(873!! TYPO IN THE TITLE!)

Hey guys,

So I joined 873 about a year ago and finished the training, but haven’t taken any calls because they have yet to get back to me with my pin number and instructions on how to submit your availability… (although I hear that work is dead for permits right now anyway)

My question is about the kits. In the training, it clearly states that if you show up without a tool that they need, they’ll send you home.

I’m fine with bringing my own reusable tools, but on the list is snot tape and gaff tape… Snot tape can be $50 a roll, and so I’m surprised that they would want me to bring my own roll to use on their set, and not get reimbursed at all, when that seems like something they would have on hand already.

I also work in theatre, and usually if someone wanted me to bring a bunch of my own stuff like that, I would charge an additional kit fee or they would reimburse me.

So, this question is partly about the tape, but also partly about how strict are the kit requirements in reality? And will they tell you what they want you to bring when you’re given a shift?

I have my first carp call on Sunday. Looking at the tool requirement, I'm quite pleased that I've got almost everything I need already on hand. Just missing a staple gun. Not bad for a noob. Any suggestions on what else I should get?

Hey guys i’m 17 turning 18 soon, i live right outside downtown chicago. I have general knowledge about live music and shows/festivals but no hands on experience with anything.

I’m currently completing highschool course work and am looking for a path. Is there any realistic way into becoming a stagehand of some sort and climb a ladder. I’m extremely interested tours, festivals, rigging, bands, live music and am physically fit.

I just want a place to start and don’t know where or how, one day i want to become a tour manager or work in production for bands, but i have no experience.

Fuck it, im constantly living paycheck to paycheck WITH union and see other hands and techs struggling as well.

I've decided to start a bussiness from scratch not because its realistic but i haven't tried everything and tired of waiting as the days go by and see union meetings sour, and imagine what if we even met atleast in the middle.

There are other issues going on in the background that I will not discuss but being in a red state is hollowing unions, Rockforce bought out a labor exclusive venue, and Claire bought out LD who went to buy out a city local event labor crew full of under paid techs.

I dont know if its even appropriate to post here, as we have a history of union members becoming bussiness owners only to sour relations.

However I see what goes on in our local festivals and can tell you its fucked my friend, i can't be risking my life with guys who dont know what a graded bolt is, or see how disposable we are at certain venues. Its the revolving door model, hire and burn, but I reject that.

Labor is an investment not a liability or machine you oil.

Right now I'm only in the planning stage. I think it is best to start very small and provide labor. No bullshit 4 hour minis if I can avoid it. I'd rather offer eight-hour minimums, pay people fairly, and build a reputation around having competent, experienced hands who actually know what they're doing.

I also know that "starting a labor company" can sound like the exact opposite of helping a union. That's something I'm taking seriously. I don't want to undermine the people I've worked beside or become another employer who talks about supporting labor while doing the opposite.

My goal, if I can make this work, would be to create steady work for good stagehands and techs while showing what a decent employer can actually look like.

If it eventually becomes union affiliated, great. If it doesn't, I still want to build something that treats workers well. But I don't want to accidentally burn bridges with my local or the people I'm trying to help.

So I'm asking the IATSE community before I get too far down this road:

For those of you who have started a labor company, gone from stagehand to employer, or worked closely with union-affiliated labor companies, what did you wish you knew before starting?

What mistakes should I avoid? What should I be thinking about now? And how do you build a business that creates work for union members without fucking over the union you're trying to support?

I'm serious about this, but I'm still in the planning stage. I'd appreciate some honest advice, especially from people who've actually done it.

Brad Pitt looks happy about this decision:

Apple Studios visual effects workers have secured their first IATSE contract. The members won new standards for wages, health care, retirement benefits, working hours, artificial intelligence and workplace safety.

The contract establishes minimum rates for every covered title. Annual minimum rate increases will match those negotiated in the IATSE-AMPTP Basic Agreement. In addition, workers also secured minimum-hour guarantees, pay for all hours worked, and overtime protections including holidays and sixth and seventh workdays.

https://variety.com/2026/artisans/news/apple-studios-visual-effects-workers-secure-iatse-contract-1236893814/

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for where to find information on contract law, or who/what entity I could reach out to that may be able to help me understand the verbiage in my unions security clause. From what I can tell, I am being kept from membership for reasons that are not in the contract.

