Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

October 21, 2009 By Fausta

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Or, better yet, where do I apply for a union job at Carnegie Hall?

CarnegieHall

Carnegie Hall Stagehand Moving Props Makes $530,044

O’Connell made $530,044 in salary and benefits during the fiscal year that ended in June 2008. The four other members of the full-time stage crew — two carpenters and two electricians — had an average income of $430,543 during the same period, according to Carnegie Hall’s tax return.

As far as I’m concerned, all that matters in an honest job is that you get paid, and I don’t believe in “job status”, so believe me when I say those guys have the best jobs at Carnegie Hall, and I’d love to apply for one of them if there’s a vacancy.

It also reminds me of Joe, Adam Bellow’s stepfather

One day he took me aside and pitched me what he obviously thought was an immensely clever scheme. “I’ve got it all figured out,” he said. “Here’s what you do. You join the sanitation department.

“Now hear me out,” he said, raising a hand to block any objections. “You haul garbage two, three years, tops.” (Tops!) “Then you start taking civil service tests and get into management. In five years, you’re driving to work in a limousine. In 20 years, you retire at half pay and spend the rest of your life writing books.”

What matters is the union label,

Producers who work there said a prop manager usually moves and supervises the moving of objects that aren’t plugged in, such as a piano or music stands. An electrician handles objects that get plugged in, like microphones and amplifiers, while carpenters are involved in the construction and handling of scenery.

The size of the crew, which is determined by management and the union, varies by production. Carlino wouldn’t provide specific numbers, but producers said it can exceed a dozen for a major concert and overtime is a key component of pay.

Heck, I’d sacrifice an evening or two of tango for that juicy overtime.

That said, if you read the rest of the article, maybe Artistic and Executive Director Clive Gillinson ought to be asking for a raise.

UPDATE
John Derbyshire:

Note that this isn’t an opera house, with huge sets to manipulate. It doesn’t even have a curtain to raise and lower. It’s a concert hall. These guys set out chairs. For ten grand a week. Two hundred and fifty bucks an hour.

See? I can do that!

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Filed Under: business, entertainment Tagged With: Carnegie Hall, Fausta's blog

Comments

  1. ewetender says

    October 21, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    http://wpp.labor.state.ny.us/wpp/viewPrevailingWageSchedule.do?county=87
    A NY journeyman Audio/Sound/Tele/Data Electricians hourly rate of pay is 49.00 per hour and an additional Supplemental Benefit of 38.94, total 87.94, the second shift 4:30P-12:30A rate is 57.49, and graveyard is 64.40. For the electrician to earn $430,543 they would have to work the graveyard shift for 52 weeks at $103.00 per hour ($133,120.00) and twenty hours overtime per week at $154.00 per hour ($160,586.00). At least one weekend per month would have to be worked at $206.00 per hour
    ($42,823.00) and at least ten holidays at $257.00 per hour ($20,588.00).
    I’ll bet the milkman in that neighborhood keeps a smile on his face.

  2. newton says

    October 22, 2009 at 4:06 pm

    My husband would drop his jaw (and his maritime college ring) when he finds out that his (risky at times – he even lost the tip of his left thumb on the job!) maritime career is worth less per year than that of a stagehand at Carnegie Hall.

    Where do we sign?

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