for the aforementioned theater, and the task was hardly simple. I played a run of COMPANY, solo, without so much as a bass player or drummer at my side. That was a good 25 years ago and their productions back then were, well, amateurville. But it was great experience for me and I can toot my horn enough to say the piano playing was noticed. Someone told me they've come around to paying their music directors a reasonable fee, but they still don't pay other musicians. They have a bass player and drummer who have volunteered there for several years, so as long as those two hang in, everyone's happy. But they aren't that good, and they generally don't attract other players.
There's always a place to make a buck, and like someone said above, for some it's their main source of income. I absolutely do my share of volunteer work, but there are many musicians who just won't.
