Article on Broadway's Child Wranglers or Guardians

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 7:33am

I found this article fascinating and am glad someone took the time to write about how shows deal with all those kids backstage. After seeing MATILDA three times it has really captured my imagination and I do wonder if I would enjoy working with those super cute super talented kids. I am a librarian and work with kids the exact same age as the kids in MATILDA but I don't know for sure whether that would make me a good child wrangler or guardian. Is this considered a good job?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 7:40am

What article? A link is always helpful.

However:
A good job? In what way? Prestige? Money? Security?

It's a babysitter, but backstage.

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 8:02am

The link:

http://wp.tdf.org/index.php/2013/01/broadway-child-actor-guardian-matilda/

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 8:08am

Just like any job dealing with theater....you have no job security either. The closes, and you are out of work just like every other person attached to the show.


Again...it's babysitting.


Oh, and it's never a good idea to use your email address as your "name" here. You are just asking for spam galore. You may want to see if they can change it for you.

Updated On: 4/16/13 at 08:08 AM

[Belle9]

Posted: 4/16/13 at 8:29pm

I've always been interested in child wranglers. This is a cute video with an insightful article underneath.

http://dictionary.tdf.org/child-wrangler/

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 12:49am

I've heard the children can be wonderful to handle...but you also have to deal with the mothers who are backstage at the theater for all performances (child labor laws). Many of those mothers make Mama Rose look like Mother Teresa.

[Alan Henry]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 3:13am

bobs3, you are mistaken.

Don't know where you got your info, but aside from the first visit to the theatre, the mother/parents is not allowed backstage due to security, legal/equity, and insurance issues.

The parents deliver the child to the stage door where the wrangler takes them. The parents picks up the child at the door as well...

My youngest brother did some shows recently, and as far as I understand, it was the same policy at Billy Elliot, and is also at Annie and Matilda now. And once.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 6:03am

Bwayto is correct. Parents are not backstage. THAT'S why they are required to have a wrangler -- so that the parents aren't there.


Edited because I'm just that stupid.

Updated On: 4/17/13 at 06:03 AM

[Alan Henry]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 2:04pm

@dramamama611 You are mistaken. I wrote the same thing you wrote. I think you meant that bobs3 is wrong.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 2:10pm

Yes, you are right that I was wrong. And that you are right and Bob was wrong.

I think I meant to write that you were right....

Oy...I'm old and senile. I will fix.

[Tag]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 2:13pm

I think it's more like the parents aren't wanted backstage as opposed to "due to security, legal/equity, and insurance issues".

[Alan Henry]

Posted: 4/17/13 at 6:03pm

Legal and insurance are a big issue. Parents are not employees of the production and the children are, so the parents are not really covered under the insurance.

They wouldn't be covered as guests either as they would be spending too much time at the theatre for any insurance company to cover them without including them in the costs.

Also equity has some policies about backstage visits for the security of the cast/crew.