Backstage: Earlier this year, a dazzling new cruise ship made its rounds of the United States’ coastal cities, wowing eager onlookers and curious travelers. The ship’s maiden voyage also represented a notable victory in recruiting for the nation’s union of stage actors. While Norwegian Cruise Line debuted its much-anticipated Norwegian Bliss cruise ship in New York City, Actors’ Equity trumpeted its contract agreement for workers on the docked vessel. The three-day contract is the first full Equity cast agreement of its kind between the union and a cruise line.
4 comments:
I had always just assumed that cruise lines used AEA contracts, since it's a form of professional theatre, but I did not think about the fact that cruise ships are traveling over international waters. Obviously, they would not all fall under the AEA contract. However, I do think the fact that you are living on a cruise ship is a pretty huge benefit that clearly does not transfer to other professional companies. In my mind, the contract would be somewhat similar to that of a touring contract, since it covers living in a number of locations and performing in varying conditions. Regardless, I am very glad that cruise companies are finally getting a push to standardize pay and benefits for their performers. It is a huge industry, and it is an industry that I would personally be interested in taking part in. I wonder if these new standards would apply to just performers or management as well.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Anytime there are more equity contracts the better! Equity is always trying to make a better living wage for Actors and Stage Managers and I am so happy to hear that they started doing contracts for cruises. In the future I hope that all cruises will be equity so that we have the opportunity to work on cruise ships but still knowing that we are being paid well and that we are being treated correctly. With equity getting contracts that means that the way of life on cruises will probably increase because equity will require certain things. Recently there was a concert/ show on Broadway called Rocktopia and could not reach an agreement with equity. Because of that, they only paid the cast like 18$-25$ an hour for work which is completely not okay. When equity steps in you get paid reasonably and get health insurance plus benefits. Everyone wins when shows are equity!
The idea of the Equity Union making its way onto cruise ships seems like a great one in theory, since they are trying to provide the highest quality entertainment onboard. However, the logistics of equity contracts provides a great host of problems in trying to accommodate actors on board. I think that having the union of the ship for these two days could potentially be seen as a stepping stone in a long process but there is certainly a long way to go. This was a very short-term arrangement and couldn’t be sustained very well in a longer term project. So the idea that equity is providing these “great” new opportunities is a bit of a stretch since it was essentially a one-off, for now at least. I’m not opposed to the relationship being worked on and all opportunity to create better theatre should be looked into but I’m skeptical to say the least, and my cynicism isn’t helped by the fact that the powerhouse that is Disney hasn’t been pushing to make this happen since it has so much influence and funding if someone could figure it out my money would be on them.
Yay Actors Equity! Even though I will most likely never be part of their Union, they are a Union that actually gets things done effectively and strategize for better pay and conditions. Honestly having Equity on the Cruise ships is a great thing because of all the places as an actor I would not want to live in a small cabin on a giant ship would be one of them. Who knows maybe that will be how shows tour someday going from cruise ship to cruise ship, probably not but an interesting idea. The pay increase is always a good thing too, I mean is it ever not. Cruise ships do numerous shows a day, more than a regular 8 show week, therefore it is nice to have a voice in there saying, "hey they are being overworked" or something to that affect always keeping the producers in check and also making sure they are safe, because Theaters for the most part do not sway and rock unintentionally, ships do. Nice article to read, hopefully I see more of it.
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