Plenty Of Nothing!
Plenty Of Nothing!I'm about ready to give up on bringing my hard-earned dollars to Broadway.
Twelve hours after negotiations between The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) began again this morning -- and 13 additional hours after yesterday's long marathon session -- all we in the audience are getting is bupkus.
According to Linda Winer at Newsday:
Talks broke down between the stagehands and the producers Sunday night, leaving 27 Broadway shows dark at the start of the Thanksgiving week.
According to a representative for Local One, the League of American Theatres and Producers informed the union around 9:30 p.m. that its offers "were not enough. The producers left the building."
Additionally, The League has just issued the following statement:
We are profoundly disappointed to have to tell you that talks broke off with Local One, IATSE tonight, and that no further negotiations are scheduled.
We presented a comprehensive proposal that responded to the union’s concerns about loss of jobs and earnings and attempted to address our need for some flexibilities in running our business. The union rejected our effort to compromise and continues to require us to hire more people than we need.
Out of respect for our public and our loyal theatergoers, many of whom are traveling from around the world, we regret that we must cancel performances through Sunday November 25.
-- Charlotte St. Martin
Executive Director
The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.
For all those folks that were holding out hope like me that the two sides would negotiate in good faith, I'm sorry to tell you that they don't appear capable of doing that, and it appears that The League must be called to reckon for walking away from the table when so many theatre fans were counting on them.
They've essentially proffered a big "F" you, not only to the stagehands, but especially to the audience. They are increasingly proving that they don't deserve our loyal patronage.
We are the people who pay for tickets long in advance. We are the people who take a chance on a show before it's even opened simply because we love the theatre. We are the people who have chosen to spend our dollars on the entertainment offered by the Great White Way rather than on all the myriad options available to us.
Since you The League can so easily decide to suspend negotiations, here's something you should know. We the audience can easily move our discretionary dollars elsewhere.
And guess what?! We will!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, League of American Theatres and Producers, Local One, Lockout, Refunds, Stagehands, Strike, Ticketmaster
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Sunday, November 18, 2007
5 Comments:
We Tried Steve,
The Producers Want everything.
Even the Disney Lawyer couldnt believe Them.
The League Lies,manipulates and manuvers.
That $20,000,000 would of paid all the Bway Stagehands For a few years.
They are willing to spend it,
TO BUST THE UNION.
Right after the musician’s Strike, Local One Backed the Musician’s Union “802”
The Producer’s brought in Machines that “similulate Live music”
Local Ones members refused to install them.
The Leagues Big Complaint; Too many musicians in the pit.
Fact; These Machines Didn’t sound good. They couldn’t alter Tempo to adjust for applause or any miscue on stage..
802 LET THE MAYOR’S OFFICE MEDIATE.
802 LOST JOBS..DID YOUR TICKET PRICE GO DOWN…NO!
IF A MACHINE REPLACED ALL THE MUSICIANS IN THE PIT,
WOULD YOUR TICKET PRICE GO DOWN…I DOUBT IT.
WOULD YOUR LIVE EXPERIENCE BECOME A TAPE MACHINE…YES
This is when the producers started, a SURCHARGE on Ticket prices.
To raise 20 million to Lockout Local One,
Local One supports LIVE MUSIC
Steve,
You, along with the other theater bloggers, are such great, enthusiastic advocates for Broadway. I've seen 17 Broadway shows this year, plus two at City Center. Compare that with 0 for the previous 47 years of my life.
While I initially just wanted to see Kevin Spacey, collectively, all of you made me want to see much, much more.
So if you're feeling frustrated, well I know you're not alone. And that's not good for the future of Broadway.
What I find really sad is that so many of the producers who walked out just don't care about the theater-going families who flock to NYC this week. They enjoy what Broadway and NYC, in general, have to offer. Now there is such a hole left in the trip unless they can find comparable offerings off-B'way and off-off-B'way.
You really get the sense that B'way is becoming so CORPORATE and with that all the really fun and life of the B'way experienced is being sucked dry!
And as far as the musicians.....keep those individuals in the pit......they've studied hard and practiced aplenty and we are not at these shows to listen to canned music........
Thanks Gene!
Hmmm along if you dont know the tune
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