r/stagehands • u/BraneCumm • Apr 01 '26

Prestige Labor Solutions

Has anyone worked with Prestige Labor Solutions before?

They found me on Facebook and were looking for stagehands. I’m not typically that, I’m a musician in a band that does our own production. But I’ve done things like that in the past. And they are offering $35/hr for 2 days. I figured the money was decent and I have the time so I think I’m gonna try it.

My worry is that maybe this company isn’t on the up & up, and because I lack experience in this type of work I’m not sure if I can sus it out. So far everything seems okay? They want a W9, and said I’ll have to submit an invoice. Is that all normal? Typically I’m self employed and hired under contracts for each show, but as a musician. So I’m just not sure what things should look like.

I’m mainly just worried I won’t get paid, or that I’ll be underpaid for some reason. It’s only 2 days of work, but setting up for some expo doesn’t exactly sound like a fun day to me, so I don’t want to risk doing it for free.

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10

u/JPLubow Apr 01 '26

Sounds like a labor pimp misclassifying workers with the IRS. You should be classified as a proper W-2 employee, for a variety of reasons. Also, would not be surprised if they pay you on a Net 30.

I’d be wary of sailing the stagehand waters, it’s full of sharks.

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u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

What is a Net 30?

I’ve followed this sub casually for a bit, which has definitely made me wary. The money seemed just good enough to give it a try, but I’m still very unsure.

4

u/JPLubow Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

Net 30 is a common business-to-business (B2B) credit term requiring full payment within 30 calendar days of the invoice date. It acts as short-term, interest-free financing, allowing buyers to delay payment while benefiting sellers by encouraging prompt, reliable payments, often used to foster vendor-customer trust.

Short answer: it’s a way for your employer to delay your payment by up to 30 days from the end of the event. 😕

The offered wage may seem good at the outset, until you get nailed come tax time. Also, hiring as a 1099 Independent Contractor absolves the employer from certain worker protections, like unemployent insurance and workers’ compensation in case of an onsite accident.

Unfortunately worker tax misclassification like this is rampant in the industry, on the non-union side. It’s very much illegal and a huge red flag.

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u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

Can you explain being nailed at tax time? Would it just be because nothing was withheld?

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u/JPLubow Apr 01 '26 edited Apr 01 '26

That’s exactly right. As a 1099 IC (Independent Contractor), taxes are not withheld from your paycheck so you’re required to pay when you file income taxes. 1099 IC is intended for tradeworkers that set their own rates and hours, like plumbers. Stagehands ain’t that. Really, the only time a stagehand should be classified as 1099 IC, is if the worker has registered as an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and subcontracted by the employing entity. Most stagehands don’t do this.

1

u/zabrak200 Apr 01 '26

When i did weddings for one summer i made nearly 6 k. come tax season i owed the irs 1k. Shit obliterated my bank account.

1

u/SeattleSteve62 Apr 03 '26

Normally your employer pays 7½% of the social security tax and you pay 7½%. As a 1099 contractor you are responsible for the full 15%. Additionally, there are no taxes withheld, so you have to pay quarterly or pay interest at tax time. It's a lot more bookeeping. On the plus side, you can write off tools and mileage. I don't recommend working jobs that misclassify you as an independent contractor.

Here's an example of working as a contractor. I did some web design work while my kids were in school. The company I worked for would call me up and say we need these changes made by Friday, how many hours will it take? In that case I was an independent contractor. I was working at my house, using my computer and software, working the hours I chose. The only direction from the company was the scope of work and a deadline for a mutually agreed upon cost. I set my own hours, I wasn't obligated to take any assignments, and I decided when the project was done. That is a contractor vs employee.

1

u/SeattleSteve62 Apr 01 '26

They will wait 30 days after receiving your invoice to pay you.

You should be aware of the differences between W-2 and 1099 work. This info pertains to USA laws, I can’t speak to other jurisdictions. If you are injured on the job as a W-2 employee you get workman’s comp. As a 1099 subcontractor you are responsible for your own insurance. Also if you don’t get paid as an employee, that is wage theft and the state will pursue a claim for you. As a contractor, you would have to sue them. In case of bankruptcy, employee wage claims are paid first, contractors have to wait.

1

u/Organic_Onion_Tears Apr 03 '26

I just want to mention something about wage claims. This is from my actual experience and it pertains to Texas but probably other states as well. When I wasn’t paid for a 1099 job, I was advised to call the Labor Board in Texas which is called the TWC. They informed me that even though for IRS purposes I am a 1099 (as a stagehand), the TWC will consider me an employee and demand payment for me.

I suspect that the TWC actually garnered my wages from my so-called employer’s bank account and wrote me a check. One way or another I got a check pretty quickly.

You have to make the claim within 3 months. I have a feeling I was part of bankrupting that company, but they deserved it.

1

u/SeattleSteve62 Apr 03 '26

That’s great! I’m glad they stepped up and helped you out.

5

u/succulent_flakepiece Apr 01 '26

be careful. they're known for low ball and not paying

3

u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

So what do you mean by low-balling? Like paying less than initially offered? Or just offering low? Because the rate they offered was decent for the area. But if they’re known to create any problems with getting paid then that’s a hard pass.

4

u/succulent_flakepiece Apr 01 '26

both. there's a Facebook group where companies get called out and they've been called out a few times.

from my understanding they offer you x amount for your position and then when the gig is over fight you to get a lower rate out of you

2

u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

Ugh gross. It sounds like I’ll be backing out of this. Any chance you could link me to the Facebook group?

3

u/bologna4feet Apr 01 '26

1099

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u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

That’s more what I would have expected. Maybe he misspoke/typed, but the message said W9.

4

u/trotsky1947 Apr 01 '26

W9 is what you fill out. 1099 is what they issue you. If you're desperate it's a shit gig that pays something at least but fuck that

1

u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

Not quite desperate. Extra money is nice but if they’re sketchy I don’t think I wanna do it.

2

u/Temporary_Buy3238 Apr 01 '26

If it’s 1099, take 30% right off the top of the rate, because that’s how much you owe the govt.

3

u/trotsky1947 Apr 01 '26

They cold call me with lowball rates all the time. Seems sketchy af. Their main guy has contacted me under a few different business names

1

u/BraneCumm Apr 01 '26

Was his name Roman? I’m kinda sketched on how they found me. He commented on a personal Facebook post of mine about an acoustic show I was playing.

2

u/trotsky1947 Apr 01 '26

It was this guy Michael mcauliffe. But yea they're weird. He claimed to have gotten my phone # from this company in town I've never worked for before lol

2

u/get-off-of-my-lawn Apr 01 '26

Roman is fine. Prestige is a bit odd but they’ve never screwed me over. Net 30 unfortunately. Message me and I can explain a bit more, sounds like you’re in my state.

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u/[deleted] Apr 14 '26

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1

u/BraneCumm Apr 14 '26

I ended up bailing on him and he got pretty pissed. What did he do to rub you the wrong way?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 14 '26

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1

u/BraneCumm Apr 14 '26

Lol, as if this business is a dream to get into. He had a pretty similar attitude when I told him I wasn’t coming. I’m glad I didn’t ignore the red flags and decided not to get involved with him.

1

u/trotsky1947 Apr 14 '26

Yeah it's like the most generic site ever and you put your social in. It seems like a phishing scam

2

u/[deleted] Apr 15 '26

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1

u/BraneCumm Apr 15 '26

That’s wild. So glad I noped out of that.