Does anyone rent rooms out for Theatre Digs?

[rentaroommuggins]

We live near a popular regional theatre and have been renting out a nice room and bathroom in our home to travelling theatre workers for the past several years. We keep the price down so low paid theatre workers can afford it on their per diem. We could get a lot more on other platforms IE Airbnb etc.

The problem is that some theatre workers appear to be quite flakey. We've just had another guest due here at the weekend contact us to say they're arriving next week instead. Sometimes guests cancel at the last minute with an flimsy excuse and because Theatre Digs payment terms are payment on arrival we are missing out on the full fee for the period they originally booked. There's no proper cancellation policy, they only forfeit about 10% of the fee.

A lot of the time guests don't review, we always review guests as reviews are important to both host and guest.

We're getting a bit sick of the cancellations and thinking of packing it in which would be a shame because travelling theatre workers need nice comfortable safe places to stay that are also within budget.

I don't know what I'm asking really, just having a rant.

AIBU to cancel Theatre Digs and the flakey theatre people?

Many (but not all) theatres and production companies operate on Equity contracts, eg terms and conditions and pay rates set by the performing arts union.

Theatres are grouped by the number of seats they have - the more seats, the higher the pay band.

On the fringe agreement, the rate is NMW.
On the subsidised agreement, the grade 1 rate is £637.19pw
On the commercial agreement, the grade 1 rate is £885pw
On the west end agreement, the grade 1 rate is £965.55pw

Theatres with fewer seats, eg grade 2, grade 3, will have lower pay rates.

Equity likes to say these are minimum rates, but pretty much every employer treats them as a maximum.

Reviewing guests is an Airbnb invention and no one sensible thinks that's ok

If you have a spare reception room that would be ideal for guests and you could put the kettle, fridge, microwave etc in there. We have found that some guests never use those facilities, not even a cup of tea but others really appreciate it. We are rarely asked for use of a toaster or oven but let them use those facilities if required.

Back stage staff mostly survive on crisps and fizzy drinks but actors / singers are more particular about their nutrition and appreciate fridge storage (generalisation based on years of observation).