She told me that she was concerned and a little upset that the producer of that job had hired someone not in our local, but a person who had just been admitted to 829, the set designer's union. I should add that the person in question has very little experience in both designing and decorating.
What upset us both was the fact that he was hired over other decorators. Was it possible that no decorator would take that job? I found that hard to believe in these difficult times, even if the rate was exceptionally low ( scale, perhaps).
I was happy not to have to take that job, but would I have had to if this other one hadn't booked?
As I write this, I realize that the reverse happens frequently when decorators are hired in lieu of designers. And of course, this upsets the designers and their union.
I will not mention any names in order to protect all involved. We discussed the possibility of calling the hall, but both thought it might have negative ramifications.
I told this decorator that I had been calling around to drum up work. She said, "oh, I never do that. When I don't work, I go to the movies.."
Ouch.
I was surprised by her comment. Perhaps it was just off the cuff, but I thought it was a bit, shall I say, rude.
It seemed so out of sync with our times. As if, we were still in the days when not working for a couple of days or maybe a week or two was kind of a luxury of sorts. The happy freelancer's conceit that work would always come his or her way -
If only that were still the case.
When we left the store I told her that she should appreciate all the work that is coming her way, but that was not the case for everyone. And to recognize that the industry was going through a difficult time.
I don't know why I felt like I had to say this to her - But she did seem a bit, shall I say, clueless?
I wonder now why I was so honest with her - Perhaps I was a little too transparent...
Jamali
West 28th Street
Great source for pots, gardening supplies, candleholders, materials, ribbon - Great for decorating parties.
In fact, I think that it is important to call the union. It can even be an anonymous call. When 52 decorators work as designers they are either in both unions or soon forced to join 829 because they do not allow their contract to be violated. Neither should we. When a company hires a non-union decorator they are breaking their contract. I am certain that there are decorators who are ready to work, even at a lower rate. I am one. The rate also concerns me, is this because of the new contract?
ReplyDeleteno. not because of the new contract - It might be scale. We could call to find out. The rate was $525.
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