Which Unions Represent Broadway Folks?

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:26am

I was wondering - what are the unions involved in a production at a typical for-profit Broadway house?

  - Actors are, of course, represented by Actors Equity
  - Crew are IATSE (and I assume costumes, hair, and other crafts)
  - Musicians are AFM?
  - Front of house are IATSE?
  - Stage Managers (and staff) - are they IATSE?

How about the creatives? I believe that the Writer's Guild is not a union per-se but acts as a voice of the members. Is the Director's Guild the same?

Am I missing any other major unions or guilds?  Is it different for non-profits? How about off-broadway?

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 01:26 AM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:56am

Stage managers are apart of AEA

[Tag]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 2:09am

Not a comprehensive list but here are some:

Actors and Stage Managers: AEA
Playwrights: Dramatists Guild
Designers: IATSE Local USA 829
Musicians: AFM Local 802
Stagehands: IATSE Local One
Wardrobe and Child Chaperones: IATSE Local 764
Hair & Make-up: IATSE Local 798
Theater Ushers: IATSE Local 306
Ticket Sellers: IATSE Local 751

 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 2:40am

Thanks!

[Neusimone]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 3:39am

Wondering why you asked this question? 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 7:23am

From Saturday's NYDN:

https://www.google.com/amp/www.nydailynews.com/amp/new-york/workers-broadway-hum-deserve-standing-ovation-article-1.3009354

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 8:19am

A few more: custodians, non-box office (e.g., telecharge) ticket sellers, operating engineers (HVAC) [not IATSE], directors and choreographers [SDC], press agents and company and house managers,  

Some of these are contracted with landlords whereas others are of course with the production though the production is on the hook for it all.. 

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:44am

And I can speak from personal experience that 829 is a total waste of time and money. It used to have standards that had to be met for membership — now, just write them a cheque (a rather substantial one, at that), and you're in.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 9:47am

SeanMartin said: "And I can speak from personal experience that 829 is a total waste of time and money. It used to have standards that had to be met for membership — now, just write them a cheque (a rather substantial one, at that), and you're in."

You seem to misapprehend the purpose of the union. It is not a guild. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 11:21am

And nobody mentions the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society? Without them and the Dramatists Guild, none of these other people would be employed, but okay.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 11:24am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "And nobody mentions the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society? Without them and the Dramatists Guild, none of these other people would be employed, but okay.

 

"

HogansHeros mentioned them three posts up. 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 11:29am

To further HogansHero's statement above, Press Agents, House Managers, and Company Managers are with ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers - which is technically IATSE Local 18032 since 1994). They are the only ones I caught in the article that didn't have their union mentioned.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:49pm

It sounds like concessions and merch table employees are the only non-union people in theaters? 

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:54pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most/all of concessions contracted through outside concession companies, who provide their own employees? I know that the Jujamcyns and a lot of the nonprofits (MTC, Lincoln Center, Roundabout) use Sweet, which I worked for ages ago.

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 12:54 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 12:59pm

I believe that's true, yes. Merch and concessions are handled by outside companies with their own employees. I can't think of a Broadway theatre that uses in-house people for those things.

Updated On: 3/29/17 at 12:59 PM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:25pm

Kad said: "I believe that's true, yes. Merch and concessions are handled by outside companies with their own employees. I can't think of a Broadway theatre that uses in-house people for those things."

I can't speak for concessions, but the Merch folks for Disney shows are technically Disney Cast Members. I imagine the same goes for concessions, but I can't say for certain. 

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:29pm

Disney uses Sweet for concessions.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 1:43pm

HogansHero said: "SeanMartin said: "And I can speak from personal experience that 829 is a total waste of time and money. It used to have standards that had to be met for membership — now, just write them a cheque (a rather substantial one, at that), and you're in."

You seem to misapprehend the purpose of the union. It is not a guild. "

Thanks for completely missing the point. Time was getting into 829 was one of the hardest of memberships to get, because they had pretty high standards for designers. 

Now, they'll tale just anyone, and taking anyone's money is about all they do.

I dont think I "misapprehended" anything, thanks.

 

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 2:13pm

TAG, designers are represented by USA 829.  (United Scenic Artists).

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 2:18pm

SeanMartin said: "Thanks for completely missing the point. Time was getting into 829 was one of the hardest of memberships to get, because they had pretty high standards for designers. 

Now, they'll tale just anyone, and taking anyone's money is about all they do.

I dont think I "misapprehended" anything, thanks."

You've now said the same thing twice, but that doesn't make it any more correct. As I said, USA is a union, not a guild. The former admits people who an employer wishes to hire within the union's jurisdiction; the latter requires training, apprenticeship etc. USA is just like AEA, SDC, etc. Typically, the guild is something you find in the trades where there is typically no college or conservatory training. I don't have a clue what's at the root of your animosity but it is manifest. That's fine, but it does not excuse your misapprehension of USA's purpose.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 2:57pm

trpguyy said: "Kad said: "I believe that's true, yes. Merch and concessions are handled by outside companies with their own employees. I can't think of a Broadway theatre that uses in-house people for those things."

I can't speak for concessions, but the Merch folks for Disney shows are technically Disney Cast Members. I imagine the same goes for concessions, but I can't say for certain. "

 

Correct. Disney is the only producing entity that handles merchandise in-house for theatrical presentations. All others are handled by a third party (Creative Goods, Araca Group, Marquee Merchandise, etc.)

[sparkledust]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 3:13pm

SeanMartin said: "And I can speak from personal experience that 829 is a total waste of time and money. It used to have standards that had to be met for membership — now, just write them a cheque (a rather substantial one, at that), and you're in."

OK, so you clearly have a chip on your shoulder, and judging by your use of "cheque" you're either British or Canadian.  I don't understand why British and Canadian designers have such a big problem with USA829 - because you're not the first to completely misunderstand the goals of the organization (and please spare me the "to hold the craft up to a high level" BS answer).

Yes, 829 has a provision where you can buy your card, but its intentionally very high so that it's the decision of last resort (or emergency).  The scenic painting is still apprentice based, and people get denied their cards in the portfolio review / exam  (in the NY region at least) all the damn time.

Secondly, the more member 829 has, the stronger it is.  The more people telling companies that the contract must be a union contract, the stronger the union is.  The more members there are, the more exposure people have to dealing with union details and the easier it is to get a union contract.

Do you want to know what 829 union offers designers?  How about security and the legal strength to be paid if a producer is shady.  Healthcare contributions.  Pension.  A scale fee so that designers don't get screwed.

I also have personal experience with 829 and I think that you don't know what you're talking about anymore - your points, while maybe valid 10 years ago, come across as sour grapes.

[DJBJ]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 8:11pm

^ Pretty much everything sparkledust said. 

[Taryn]

Posted: 3/29/17 at 10:39pm

Theatrical marketing is also one of the few big Broadway areas that's not unionized.

[cb2addict2]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 12:09am

Actors that play instruments are represented by AEA and Local 802. I figured some might not be aware of the latter union.