I wonder if they are hiring?
After you practice for years and get to Carnegie Hall, it’s almost better to move music stands than actually play the piano.
Depending on wattage, a star pianist can receive $20,000 a night at the 118-year-old hall, meaning he or she would have to perform at least 27 times to match the income of Dennis O’Connell, who oversees props at the New York concert hall.
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.
At Carnegie Hall, which has featured on its three stages such varied musicians as Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan and the Berlin Philharmonic, only Artistic and Executive Director Clive Gillinson makes more than the stagehands.
Gillinson earned $946,581 in salary and benefits in the fiscal year that ended in June 2008. Chief Financial Officer Richard Matlaga made $352,139, while General Manager Anna Weber received $341,542.
via Carnegie Hall Stagehand Moving Props Makes $530,044 (Update1) – Bloomberg.com.
Of course, there is a good explanation for this:
The stagehands benefit from a strong union: Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees demonstrated its clout in November 2007 when its members walked off their Broadway jobs and closed 26 shows for almost three weeks. The strike ended after stagehands and producers agreed to a five-year contract that both sides called a compromise.
Joshua B. Freeman, a U.S. labor historian at Queens College and author of “Working Class New York,” said the union’s power to shut down a vital part of New York’s entertainment industry gives it leverage in negotiations.
“They have a credible threat of withdrawing their labor,” Freeman said.
Not that I have anything against Unions as a rule; as my Dad is a retired General Motors worker and a U.A.W. member. But holy Moses, most my Dad ever pulled out that job was $20.00 an hour at the time of his retirement; and these guys are making three figure salaries? The funny thing is, my Dad most likely did more work than this turkeys ever do in a day. Let me tell ya, that assembly line business is tough work, at least it was back when my Dad started back in the day. My Dad drove Hi-Low for the most part or as it is called in some circles; a Forklift, which he loved to do, he hated that line, he did work on the assembly for a while, and it just about killed him. Dad would always tell me; “Son, you do not want to work on that line, it is tough.”
It is good work, when you can get it! Speaking of which, where I do I sign up for a job there? 😉
Others: Fausta’s Blog, Gothamist, ArtsBeat, and The Corner on National …