Stage-Hand Strike Looming
The New York Times reports that members of Local One, the Broadway Stage-Hands Union, voted unanimously to authorize a strike in December if negotiations with the League of American Theaters and Producers producers don’t meet their demands. The issue is number of stagehands working on a show, as well as tasks they are required to perform. The League wants to relax restrictions, which would mean that there will be a whole lot of room for directors and stage managers to reduce numbers of stagehands, overwork the ones they have, and give them tasks that maybe they don’t usually perform.
Of course, December is the target month for the possible srike, because that time of year is prime tourist season. But, a strike would be a terrible thing for the Broadway people who would be out of work, and I hope there is a settlement for that reason. I don’t feel bad for the tourism and hotel people. EVEN IF Broadway goes dark, the tourists will still come– for the shopping and everything else NYC has to offer at holiday season, and every other season throughout the year. The difference will be that the greedy hotels in the Theater District, may not be able to double or triple their room rates
I visit for two weeks every Christmas in Manhattan with my adult son. We do not stay in the theater district but we do go to 5 or 7 plays each visit. We book in advance. We support the actors, stage hands, and everyone else involved in the art of theater with very hard earned cash. We don’t go shop or see the Wax Museum. We just love the city, Central Park and the theater. But indeed, we are tourists, for which you have no sympathy.
This is actually an oversimplification and mischaracterization of the issues at dispute. You should be a bit more careful when summarizing a complex issue like this. Saying that "directors and stage managers" would be able overwork the stagehands is blatantly inaccurate.
Lady,
As a working professional in the theatre, I am very sensitive to the needs of our out of town visitors. I recall the sad days immediate after 9/11 when the smoke was still hanging in the air and Times Square was empty. I don’t ever want to see that again. Our industry relies on people just like you.
As Fern stated, the dispute revolves around work rules. There is a new sensibility in the ranks of the corporate producers that does not recognize that there is a century worth of give and take in the contracts. We have work rules because there was a need for them at one point and to try to prevent the negative situation from arising again. So what Fern was saying about assignments and overwork is true. We are people that still believe that the show must go on and are committed to that lifestyle. Eight shows a week, six days a week, weekends and holidays. We care as much about the quality of the final product as anyone in the business. Which is why we supported the musicians in their dispute about a minimum number of chairs. I recently a high school performance of "West Side Story" that had 50 pieces in the orchestra. The sound was so sweet and lush. You won’t get that with syntheizers.
My advice to the Producers is that if they want to reduce their risk on shows, pick better shows to produce. It takes a refined eye to read a script and recognize quality. The Investors need to develop one or they will keep being at the mercy of chance.
Lady, keep coming back to NYC, enjoy all the shows all over the city and enjoy yourself.I depend on you.
Lady,
As a working professional in the theatre, I am very sensitive to the needs of our out of town visitors. I recall the sad days immediate after 9/11 when the smoke was still hanging in the air and Times Square was empty. I don’t ever want to see that again. Our industry relies on people just like you.
As Fern stated, the dispute revolves around work rules. There is a new sensibility in the ranks of the corporate producers that does not recognize that there is a century worth of give and take in the contracts. We have work rules because there was a need for them at one point and to try to prevent the negative situation from arising again. So what Fern was saying about assignments and overwork is true. We are people that still believe that the show must go on and are committed to that lifestyle. Eight shows a week, six days a week, weekends and holidays. We care as much about the quality of the final product as anyone in the business. Which is why we supported the musicians in their dispute about a minimum number of chairs. I recently a high school performance of "West Side Story" that had 50 pieces in the orchestra. The sound was so sweet and lush. You won’t get that with syntheizers.
My advice to the Producers is that if they want to reduce their risk on shows, pick better shows to produce. It takes a refined eye to read a script and recognize quality. The Investors need to develop one or they will keep being at the mercy of chance.
Lady, keep coming back to NYC, enjoy all the shows all over the city and enjoy yourself.I depend on you.
We came to your great city to see a show……My husband surprised me with tickets to the Grease show on Valentines Day 2007. Our youngest child was born in October 2006 so we purchased our Broadway show tickets for November 2007. We arranged for my parents to watch our three children for the weekend, we booked our flights from Cleveland, Ohio to the Newark airport and we booked our hotel right in the theatre district. After an exhausting two days of packing the kids gear and taking them to their Grandparents, my husband and I were ready for our first trip to NYC and a much needed couples weekend away!! All was perfect until the cab ride into the city when we heard that most Broadway shows were cancelled. We kept our hopes high that the strike would be resolved but it didn’t happen.
We made the best of the weekend. We had a great time in the city but we are bummed about the show. We will not make it back into the city. The airfare, the shoebox size hotel room and the food is too much expense for a one income family to do once, we surely won’t be able to afford to do it again. Plus I don’t think I could find anyone to watch our three kids for another weekend!
We did enjoy our bus tour, a comedy club, many great resteraunts, Central Park and the many great shops. Thanks for sharing your city with us.
I have tickets for "Wicked" for the 2:00 performance on December 15. Will the stagehand strike have any effect on the performance? Will refunds be available"
I have tickets for "Wicked" for the 2:00 performance on December 15. Will the stagehand strike have any effect on the performance? Will refunds be available"