THE STAGE HANDS ARE BULLIES — Page 3

Strike! a legally wicked awakening!

---

Both sides are greedy & care not a whit about the average theatergoer.

Broadway is a crapshoot. How about a show like The Seafarer which may not even have a chance to open. Kind of like playing cards with someone who has 3 aces up his sleeve.

Some of the strikers today seemed to get tired just holding up their signs. Poor babies.

---

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 06:16 PM

Would you two p--kittens like some milk?

---

NJLUV-
Just a few corrections:
It's a "Load-in" not a "Move in"
Also, A flyman is required because all of the lighting instruments (among other things) are in the air above the stage. God forbid something goes wrong and the electrics need to come down and there is no one qualified in the theater to operate the Flies.



FlyingMonkey:
I think your comparison to the Supermarket industry shows your ignorance. The Producers hold all the cards in showbusiness. The ratio of labor to jobs is tipped heavily in favor of management, making Unions and the rights and protection thy procure protect, and provide so much more important (I am not implying that supermarket employees deserve less).
When you have a surplus of labor, and a lack of Jobs, it is easy for management to take advantage. When you eliminate unions, slowly but surely you will see things like healthcare, pension, and minimum salaries fall by the wayside. It then becomes a profession that ceases to be secure. Who wants that?

---

I would also like to point out that sometimes Producers suprise suprise do screw over the people working for them. Look at the musicians union - they have a similar agreement that a certain number of pit musicians must be paid for every musical, even if they don't need them. This is a good thing, as silly as it may sound. It prevents all the musicians from being replaced by synthesizers. And look at "Sweeney Todd" - as cool a premise as that was, all the pit musicians who would have worked were replaced by actors. It's not easy sustaining a career in any area of the arts. The stagehands in Broadway shows do unbelievable, and often dangerous work, and there are many reasons that I'm sure even we don't know of - unless your the Presidant of the Union as to why they are making these demands.

I greatly admire Broadway Producers. You're right - it is a very risky thing and I am so grateful to them. But there needs to be balance both ways. I'm sure neither side is completely blameless, but in general, stagehands are in a much worse position then the Broadway producers.

---

"Also, A flyman is required because all of the lighting instruments (among other things) are in the air above the stage. God forbid something goes wrong and the electrics need to come down and there is no one qualified in the theater to operate the Flies."

And God forbid any of the other stagehands be trained to be qualified to operate the flies. Instead they are all just trained to say my least favorite phrase in any industry "That's not my job."

"And God forbid any of the other stagehands be trained to be qualified to operate the flies. Instead they are all just trained to say my least favorite phrase in any industry "That's not my job."

Do you suppose the Producers would want to pay more for someone who is trained and qualified to do more than one job?

---

"I do have a working knowledge of backstage. I was a stage manager for 15 years."

And I can see why you no longer are. You should know that just because a production does not have flying scenery doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't require a flyman.

---

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 06:52 PM

"because I wanted to make a steady salary with company paid benefits and regular normal work schedules, rather than having to always look for work every time a show closes."

And a sigh of relief was heard in theatres throughout the land.

---

I was using the grocery store as an example of a union I am familiar with, among some other unions. Wasn't really comparing them. It seems like the bottom line is people are just spoiled. I work for a great company, get treated decently (of course I'd like better pay but who wouldnt!), pay very little for really good health coverage, get all sorts of job related perks, and have 401k. I am non-union and am covered labor wise under my states law. I see little room for a union at my job. I do dangerous things at my job too, things that are not good for my body at all. I have health coverage for that, and there is workers compensation if anything happens to me on the job. I'm sorry if I come off ingorant, but I just feel like the stagehands are being brats.

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 07:00 PM

Cooperross-The reasons you just stated for leaving the industry is exactly the reason unions exist!

---

"I bet they'd prefer to pay extra (which would be fair and make sense) to someone who had both qualifications then pay an extra person a full wage plus benefits to sit on their ass all week long."


The problem with this is that they need someone to man every aspect because in the event of catastrophic failure of multiple systems who is going to handle 2 seperate failing systems when you've got only 1 person around qualified to handle both?

Severe bodily harm and even death can occur if certain backstage systems/equipment fail, qualified individuals are needed to man EVERY ASPECT to prevent and react to these possible failures.


or i suppose the producers could just graveyard the backstage and pay insurance fees so high it'll make the money they pay that "useless" flyman look like pocket change.

Let's combine all the jobs then! The Ushers probably could be trained to run the sound board. Once the show starts they don't have much to do. The Drummer could play harmonica with one of those neck thingys. Or he could play the trumpet like in "Waiting for Guffman"! Actors could move scenery when they aren't in the scene. Think of all the money they could save!

---

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 07:10 PM