Chances of a Strike?- Page 4

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/15/25 at 11:32pm

sppunk said: "I work for a union that has had two strikes. We are back in nyc to see shows Nov 7-10 and I am packing signs to join picket lines. I am assuming the league won’t agree to being good and a strike is called.

OK

 

[jr88]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 11:56am

Hope they resolve things soon or drag out longer as we are coming Nov 4-7 to see Godot and Just in Time. Does anyone have a reliable crystal ball to predict the likelihood of us seeing those shows

[Kad]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:18pm

Both unions are in talks with the League this week. I imagine we’ll know either by the end of Friday or early next week.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 1:23pm

"The stagehands' strike in 2007 saw the majority of shows go dark(Nov. 10-2."

Point of clarification: the stagehands had voted to authorize a strike, but the League locked them out, which...didn't make a lot of sense.

Regarding the possibility of virtual orchestras? It was a complete and unmitigated disaster last time. The karaoke machine (as it was called at the time) kept getting lost, repeating itself, and so on.The technology wasn't even close to there.

I do remember a 2 day musician strike in the aughts. IATSE Local One honored the strike, so that was that. Over the years, I have observed that Hogan's Hero is almost uniformly correct, so I'm not sure what happened in that situation that made Local One's honoring the musician's strike legal.

Updated On: 10/16/25 at 01:23 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 5:46pm

ghostlight2 said: "I do remember a 2 day musician strike in the aughts. IATSE Local One honored the strike, so that was that. Over the years, I have observed that Hogan's Hero is almost uniformly correct, so I'm not sure what happened in that situation that made Local One's honoring the musician's strike legal."

Thanks for your kind words (although I have never observed quite as uniform correctness :-) ). To prove the latter, I think I missed the point I am getting ready to make.

I don't recall anything about that strike, but the circumstances would have been that, without musicians, the struck shows were not going to go on.in any event (absent something idiotic like a virtual orchestra). In that circumstance, some stagehands may have picketed with the musicians, but without musicians, I can't imagine that the producers intended to put on the shows on which they worked. (That would also apply to the AFM/AEA [and/or any other secondary union] in the present scenario.) Thus IATSE had nothing to strike or boycott; it was just talk to say they were "honoring" the picket line (normally meaning not crossing it. There is no law against showing support that is not calling a boycott or  strike and that's all they could do..  

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 10/16/25 at 11:10pm

Well, HogansHero, I'll say you were right over the years more often than not.

I did a little research, which refreshed my memory. From this article:

"Last night, the producers left talks with the musicians, their offers far apart, and it was unclear when negotiations might resume. The producers had hoped to present their musicals last night with computer-generated sound -- so-called virtual orchestras.

But the producers apparently did not expect the actors and stagehands to respect the musicians' picket lines, and decided to close the shows."

Also this:

"Late yesterday afternoon, Local 1 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents the stagehands, voted to honor the picket line. ''How can we be a union in the entertainment business and not stick up for another union?'' said Edward McConway, the president of Local 1. ''It's morally reprehensible.''

Shortly afterward, Actors' Equity Association, which represents actors, also came out in support of the musicians. The last time the actors went on strike was in 1960. ''Our members made it clear that they do not wish to perform to virtual orchestras,'' said Patrick Quinn, president of the actors' union, in a statement. ''Our members also believe that live music is essential on Broadway and that minimums are appropriate and necessary.''

So the timeline was that the producers made a final absurd offer, and when it was rejected, they walked away from negotiations, knowing full well that the musicians would almost certainly strike - and they did. At which point the producers, yes indeed, planned on using the virtual orchestra...and that's when IATSE took a vote to honor the musicians' strike, and it was game over.

The producers did not expect IATSE to step in. AEA followed suit, because, well, they had to. The producers dodged a bullet, imo. Had  IATSE not held that vote, and the producers had gone forward with their karaoke machines, it would almost certainly have been a trainwreck, if the two shows I saw rehearsing the VO were any example. They couldn't even get through a single song without getting offtrack.

Theater-goers would have been demanding their money back long before Act 2 started.

[aces25]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 9:21am

Any update following yesterday’s meeting? 

[MimiChika]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 10:15am

aces25 said: "Any update following yesterday’s meeting?"

No official updates from Actors Equity. I’m sure we will hear something by mid day today. 
i guess no news is good news?

[Kad]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 11:33am

AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 12:04pm

Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

WOOHOO!!!

[Kimbo]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 2:02pm

ACL2006 said: "Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

WOOHOO!!!"

Yes good news. 
I still put the odds at 50-50 whether there’s a strike in the next week or two, because of Local 802, where the negotiations are not going quite as well. (Hey at least that’s better than when I woke up this morning, before the AEA news, when I would’ve put the odds at closer to 75%.)

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 3:29pm

Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

Is it a good deal? 

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 3:45pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

Is it a good deal?"

Details still forthcoming. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 3:58pm

ghostlight2 said: "The producers did not expect IATSE to step in. AEA followed suit, because, well, they had to. The producers dodged a bullet, imo. Had IATSE not held that vote, and the producers had gone forward with their karaoke machines, it would almost certainly have been a trainwreck, if the two shows I saw rehearsing the VO were any example. They couldn't even get through a single song without getting offtrack."

A late followup, possibly of interest to no one but you and me.