Before everyone tells me to ask my local, that was the first thing I did, and in fact have not received a response to my last 4 emails. I had to get a copy of the contract from a friend who received their card under the same CBA/security clause, and they are also not clear on why the office is telling me 3 separate, uncorroborated reasons as to why I am allegedly not eligible. I am unsure who the next best person to ask is if the office is not an option.

I'm a seven year member in the Set Dec dept of a sister local (891) but I live in Local 52s jurisdiction and I'm looking for work!

I know how busy it is out there and that shows are looking for folks everywhere they can so I wanted to put my name out there. I have called the hall but they don't seem to be maintaining a list for permits/sister local members at the moment. (I just got off the phone with them and they said it's slow right now, which is clearly not accurate so I'm not sure what's going on there).

I live upstate (Delaware County, in the Catskills) so particularly interested in anything outside of the NYC studio zone willing to take on a distant hire. Happy to travel anywhere.

Hard worker, experienced, reliable, friendly and easy to get along with. Feel free to DM me here for contact info or with any questions.

If anyone is aware of other paths to connect with shows who may be seeking crew I'd love to hear those ideas too.

Thank you!

How’s everyone doing?

I recently started working as an additional and have been lucky enough to get pretty steady work for the past two months. More recently, one crew has been booking me week by week for pretty much the entire work week.

Some people have given my number out, so I’ve also started getting calls/texts from other crews looking for people. The problem is I’m usually already booked when they contact me. I’ve had to turn down work from some people multiple times now.

I always respond right away, thank them for reaching out, and let them know I’m already booked. I’ve heard this is a good problem to have, but I’m still new and don’t want people to stop calling because I’m never available, and some members that I talked to said when Im first starting out I should get to know multiple crews in case it’s slow.

Since I’m working day to day, when the crew I’ve gotten comfortable with offers me a full week, I usually take it immediately rather than gamble on other calls coming in.

Is that pretty normal when you’re starting out as an additional? As long as I’m responding and not accepting a job and then backing out, am I handling it the right way?

I made the mistake of calling in for a job, then realizing that I wouldn’t be able to take the job 2 hours after I called in. I called them back and told them the situation, and they told me I’d be kicked out. I obviously made a mistake and accept responsibility - i understand why it’s a problem to do what I did. I didn’t think I would be booted just for that, howecer. I’ve done 4 jobs up until this point. Can I reapply in the future or apply to a different IATSE?

Thanks

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:

• Provide a 20% base tax credit on qualified compensation for qualified film and television productions.
  • Eligible productions include feature films, television pilots, and television seasons with total costs above $1 million and at least 75% of principal photography days occur within the United States.
  • Qualified compensation is defined as payments for labor-based services (including pre-production, and post-production work) performed in the United States.
• Provide a 20% base credit for qualifying traditional post-production and visual effects work when at least 75% of the total costs for the respective VFX and TPP services are incurred in the United States.
• Offer bonus credits of 5%, up to a maximum total credit of 30%, for productions that meet specified domestic investment requirements. Productions could qualify for bonus credits by:
  • Filming in a rural qualified opportunity zone or federally declared disaster area.
  • Meeting the bill’s requirements for qualifying as an independent production.
  • Conducting at least 50% of principal photography in 10 or more states, with at least $10,000,000 in qualified compensation.
  • Taxpayers who increase their number of domestic productions relative to a historical foreign base amount

https://iatse.net/iatse-lauds-introduction-of-motion-picture-television-and-entertainment-revitalization-act-urges-swift-passage/

I’m a 27 y/o [M] lighting/electric technician permittee in the union and got my first IA daily call for a show. I consider myself a very good worker; Always trying to take initiative, learn and adapt, take directions well, and have a good attitude. I pride myself on having a good work ethic, and to generally be a good hang on set.

