Conan O'Brien's tour employs former 'Tonight Show' crew

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 2:27pm

"Conan O'Brien tweeted yesterday that he's taking his act on the road with the "Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television" tour.

Tickets for the 32-city tour are selling out around the country, with the option to include pricey add-ons like "Meet and Greet" packages, which can cost in the neighborhood of $600.

Although O'Brien is currently out of a job as a late-night TV host, TMZ is reporting that proceeds from the show won't be added to his bank account. O'Brien's tour, which wraps in Atlanta in June, is going to keep his former "Tonight Show" crew gainfully employed until his next on-air gig. As a source close to O'Brien told CNN: He's clearly not doing this for the money."



My question is this:
His crew members are not part of the Union that runs live theatre. They belong to a totally different Union. So how are they able to do this?
CNN Story

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:01pm

I'm sure it's been negotiated Diva. I'm not an expect, but I'm going to attempt use an AEA analogy. If a tour goes out Non-Equity it means that there are no unions involved. I would think the same would apply here.

Did I make any sense? LOL.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:08pm

But I'm sure they are playing in Union houses...

Radio City Music Hall?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:10pm

But is that guaranteed that everything involved has to be union?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:15pm

Usually. Yes.

Unions get very pissy when you take away their jobs.

Updated On: 3/13/10 at 03:15 PM

[ifuweregay93]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 3:47pm

I can't WAIT for this. Spending $140 for ONE ticket on the main floor in Chicago.

[winston89]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 4:01pm

TheatreDiva90016, as I learned awhile ago, there is no such thing as a union house only union contracts. I remember asking the same thing on this forum when I found out that the non equity tour of The Wedding Singer was playing at the same theatre in Hartford a few years back where I saw the equity tour of Wicked.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 5:23pm

Wow.

I worked on a benefit one year and the crew wouldn't let us load it in unless we paid Union wages. We went without a set.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 6:27pm

Diva, I am not sure what the union rules are though I know for a fact quite a few of the stage hands and prop people at NBC have also done the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City so there must be some cross over allowed.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 10:04pm

They don't allow it here in California.

No way.

No how.

[James885]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 10:33pm

I would love to see this. I'm sure it's gonna be great. The Washington Post is reporting that the DC stop at DAR Constitution Hall is already sold out.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/13/10 at 11:19pm

Maybe his crew were already part of the IATSE touring local?

And a non-equity tour only refers to the actors and stage managers. I have done two non-eq tours and I worked with union crew on both.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 12:44am

Maybe the word "crew" in the article refers to his writing staff/band/floor managers (all people that could work on a tour).

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/14/10 at 1:11am

I hope Abe Vagoda tours with him!