STRIKE TOMORROW — Page 5

Trust me, I'm prepared. I have taken "personal items I can't live without" from my dressing room for the last 4 nights. My union has already told me to show up for work, sign in and honor the picket line. I have no delusions this isn't "real"...but it's not "official" and several people here have MISTAKENLY said it is. That's all.

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Thanks, Taz. I guess that's the real point here. We can all be as bitchy and "in the know" as we want to be but it's still a REAL issue that will affect thousands of lives. Whether it's actors, stagehands, stage managers, wardrobe, hair & makeup, ushers, merchandise sellers, bartenders and even all the folks at the businesses around the Broadway houses. There are MANY people that will be affected by a strike. We should all hope it's quick (pray a miracle happens and it is canceled?) and that it is settled soon.

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It will probably not go more than a couple of days or a week (just enough leverage)...the producers can lose only so much dough, then, there will be a settlement, just like the musicians' strike of a couple of years ago. The League is very stubborn.

I know we all hope you're right Tinymagic.

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"Charlotte St. Martin just replied to my email. What a lovely person! *rolls eyes*. I wasn't even rude in my email."

Out of curiousity, neddyfrank2, precisely what did you say in your email?

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 05:11 AM

and they detest you too.


but its good to see you finally admit that you're the enemy

I'm not the enemy..I work a boring middle-class job but at least I'm not dependent on production schedules and being held hostage by greedy union bosses and overpaid higher echelon members of the unions.

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as opposed to there being no unions and writers being at the mercy of greedy production companies and upper echelon members of the producing class.

it worked very well for a very long time..it was called the studio system..and writers were under contract to the studios and paid weekly salaries, as were actors, designers, etc.

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As usual, Riedel has nothing new to say. Everything in his article can already be found here!
I do like how he says "Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg said it was not the city's business to settle the dispute." However in the letter Local One is putting out they say "Local One found out about the producers' latest moves when Mayor Michael Bloomberg called James J. Claffey, Jr., President of Local One, to offer his help, which the union respectfully declined. Nobody at the League of American Theatres and Producers had the courtesy to call the Local One President."

Liverpool...no, in order to sign in stage management or an Equity rep would be at the stage door with a sign in sheet. You would NOT need to enter the building to sign in and be ready to work.

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Updated On: 11/10/07 at 05:26 AM

Are you advocating a return to the studio system, cooperross?

I don't know if the union is justified in this particular action, but that would seem...uhm...regressive.

No not at all. i'm all for people making money. I just like people who make money without attempting to hold down others to do so. But you and your philistine pals wouldn't have any experience with that would you?

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 05:37 AM

"actually I have much experience with that, considering I spent 15 years as a theatrical stage manager.

but there came a time when I decided it was a good thing to not have to sleep on friends couches or in my car and regular meals actually were healthy. And it was also nice to be able to have health insurance and to be able to save for my golden years."

If you had been a UNION stage manager, you would have been paid a reasonable salary with health benefits and a pension fund. So, you wouldn't have had to depend upon the kindness of your friends for a place to sleep. Nor worry about your health insurance and pension. That is, if you were actually able to get a Union job.

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Updated On: 11/10/07 at 09:42 AM