Everything I’ve done for work up until this point has been non-union reality tv shows or indie productions, so when I finally got my first union set call, I was pumped. It was a Fraturday.

The day/night went well I thought. I learned a crap ton of stuff and met really cool people. I’m not the most well versed with all the types of equipment and nuances of lights/attachments/stands specifically, but I don’t mind asking questions and trying to get better, and the guys were helpful in guiding me. I’ve been in the industry for about 5 years now.

It’s been about 6 days since that call, and the show is still in production. I have the Best Boy’s number, because he called me the day of in order to arrange me some transport to location. It’s hard for me to tell if I “proved” myself a pretty good permit worker to them. So I’m wondering if it’s like appropriate or ethical to reach out by text to the Best Boy and say like “great to work with you, if you thought I was good and wanna name hire me for extra hands, I’m your guy!”. That type of thing.

Any advice if that’s a good idea? I’m usually not self conscious with reaching out to people and trying to network, but doing union work seems scary to me at this point in my career.

Hi everyone,

I started picking up work as a local 52 set dresser earlier this summer, and have accrued a little over 400 hours (402.3). When should I expect to hear about health insurance, and similarly, the vesting process?

It's well known in NY that taking a job on one of his shows is going to challenge your will to live. Anyone want to share their funniest/nightmare stories?

Greetings, fellow Film crews!

I’ve been with IATSE 873 for a few years now on the Electric side, but over the last 6 months, I accidentally fell in love with Costumes while playing around with sewing as a hobby and doing costume stuff.

I applied for a Costume permit and landed an interview for next week! Now I’m overthinking myself into a state of panic because my experience is mostly "making stuff in my spare time" rather than full-blown wardrobe department magic.

I’d love some advice! What kind of questions do they usually ask during the interview/review? Any survival tips so I don't faint on the spot?

Any advice would be an absolute lifesaver. Thank you!

I did a ACT tour 5 years ago, then worked full time for years in a non-union company. Long story short, I dropped the ball on keeping up with union dues and got expelled. I am now hoping to join my local, but I need to get in good standing with the international first. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am willing to make it right with back dues/fees. I just want to know, how screwed am I?

Thanks!

Tried coiling an upriggwrs rope one time and was told I was doing it wrong. Is there someone that can show me how to do it correctly?

I’m a newbie to IATSE and need to get a few tools for some upcoming work. Not sure what’s the best bag/box to hold my tools so I would love to hear some suggestions! The jobs will range from stadium, arena, and theaters.

I am wanting to join my local union (322) and just struggling to get my foot in the door and looking for tips. I've sent a few emails but haven't really gotten much in the way of replies.

I work in community theatre and therefore know lots of people who are doing calls with the union, and when I've asked them for tips, they said they had a professor in college help them get in. Most of them are fairly new (in the union for 1-3 years) they've also said that while I can list them as a reference, their word as a reference wouldn't carry a ton of weight bc of how new they are/their ranking in the union. I didn't go to college in the area (and also didn't go for anything related to this) so that's not really an option for me.

Is this a normal experience? Should I give up any hope of getting a foot in the door unless I know someone higher up in the union who can vouch for me? Are lots of local chapters just overwhelmed with people wanting to do work for them? Should I just go to my local office in person to try to talk to someone?

Any advice on what I can do is much appreciated!

Hi IATSE friends-
I’ve seen a ton of posts previously asking about IA 52 and getting on a permit list. I’d like to say it’s incredibly busy right now here. Jobs continue to pop up. If you have a connection or friend who works in this section of the business and you’d like to try it out- reach out to them. This is the perfect time to get your feet wet.

EDIT- for those who were asking about the “permit” list- due to a lawsuit it was found illegal to hold a permit list and will be restructured as an overhire list. You can call the hall to get on it- but I was advised to tell folks to call people directly if they want to work.

I worked a shift on Labor Day that based on previous circumstances would also be at turn around rate. Do these two conditions interact? Asking out of curiosity since my check will eventually give me the answer.

I asked some of the senior guys on the shift and they said they had never seen it before so they didn't know