2aguy
Diamond Member
- Jul 19, 2014
- 112,220
- 52,455
Yes.....as their allies in the political wing of the democrat party fight for increases in the minimum wage, some democrats in the entertainment wing of the party have fought a wage increase in theater actor's salaries......hmmmm.....
Hollywood Actors and Economics 101 - Larry Elder - Page 1
Take the current battle over the minimum wage. In Los Angeles County, the minimum wage is $9 per hour. Theater actors, however, can be paid as little as $7 a performance, and an actor can even work long rehearsal hours with no pay. Three decades ago, L.A. County actors sued their union for an exception to union wages for theaters with 99 seats or fewer seats.
Why do these stage actors work for so little? They want to work. By working they improve their skills, stay sharp and or perhaps have a chance to get spotted by an agent. Some say simply having something to do is better than just sitting around and waiting for a casting agent to call.
Actors Equity, the national union, wants to change this.
According to The New York Times: "The union, seizing a moment when organized labor is having some success pressuring low-wage employers to pay higher salaries, says many of this city's small theaters -- which currently pay actors nothing for rehearsals, and stipends as low as $7 per (hour for) performances -- should start paying California's minimum wage of $9 an hour." But then a very Republican thing happened -- 66 percent of the union members voted against a higher minimum wage. Their rationale was simple. A higher minimum wage means fewer plays get performed. Fewer plays means fewer opportunities for actors and therefore fewer opportunities to gain experience, stay in practice or possibly get discovered. But the union's national council ignored this advisory vote and ordered, with some exceptions, a $9 per hour minimum wage.
When it comes to their own lives, these actors understand the law of economics: Artificially raise the cost of a good ?- in this case the price of an actor in a stage play ?- and you reduce the demand for actors.
Hollywood Actors and Economics 101 - Larry Elder - Page 1
Take the current battle over the minimum wage. In Los Angeles County, the minimum wage is $9 per hour. Theater actors, however, can be paid as little as $7 a performance, and an actor can even work long rehearsal hours with no pay. Three decades ago, L.A. County actors sued their union for an exception to union wages for theaters with 99 seats or fewer seats.
Why do these stage actors work for so little? They want to work. By working they improve their skills, stay sharp and or perhaps have a chance to get spotted by an agent. Some say simply having something to do is better than just sitting around and waiting for a casting agent to call.
Actors Equity, the national union, wants to change this.
According to The New York Times: "The union, seizing a moment when organized labor is having some success pressuring low-wage employers to pay higher salaries, says many of this city's small theaters -- which currently pay actors nothing for rehearsals, and stipends as low as $7 per (hour for) performances -- should start paying California's minimum wage of $9 an hour." But then a very Republican thing happened -- 66 percent of the union members voted against a higher minimum wage. Their rationale was simple. A higher minimum wage means fewer plays get performed. Fewer plays means fewer opportunities for actors and therefore fewer opportunities to gain experience, stay in practice or possibly get discovered. But the union's national council ignored this advisory vote and ordered, with some exceptions, a $9 per hour minimum wage.
When it comes to their own lives, these actors understand the law of economics: Artificially raise the cost of a good ?- in this case the price of an actor in a stage play ?- and you reduce the demand for actors.
