actors during strike

[alex2155]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:15am

What do the performers in all of the shows affected do during the strike?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:17am

Hang-out at each other's apartments, drink beer and get high.

Well...at least most do (from what I've been told).

Dancers especially LOVE their booze and ciggies.

[alex2155]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:21am

haha ok well thats kind of what I figured. I just didn't know if they had to some sort of responsibility or something. But I kind of figured they just have off to do whatever.

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:26am

are actors still payed if they're not working because of the strike? maybe a stupid question... but what is the AE ruling on this? is there one?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 11:32am

No the actors are not paid. Equity has instructed its members to show up and sign-in at their respective theaters and encouraged their members to join the picket line in solidarity with the stagehands against the League.

[henryt]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:42pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that if the actors cross the picket line and "perform"(sit in their dressing rooms and do nothing for 3 hours), they still have to be paid, but if they honor the picket line, they don't get paid.

[BwayInsider]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 12:53pm

The fact that the actors are standing by the stage hands is pathetic. The stage hands would never, i repeat, never stand behind the actors!

[bardolator]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 1:02pm

^^^ But if you believe something is right, shouldn't you do it because it's right, not because you think it will be reciprocated?

[Switz78]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 1:03pm

Updated On: 11/13/07 at 01:03 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 1:03pm

Well, Equity would never authorize their members to cross this picket line, so the point is moot.

I do believe that by signing in for each performance, the actors are eligible for strike pay from the union, which is basically similar to unemployment. Not sure how much that is exactly, but probably not more than a few hundred dollars a week (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). I know regular unemployment pay from NY State caps at a little over $400.

[outovfashion07]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 2:24pm

Yeah, whatever they are paid it's not that great (not that their regular salary is). I have a friend who is semi freaking out because she just moved up there and was just starting a show when this happened.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 2:31pm

If it is a locked out show she should be able to get unemployment. Hopefully it won't last too long but she should also look for temp work to back her up, just in case.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 3:40pm

We had a cocktail mixer of a strike outside Curtains :)

[MovieGuy1031]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 3:41pm

Hahaha - ShbrtAlley, you make my day.

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 3:46pm

Patrick Page was practically sitting on the sidewalk signing The Grinch Playbills for a crowd of tiny tiny children when I walked by there earlier today, it was possibly the most adorable thing ever.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:16pm

Bway insider, Although as an actor I support the Stage hands in this present struggle, I somewhat agree with your statement. During Equity's last round of negotiations with the league over the production contract talks were breaking down over the non-eq touring issue. My thought at the time (and still is) was that key to getting back the road was to get IATSE to fully stand behind Equity by telling the producers that they will not work non-eq tours. That would virtually eliminate Non-union productions from playing the major markets around the country.
Since Equity is honoring its Brothers and Sisters in IATSE I think that IATSE should do the same on a national level.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:29pm

It's a great idea for actors/singers/dancers to be hanging out outside picketing in this weather. Fabulous. This just gets better and better.

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:47pm

But it would probably be okay if they were on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Or, performing in Herald Square, in this weather?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:50pm

Did I say it was? Not really a comparison anyway as the parade is a one time thing. This could go on for many days and weeks.

Updated On: 11/10/07 at 04:50 PM

[JustAGuy]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 4:55pm

And they could opt not to participate in the picket lines, if they felt that it would somehow endanger their health. No one is forcing them to participate in picketing.

[brainlessorwise]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:30pm

I walked by several of the picket lines and didn't see any actors out there. I was surprised at how few picketers there were at certain shows. The Seafarer was empty and I mean ghost town empty. Cyrano had like 4 people. The most I saw were in Times Square outside of the Marquis. I heard alot of tourists complaining. Other than that, it wasn't really all that impressive to be honest. I guess I thought there would be throngs of people out there.

[Tchi4Lif188]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:47pm

^I actually saw a large group of cast members outside of Curtains, Grease, and Legally Blonde earlier today, but didn't notice anything much going on around other theatres I passed.

[Clayford27]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 6:59pm

^^ Yeah, I walked past Curtains earlier and saw some cast members too.

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 7:12pm

Cast members at Spring Awakening as well. They were even talking about maybe getting some instruments and playing some songs outside of the theatre.
Updated On: 11/10/07 at 07:12 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/10/07 at 7:27pm

They were even talking about maybe getting some instruments and playing some songs outside of the theatre.

The Chicago musicians were playing "All That Jazz" on their line as I was walking by.