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@ActorsEquity @sagaftra @IATSE
Like many, I’ve been unemployed due to the pandemic.
I understand the urge, desire, need to do something to effect positively on future employment options. In live-entertainment we are programed to ‘pivot’ when a job falls through.
Like many, I’ve been unemployed due to the pandemic.
I understand the urge, desire, need to do something to effect positively on future employment options. In live-entertainment we are programed to ‘pivot’ when a job falls through.
But what to do when you look around and all the work is gone….
Theatres, by necessity turned to streaming what they had on hand, or doing zoom-readings of shows near to term, or revivals, etc.
@sagaftra saw this as an invasion.
Theatres, by necessity turned to streaming what they had on hand, or doing zoom-readings of shows near to term, or revivals, etc.
@sagaftra saw this as an invasion.
@ActorsEquity saw this as working with its producer-partners to keep the lights on.
Things escalated quickly.
Members, with no power over their own destiny took to social media to posit possible solutions: make stage managers @IATSE, merge unions, anything, just let us work!
Things escalated quickly.
Members, with no power over their own destiny took to social media to posit possible solutions: make stage managers @IATSE, merge unions, anything, just let us work!
Let us pause here.
The urge to take control over your destiny is strong. If I could wish myself into work, I would have already done it over the last 230+ days. But one cannot make any BIG decisions about union work relationships until we understand what the ‘after’ looks like.
The urge to take control over your destiny is strong. If I could wish myself into work, I would have already done it over the last 230+ days. But one cannot make any BIG decisions about union work relationships until we understand what the ‘after’ looks like.
A metaphor to explain what I mean:
Your home is in a hurricane or wildfire. You are sheltering in your home. As the winds howl and the fire rages tearing apart your house, it’s NOT advisable to start rebuilding the house while the hurricane and wildfire are still taking place.
Your home is in a hurricane or wildfire. You are sheltering in your home. As the winds howl and the fire rages tearing apart your house, it’s NOT advisable to start rebuilding the house while the hurricane and wildfire are still taking place.
The rain needs to stop or the fire needs to be put out. In our very real case, the pandemic needs to be quashed. Then, after, when we are able to gather can we discuss what needs to be done. To do otherwise is negotiating against our own interests. To do otherwise is unwise.
Do you know what it's like as a Stage Manager, whose job includes maintaining a safe-space for actors to do their work, only to see comments like, “Stage Managers should become IATSE.” Or “They’ll come around to this idea.”?
^Do you see what is wrong with these statements?^
^Do you see what is wrong with these statements?^
Are these in the voice of a Stage Manager advocating for themselves and their job description? Or are these the voice of actors projecting an easy solution upon the problem? A solution, which in the end is not in THEIR best interest, nor the interest of the stage managers.
I advise, that should anyone entertain the idea of developing, conversing about a plan prior to the pandemic receding, that they INCLUDE the Stage Managers.
It’s in everyone’s interest to do so.
- A Stage Manager
It’s in everyone’s interest to do so.
- A Stage Manager
