Sending Out the Royalty Checks

On May 1^st, I signed close to 300 checks. Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. was paying their playwrights their royalties. Checks ranged from only fifty-five cents to over one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

When a play is published, many playwrights have dreams of making millions of dollars. However, when writing for the amateur market, it’s difficult to tell what plays are going to be successful. I have been surprised at how well certain shows do. I am equally surprised at how some shows do not bring in any dollars.

If you are published, never expect financial success. Be proud you’re your play was chosen out of hundred of submissions to be published. The royalty check is simply the icing on the cake. (Though some icings taste better than others.)