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Money
- Making it in Mexico
Que dice? Let's talk pesos.
Sure, you're going to Mexico to have some fun, perform in a new show and see the country,
but it's even more fun if you get to take some of your hard earned money home.
After speaking to two different
choreographers about salaries for dancers, I found the salary was the same for over ten
different productions, spanning a period of eight years. The salary was $450 a week for
chorus, $25 extra for line captain or dance captain and $50 - $100 extra for the leads. In
every show except one, the dancers were paid in U.S. dollars. In the one exception, the
dancers were paid half in U.S. dollars and half in Mexican pesos.
The Mexican Peso fluctuates
against the U.S. dollar and can be volatile at times. If you're being paid in U.S.
dollars, no matter what the Mexican government does with their currency, your salary won't
be affected.
Here's an example of what
happened to a very talented adagio team that will help explain the importance of being
paid in U.S. dollars. Names and numbers are fictitious, but the story is true. Bill and
Sue were hired to dance in Paris, France. They were to perform the lead adagio in a Paris
revue and they signed a contract for one year at a certain salary. Let's say their salary
was 1,000 francs a week or the equivalent of $500 a week (remember, I'm making these
numbers up to keep it simple and make the point). Six months into the one-year contract,
the French government devalues their currency due to inflation, economic and political
problems. Bill and Sue are still receiving their 1,000 francs a week in accordance with
their contract. The difference, is now the U.S. equivalent is only $250. What do you think
a salary cut of 50% will have on your morale six months into the run? You're doing the
same amount of work, but you're taking home half the money you expected. This is an
example of what can happen if you're not careful or you just don't know. When you're about
to take work in a foreign country and you're discussing salary, get one of two things in
writing.
- Get paid in U.S. dollars
- Get paid in the foreign currency
in the equivalent of a specified amount of U.S. dollars.
Then no matter what the peso
does while you are working in Mexico, you will always be making the same amount in U.S.
dollars.
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