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Employment of actors, directors, and producers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. In addition, an even greater number of job openings is expected to arise from the need to replace workers who leave the field. Nevertheless, competition for these jobs will be stiff, as the glamour of actor, director, and producer jobs, coupled with the lack of formal entry requirements, will attract many people to these occupations. As in the past, only the most talented will find regular employment. bond in investing savings

Rising foreign demand for American productions, combined with a growing domestic market, should stimulate demand for actors and other production personnel. An increasing population, a greater desire to attend live performances, and the growth of cable and satellite television, television syndication, home movie rentals, and music videos will fuel this demand. In addition to the increasing demand for these media, attendance at stage productions is expected to grow, and touring productions of Broadway plays and other large shows are providing new opportunities for actors and directors. However, employment may be affected by government funding for the arts-a decline in funding could dampen future employment growth. bond investment toledo toledo

Earnings Top

Median annual earnings of actors, directors, and producers were $27, 400 in 1998. Minimum salaries, hours of work, and other conditions of employment are covered in collective bargaining agreements between producers of shows and unions representing workers in this field. The Actors Equity Association represents stage actors; Screen Actors Guild covers actors in motion pictures, including television, commercials, and films; and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) represents television and radio performers. Most stage directors belong to the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and film and television directors belong to the Directors Guild of America. While these unions generally determine minimum salaries, any actor or director may negotiate for a salary higher than the minimum. james bond trading card

On July 1, 1998, the members of Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA approved a new joint contract covering all unionized employment. Under the contract, motion picture and television actors with speaking parts earned a minimum daily rate of $576, or $2, 000 for a 5-day week, in 1998. Actors also receive contributions to their health and pension plans and additional compensation for reruns and foreign telecasts. bond in investing stock

According to Actors Equity Association, the minimum weekly salary for actors in Broadway stage productions was $1, 135 per week in 1998. Those in small off-Broadway theaters received minimums ranging from $450 to $600 a week, depending on the seating capacity of the theater. Smaller regional theaters pay $400-$600 per week. For shows on the road, actors receive about an additional $100 per day for living expenses. However, less than 15 percent of dues-paying members work during any given week. In 1998, less than half worked on a stage production. Average earnings for those able to find employment was less than $10, 000 in 1998. municipal bonds investment

Some well-known actors have salary rates well above the minimums, and the salaries of the few top stars are many times the figures cited, creating the false impression that all actors are highly paid. In reality, earnings for most actors are low because employment is so erratic. Screen Actors Guild reports that the average income its members earn from acting is less than $5, 000 a year. Therefore, most actors must supplement their incomes by holding jobs in other fields. bond terms trading

Many actors who work more than a set number of weeks per year are covered by a union health, welfare, and pension fund, including hospitalization insurance, to which employers contribute. Under some employment conditions, Actors Equity and AFTRA members have paid vacations and sick leave. bond debt high in inside

Earnings of stage directors vary greatly. According to the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, summer theaters offer compensation, including royalties (based on the number of performances), usually ranging from $2, 500 to $8, 000 for a 3- to 4-week run of a production. Directing a production at a dinner theater will usually pay less than a summer theater but has more potential for royalties. Regional theaters may hire directors for longer periods of time, increasing compensation accordingly. The highest paid directors work on Broadway productions, commonly earning $100, 000 plus royalties per show. bond greenville greenville

Producers seldom get a set fee; instead, they get a percentage of a show s earnings or ticket sales. Related Occupations Top People who work in occupations requiring acting skills include dancers, choreographers, disc jockeys, drama teachers or coaches, and radio and television announcers. Others working in occupations related to acting are playwrights, scriptwriters, stage managers, costume designers, makeup artists, hair stylists, lighting designers, and set designers. Workers in occupations involved with the business aspects of theater productions include managing directors, company managers, booking managers, publicists, and agents for actors, directors, and playwrights. trading stock and bonds

Sources of Additional Information Top

Information about opportunities in regional theaters may be obtained from: bond investing municipal

• Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 355 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10017. basis bond finance hill

A directory of theatrical programs may be purchased from: bond explained terms trading

For general information on actors, directors, and producers, contact: bond business investing stock

• Screen Actors Guild, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600. bond houston houston

• Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, 304 Hudson St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10013. stock bonds day trading

