Anonymous Stagehand

Ok, real talk guys. I’m cross. I’m very, very, cross. The last few months in this industry have been extremely troubling to me. So much so that I have actually been found myself lying awake thinking about it.

These commercial breaks are like the the theater equivalent of a media time out. #jesuschristsuperstarlive

.@bmunroe Yes, you hit a nerve. Stagehands are applying for food stamps while working on the developmental productions of Broadway shows, and all you care about is that we use correct grammar. How about you acknowledge their plight and then explain how we made a typo.

Furthermore, you probably didn't even notice because science tells us that you can fill in the gaps on your own and correct other people's mistakes. Yay science!

Also, I forgot to put, "to the," before, "the best of our ability," I just said it out loud while typing and the grammar checker didn't tell me that I forgot to actually type it. One more reason that no matter how good computers/machines are, they'll never replace humans.

Also, I'm sorry I capitalized the, "i," in it's. That's completely on me.

But we know that while we didn't look pedantic by spelling the word wrong, the message we were all trying to convey wasn't lost because of one word. We are, however, happy to report that, the best of our unit's combined knowledge, we did use the words, "it," and, "if," correctly.

Even though, now that we think of it, paying a critical employe $11/hr and an employe who doesn't even know that person's name $250k a year is a sad parody of equal pay.

After checking in with all involved in Saturday's posts, we, the humans and maybe the software programmed by humans (they didn't answer when I asked them), are deeply sorry that we have made stagehands look unprofessional with our lack of grammar and spelling.

So, It's been brought to my attention, that I may have used the word, "parody," instead of the word, "parity," on Saturday. I'm sorry for using this homonym. My iDroid, office computer, home computer, multiple grammar checkers and proof-reading husband/coworkers didn't catch it.

Can someone tell me what, "salaried with the potential to earn overtime per week," means. Asking for a friend.

Also, I have a lot more to say so... See you space cowboy...

Also, if you want to know the financials for a non-profit you are interested in working at, currently work at, or used to work at go look on ProPublica or Guidestar. It's mostly public record and I'm sure it'll be eye-opening and helpful for you when negotiating your compensation

I forgot to mention this yesterday but, this is all my sole opinion. If you have an opinion feel free to share it. If you disagree with me, tell me. If you want to try and change my mind say something.

Also @stagelight17, nobody should work 7 hours straight regardless of what time it is. That TD was unsafe and probably should never been hired for the job but probably met that company's pay requirement.

It’s honestly a vicious cycle for all involved and yet still another example of production personnel being taken advantage of from the people at the top.

Also, because everyone talks in this business, if a local does happen to get a contract at a theater that pays lower wages, the higher paying theaters are more than likely going to come at them to reduce their wages.

And honestly, they’re right. people who are conditioned to receiving living and adequate wages don’t want to go to the new little theater that is paying sub-par wage.

They’ll say, “If the [currently] non-union theater pays $10/hour but the big IA theater a block away pays the same position $20/hr, how do you expect us to get [our] members to work there?”

There’s also a hard truth here and it’s that lots of IATSE locals, and possibly the IA itself, aren’t interested in pursuing small theaters because it’s a fight to get rates that will make current members want to work there.

But here’s a truth, no union that’s worth their weight in salt is going to go in and negotiates a company into bankruptcy. That doesn’t help the union, it doesn’t help the company, and it sure as hell doesn’t help the employe.