First, and TBC, the VO is not going to be a strategy in any current strike scenario. 

Second, based on what you quote, I do not believe that AEA expresses anything illegal. I believe the stagehands did, technically, but I also believe that it essentially became a non-issue because (a) I don't believe the VO was ever going to come to fruition (at least not at the League level) and (b) the strike was over almost before it started (and on a weekend when no legal action was going to happen in any event). [I think the smarter League members knew then what you know now about the notion of the VO, at least without SIGNIFICANT rehearsal that did not and could not happen. Furthermore, these same sages knew that it represented an existential threat from a marketing standpoint.]

Finally, should the musicians strike now (obviously only shows in which they have contracts), any action by the unaffiliated unions would be irrelevant because there would be no pretense of putting on a musical without music by producers.

=====

And long-term crystal ball thoughts:

1. I don't think we will ever see a VO proposed. IMO that ship has sailed (and done its best imitation of the plot of the 1997 best musical). 

2. Long term, I think the most controversial aspects of the 502 agreement will diminish and that fair arbitration will  become a much more significant aspect of the CBA.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 4:17pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

Is it a good deal?"

For whom? LOL

Also, just because I am curious, is it "in IG" or "on IG"? Luckily, IG's NY offices are in, not on, the former Wanamaker (later VNU) building at 770 Broadway that I suspect most of us now call the Wegman's building.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/18/25 at 8:35pm

HogansHero said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Kad said: "AEA just announced in IG that a tentative agreement was reached."

Is it a good deal?"

For whom? LOL

Also, just because I am curious, is it "in IG" or "on IG"? Luckily, IG's NY offices are in, not on, the former Wanamaker (later VNU) building at 770 Broadway that I suspect most of us now call the Wegman's building."

On IG. Instagram 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 10:48am

If a deal isn't reached by Thursday morning, Local 802 musicians are preparing to strike immediately.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:00am

More disgraceful behavior on part of the producers. 

Maybe the producers of Hamilton can offer some of the $50M they stole during Covid.  These people are the worst of the worst.  

[uncamark]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:08am

KKeller6 said: "More disgraceful behavior on part of the producers.

Maybe the producers of Hamilton can offer some of the $50M they stole during Covid. These people are the worst of the worst."

How did they "steal it" and who from? Documented proof, please.

[Observation]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:17am

ChairinMain said: "So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage - Would that be shuttered as well?"

Following up on this query I didn't see an answer to. If musician's strike, will that affect "Oh,Mary!" 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:31am

Would this affect Rob Lake's magic show, if a musicians' strike were to last long enough and even if Equity decides to strike in solidarity?

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 11:31 AM

[KKeller6]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:38am

No problem, my friend!

 

How ‘Hamilton’ Got $30 Million in Federal Aid - The New York Times https://share.google/xGhqDHdWIFR7AytDY

 

This system was put in place for keeping businesses going.  As we know, the show did not pay stagehands, musicians, actors, wardrobe, box office,etc. They kept a small office open to claim they were keeping their business open.  Disgraceful.  Outright theft!

 

 

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 11:38 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:42am

...that article entirely undercuts what you're claiming by breaking down what that money went to.

Updated On: 10/21/25 at 11:42 AM

[auroraspice62]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 11:59am

Observation said: "ChairinMain said: "So hypothetically lets say the musicians but not AEA goes on strike. Musicals are effected (except Ragtime), most plays are uneffected. "Oh Mary" features an actor who plays piano onstage - Would that be shuttered as well?"

Following up on this query I didn't see an answer to. If musician's strike, will that affect "Oh,Mary!""

The press release lists the shows that will be affected.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/21/25 at 12:08pm

KKeller6 said: "No problem, my man!

How ‘Hamilton’ Got $30 Million in Federal Aid - The New York Times https://share.google/xGhqDHdWIFR7AytDY

This system was put in place for keeping businesses going. As we know, the show did not pay stagehands, musicians, actors, wardrobe, box office,etc. They kept a small office open to claim they were keeping their business open. Disgraceful. Outright theft!

"Seller said that none of the money would go to the show’s producers (including him) or its investors, and none would be used as royalties for artists (including the show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda).

Instead, he said, the money will be used to remount the shuttered productions, and to reimburse the productions for pandemic-related expenses.

The reopening expenses are varied — a month of rehearsals to get actors, musicians, stagehands and others ready to perform again, as well as longer workshops for new cast members. Plus there are the costs of repairing and replacing equipment, transporting people and sets, hiring Covid safety personnel, and marketing the shows.

And the pandemic expenses, incurred throughout the shutdown, included financial assistance, health insurance coverage, and, in some cases, housing aid for those who had been employed by the productions at the time of the shutdown. Seller said “Hamilton” had continued to pay health insurance costs for all former employees throughout the pandemic, and had made emergency cash grants as well.

There were more mundane expenses as well, including $784,000 in rent for the show’s Broadway theater (yes, Broadway landlords continued to seek rent from producers during the pandemic), as well as warehouse storage for costumes, and flights for cast and crew who needed to get home when the touring stopped.

“‘Hamilton’ has spent many millions of dollars during a time in which it was earning no income,” Seller said. “Our goal is for ‘Hamilton’ to be in the same financial position it was in when we suspended operations on March 12, 2020.”"



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