• American Federation of Television and Radio Artists-Screen Actors Guild, 4340 East-West Hwy., Suite 204, Bethesda, MD 20814-4411. bond corporate investing

Selected industries employing actors, directors, and producers that appear in the 2000-01 Career Guide to Industries: investment bond uk

• Motion picture production and distribution
• Radio and television broadcasting

• A high school education is sufficient to qualify for most positions, but employers prefer to hire college graduates as claim representatives. bond trading strategy

• Projected employment change varies by occupation-the number of adjustment clerks is expected to grow faster than average as businesses emphasize good customer relations, whereas welfare eligibility clerks will likely decline in number because of welfare reform legislation. bond fixed in income investing

Nature of the Work Top

Adjusters, investigators, and collectors perform a wide range of functions, but their most important role is acting as intermediaries with the public. Insurance companies, department stores, banks, and social services agencies employ adjusters, investigators, and collectors to deal with the challenges they face such as handling complaints, interpreting and explaining policies or regulations, resolving billing disputes, collecting delinquent accounts, and determining eligibility for governmental assistance. The variety of titles and responsibilities in this grouping of occupations can be categorized into claim representatives, insurance processing clerks, adjustment clerks, bill and account collectors, and welfare eligibility workers and interviewers. bond dayton dayton investment

Claim Representatives

. Insurance companies investigate claims, negotiate settlements, and authorize payments to claimants. Claim representatives do this work. When a policyholder files a claim for property damage or a hospital stay, for example, the claim representative must initially determine whether the customer s insurance policy covers the loss and the amount of the loss covered. They then must determine the amount to pay the claimant. bond management market risk

In life and health insurance companies, claim representatives are typically called claim examiners. Claim examiners usually specialize in group or individual insurance plans and in hospital, dental, or prescription drug claims. Examiners review health-related claims to see if the costs are reasonable based on the diagnosis. They check with guides that provide information on the average period of disability for various causes, expected treatments, and average hospital stay. Examiners will then either authorize the appropriate payment or refer the claim to an investigator for a more thorough review. Claim investigators look into any contestable claims. bond in investing municipal

Claim representatives working in life insurance review the causes of death, particularly in the case of an accident, as most life insurance companies pay additional benefits if the death is due to an accident. They may also review new applications for life insurance to make sure applicants have no serious illnesses that would prevent them from qualifying for insurance. bond investment las las north

In the property and casualty insurance area, claim representatives handle minor claims filed by automobile or homeowner policyholders. These workers (also called inside adjusters or telephone adjusters ) contact claimants by telephone or mail to obtain information on repair costs, medical expenses, or other details the company requires. Many companies centralize this operation through a drive-in claims center, where the cost of repair is determined and a check is issued immediately. More complex cases, usually involving bodily injury, are referred to senior representatives, adjusters, or claim examiners. Cases may also be referred to independent adjusters who work for independent adjusting firms not affiliated with a particular insurance company. Some adjusters work with multiple types of insurance. Others specialize in homeowner claims, business losses, automotive damage, product liability, or workers compensation. Material damage adjusters inspect automobile damage and use the latest computerized estimating equipment to prepare estimates of the damage. future bond trading system

In all of these specialties, claim adjusters primarily plan and schedule the work required to process a claim. They investigate claims by interviewing the claimant and witnesses, consulting police and hospital records, and inspecting property damage to determine the extent of the company s liability. The information from this work, including photographs and written or taped statements, is included in a report that is used to evaluate a claim. When the policyholder s claim is legitimate, the claim adjuster negotiates with the claimant and settles the claim. When claims are contested, adjusters may testify in court. bond in investing junk

Claim representatives, adjusters, and examiners are making more use of computers to keep records of clients and actions taken in various claims. Most work on desktop computers, and many use portable laptop computers to enter or access information when they are on assignment away from their offices. bond investment orlando

Insurance Processing Clerks

. Processing new insurance policies, modifying existing policies, and recording claims is the work of policy processing clerks. Using computers, they process new policies by first reviewing the insurance application to ensure that all the questions have been answered. After underwriters have reviewed an application and the company determines that it will issue a policy, a policy processing clerk prepares the necessary forms and informs the insurance sales agent of the application s status. Policy processing clerks also update existing policies-such as a change in beneficiary, amount of coverage, or type of insurance-and recalculate premiums. They then mail correspondence notices regarding changes to the sales agent and policyholder. Policy processing clerks maintain computer files for each policyholder, including policies that are to be reinstated or canceled. bond free trading

