Predictions for the end of the strike?- Page 2

[winston89]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 11:51pm

I agree with BrianS,

I do think that the major problem is that it is all new producers who are not sure what to do in this situation.

I wonder how many bogus court cases the producers are going to start before they cave. The Nederlanders started one with the stagehands striking their theatres and then there was the one for the grinch. Both of those even before the court dates started were clear that neither of them held water at all.

I think that the producers are throwing court case after court case at the union is because they are desperate and don't want to cave. Yet, they want to make it seem like they know what they are doing and they are not going to back down.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 11:54pm

^Agreed.^ Now it just seems like the producers are pulling all the stops out and clawing at anything that'll buy them time. If the rumors can be believed, the only person left to break is that one union boss. If you ask me, one more meeting and it's all over.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:12am

hopefully, with this weekend's negotiations...

Are they even GOING to?!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:25am

Tearing every hair off Josh's chest till he calms down.

With the new Law suits it shows there is a breaking in the producer's strength.
I think they may talk this weekend and it may get resolved, but who knows?
There are a lot of unhappy people not working and not getting a paycheck.
Be strong all!
Updated On: 11/23/07 at 12:25 AM

[tazber]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:25am

If it ends before x-mas I will be very surprised. The producers don't care about public sentiment, and neither side is willing to budge from what I hear.

[appleric]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:25am

If it goes a couple of weeks into December, I could see it lasting through February, because those months are so slow anyhow. It could get uglier before it gets better. (and the writers strike is going to go for 6-9 months easy.)

[roadmixer]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:39am

Correct me if I'm wrong but there are no plans to meet this weekend at the moment... Didn't the producers shun the union's request to meet stating that "unless you are going to make a deal, we are through talking" or something to that effect. The meaning seems to be come to us with your hat in hand ready to accept our demands or don't come at all. I would love to hear otherwise however.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 1:14am

Yes, I too got that impression with the Leagues' memo in regards to the upcomming talks. And yes I think that the League cancled the talks for this weekend.


But, It is clear that the producers are going to cave in here at any moment. The qustion is when. It is clear that they are using all of these court cases as a way to ave thier asses in the short term. But, how much longer can thy go on.


I agree with the fact that the new class of broadway producers are younger and not sure of what to do in this situation. ido think that they don't want to admit to a loss and they don't want to cave in which is why they are using the courts as a way to help themselves out. But, that is just me.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 1:21am

Looking at it that way, the producers cancelling the meeting makes perfect sense. No way the Nederlanders' case is gonna hold up in court. No way the producers don't know that. The producers aren't long for the cause, if you ask me.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 1:48am

How did CurtainPullDowner know my chest was HAIRY?!

WHOOPS! I let it out!

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 10:54am

I predict the strike will end long before Josh actually deletes his account or leaves like he keeps threatening to.

[bugmenot]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 11:12am

> I agree with the fact that the new class of broadway
> producers are younger and not sure of what to do in this
> situation.

I wish that were the case, but the people who are behind this, from all reports, are people who have been around for a long, long time, like Paul Libin, Herschel Waxman, Phil Smith, Alan Williams, Alecia Parker, Richard Frankel, etc. I fear their goal is to show the unions "who is in charge" at any cost. I'm not bullish on this ending any time soon. I hope it does, but right now I just don't see it.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 11:50am

I get a kick out of the phrase "new class of Broadway producers"! Do they line up in caps and gowns, parade in alphabetically, and get awarded a bankroll?

[Glitter and be Gay]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 11:53am

I think the Nederlanders are the weak link in the League because they house both The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. They must be under enormous pressure from Disney to settle this strike. It would be ironic if Mickey saved Broadway.

[dented146]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 12:45pm

bugmenot is correct. But to assume that the wealthy and powerful producers don't love Broadway and feel a part of it's history would be a mistake.

They have dropped the ball in many areas. They clearly feel that certain union rules take advantage of their deep pockets and at the same time probably don't want to acknowledge that they also have many tax and expense breaks not available to the salaried employees.

Few started out as producers and the them vs us attitude is an oversimplification of everyones motives.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 1:00pm

I agree with others that Disney is key right now.

I have a question, though, for people saying it could be resolved this weekend...are there talks even scheduled? To my knowledge, at least publicly, the League has stated they weren't talking until they felt the Union was ready to make a deal. Has something changed? Is there some backroom dealings taking place right now?

[winston89]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 2:43pm

No.

There are not any deals at all. No secret meetings no nothing. The producers are scared and they feel that if they were to have met with the union as per schedule then they would loose. Keep in mind the fact that there was a meeting scheduled for this weekend which the league cancled. That doesn't look good at all on the league's part. That and the court cases clearly make it look as if they are just depsperate clinging to something for survival.

[mr.scribble]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 2:48pm

I predict the strike will not end for a while but won't go on too, too long I think it will probably end in April or May but hopefully it won't effect new shows like Cry-Baby or In the Heights. Is it or is it uncertain?

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:38pm

It won't go as long as May. Nobody, not even the League, is that stubborn. Plus, do you think they want to deal with the actors and the stagehands at the same time? And Winston, if you're right, then it's only a question of how long they're willing to hold out. They cancelled that meeting because they're afraid of defeat. Well, by cancelling they're only screwing themselves because they're gonna lose more money. Eventually they're gonna have to suck it up, admit a loss, and let Broadway go on.

[billynj]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:53pm

I say by this Tuesday, otherwise Feb. 08

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:55pm

All I can say is this better not screw up Gypsy.

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:56pm

FIRE ALL THE DAMN STAGEHANDS!!!! I BOOO'd them as I walked by today!

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:58pm

Did they booo back?

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 3:59pm

No!

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 4:00pm

Winston89 is right. The strike will go on for months and months and months, and soon enough Broadway will die a painful death.