The majority of policy processing clerks work for insurance agencies, where they are usually referred to as customer service representatives. In this capacity, they perform a number of duties in addition to processing policies for customers. Customer service representatives also take calls from clients, answer questions, process changes to the policies, submit applications to the insurance carriers, and obtain information on claims. bond free guide investing

Most of the remaining policy processing clerks work for large insurance companies. For many of them, the job is becoming more customer service related as more carriers deal directly with the public. These clerks usually work in call centers, in which they take policy information from current customers and enter it directly into the computer. Other policy processors handle policy changes initiated primarily by the insurance company. bond gainesville gainesville

Another type of insurance processing clerk is the claims clerk, also called claims interviewer or claims processor. These clerks obtain information from policyholders regarding claims from fire damage, personal injury or illness, or an automobile accident, for example. They are primarily responsible for getting the necessary information on a claim, such as specific details of an accident. This is usually done over the telephone while the claims clerk simultaneously enters the information into a computer. If information regarding the claim is missing, a claims clerk will call or write the insured or other party for the missing information. Once the information is entered, the claims clerk forwards the claim for payment or to a claim representative, who will further examine the claim. In addition to taking information, some claims clerks can pay small claims, direct insureds to auto repair facilities or local contractors to make home repairs, and may give limited direction to insureds on how to proceed with the claim in emergencies. bond david david guide guide

Adjustment Clerks

. Investigating and resolving customers complaints about merchandise, service, billing, or credit rating is done by adjustment clerks. They may work for banks, department stores, insurance companies, and other large organizations that sell products and services to the public. They are more commonly referred to as customer service representatives or customer complaint clerks. bond investment pensacola

Adjustment clerks examine all pertinent information to determine if a customer s complaint is valid. In department stores, this may mean checking sales slips, warranties, or the merchandise in question. In banks, these clerks might review records and videotapes of automated teller machine transactions. For insurance carriers, they may review the terms of the policies to see if a particular loss is covered. Regardless of the setting, these clerks get information-in person, by telephone, or through written correspondence-from all parties involved. bond introduction trading

After evaluating the facts, adjustment clerks attempt to remedy the situation by exchanging merchandise, refunding money, crediting customers accounts, or adjusting customers bills. Adjustment clerks ensure that the appropriate changes are set in motion and follow up on the recommendations to ensure customer satisfaction. To prevent similar complaints in the future, they may recommend improvements in product, packaging, shipping, service, or billing methods and procedures. Adjustment clerks keep records of all relevant matters, using them to prepare reports for their supervisors. bond in investing involved

In many organizations, adjustment clerks investigate billing errors and other customer complaints. They also respond to many types of inquiries from customers, including taking orders, canceling accounts, or simply providing information on the company s products and services. These requests may be handled immediately over the phone or may require the adjustment clerk to send a letter to the customer. bond columbia columbia

Bill and Account Collectors

. Sometimes called collection agents, bill and account collectors ensure that customers pay their overdue accounts. Some are employed by third-party collection agencies, while others, known as in-house collectors, work directly for the original creditors, such as department stores, hospitals, or banks. becoming bond building by

The duties of bill and account collectors are similar in the many different organizations in which they are employed. First, collectors attempt to locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts, usually over the telephone, but sometimes by letter. When customers move without leaving a forwarding address, collectors may check with the post office, telephone companies, credit bureaus, or former neighbors to obtain their new address. This is called skiptracing. bond investment springfield

Once collectors find the debtor, they inform them of the overdue account and solicit payment. If necessary, they review the terms of the sale, service, or credit contract with the customer. Collectors also may attempt to learn the cause of the delay in payment. Where feasible, they offer the customer advice on how to pay off the debts, such as by taking out a bill consolidation loan. However, the collector s objective is always to ensure that the customer first pays the debt in question. bond com in investing

If a customer agrees to pay, collectors record this commitment and check later to verify that the payment was indeed made. Collectors may have authority to grant an extension of time if customers ask for one. If a customer fails to respond, collectors prepare a statement indicating this for the credit department of the establishment. In more extreme cases, collectors may initiate repossession proceedings, service disconnections, or hand the account over to an attorney for legal action. Most collectors handle other administrative functions for the accounts assigned to them. This may include recording changes of addresses, and purging the records of the deceased. bond investment temple temple

Collectors use computers and a variety of automated systems to keep track of overdue accounts. Collectors usually work at video display terminals that are linked to computers. In sophisticated predicted dialer systems, a computer dials the telephone automatically and the collector speaks only when a connection has been made. Such systems eliminate time spent calling busy or non-answering numbers. Many collectors use regular telephones, but others wear headsets like those used by telephone operators. bond david guide in investing

Welfare Eligibility Workers and Interviewers

. Welfare eligibility workers and interviewers-sometimes referred to as intake workers, eligibility specialists, family investment counselors, or income maintenance specialists-determine who may receive welfare and other types of social assistance. Welfare eligibility workers and interviewers work with various public assistance programs. The best known are Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Medicaid, and Food Stamps. Depending on local circumstances, they may also work with other programs, such as those for public housing, refugee assistance, and fuel assistance. Although the majority work for State and local governments, a number of eligibility workers work in hospitals and physician offices where they interview patients regarding their eligibility for government assistance. bond greensboro greensboro

Many welfare eligibility workers and interviewers specialize in an area such as housing, but most are responsible for several areas. They also may assist social workers by informing them of pertinent information they have gathered during their interviews with applicants. bond fastread fastread funds

The primary task of these workers is interviewing and investigating applicants and recipients of public assistance. Based on the personal and financial information they obtain and the rules and regulations of each program, they initiate procedures to grant, modify, deny, or terminate individuals eligibility for various aid programs. This information is recorded and evaluated to determine the amounts of the grants. bond fayetteville fayetteville

These workers often provide information to applicants and current recipients. For example, they may explain and interpret eligibility rules and regulations or identify other resources available in the community for financial or social welfare assistance. Eligibility workers also keep track of those on welfare, making sure recipients attend job training classes and seek employment. More experienced eligibility workers may help train new workers. In addition, they may be assigned to special fraud-detection units. bond clause estate in

The authority of welfare eligibility workers and interviewers varies from one jurisdiction to another. In some places, senior workers are authorized to decide on an applicant s eligibility, subject to review by their supervisor. In other places, they can only make recommendations to their supervisors, who in turn make the ultimate decision. beach beach daytona bond

An increasing number of jurisdictions are using computers to improve worker productivity and to reduce the incidence of welfare fraud. In these settings, welfare eligibility workers enter information into a computer as they interview applicants and recipients. In the most advanced systems, the computer terminal prompts them with a variety of questions to ask during an interview. bond finance fixed in income

Although these workers usually interview applicants and recipients who visit their offices, they may make occasional home visits, especially if the applicant or recipient is elderly or disabled. They may also check with employers or other references to verify answers and get further information. guaranteed investment bond

Working Conditions Top

Although adjusters, investigators, and collectors share many working conditions, differences exist in the various segments of this grouping of workers. Most claim representatives work a standard 5-day, 40-hour week and work in a typical office environment. However, many others work evening shifts and on weekends. As insurance companies place more emphasis on customer service, they are providing more claim services around the clock. This means that a growing number of claim representatives may work evenings and weekends staffing claims centers, many of which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many claim adjusters, on the other hand, work outside the office, inspecting damaged buildings and automobiles. Occasionally, experienced adjusters are away from home for days when they travel to the scene of a disaster-such as a tornado, hurricane, or flood-to work with local adjusters and government officials. Some adjusters are on emergency call in the case of such incidents. Material damage adjusters can work at local claim centers where policyholders take their cars for estimates of damage. In general, adjusters are able to arrange their work schedule to accommodate evening and weekend appointments with clients. This accommodation may result in adjusters working 50 or 60 hours a week. Some report to the office every morning to get their assignments while others simply call from home and spend their days traveling to claim sites. This enables some adjusters to work independently. bond exchange investing stock

Most insurance processing clerks work 40 hours a week in an office. Many of these workers sit at video display terminals and enter or access information while the customer is on the telephone. Because most companies provide 24-hour claim service to their policyholders, some claim clerks work evenings and weekends. Many claim clerks work part time. bond fort investment wayne

Adjustment clerks or customer service representatives are increasingly available in the evenings and on weekends, particularly the growing number of clerks who work for catalog and Internet retailers. These clerks usually work in call-center environments, taking calls from customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other adjustment clerks work in the offices of businesses and work standard business hours. bond investment jacksonville

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