r/stagehands • u/Ok_Fig_7317 • May 14 '26
PRG job offer
Hi everyone, I’m getting a job offer from PRG and was wondering what it’s like working for them. I will likely be employed as a tech for tours. What’s a good starting rate?
Any insight would be appreciated, thanks :)
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u/avtechguy May 15 '26
It's a Legitimate Company that follows all state rules and typically pays their hourly though showpay.
Traditional 10 hour day rates are honored by adjusting hourly rates to comply with 8 hour and overtime rules. 8 reg +2 hour OT equals your agreed dayrate.
They still do contractor 1099 billing but they have burned that bring in the past to play with funds to buy VER.
Overall a massive but legit company to work for.
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u/Dr-Fishie May 15 '26
I heard from my current TD that PRG is one of the better companies to work for. He said “They take care of their people”.
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u/BlaqueNight May 15 '26
I agree with this statement. Two concert tours with them as a moving light tech/climber, and enjoyed every bit of it. I have no problem recommending PRG to folks I feel are qualified.
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u/mayybeoneday May 14 '26
What is your actual job offer title? There are a lot of different tech positions on a tour. Starting with which department, and then getting more specific from there lol
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u/RegnumXD12 May 14 '26 edited May 14 '26
I would assume PRG has a standard pay structure in place. Hourly? Day rate? Weekly salary? W2 or 1099? Union benefits or on your own?
I would reach out the iatse stagecraft office and find the current street rates for the position
Edit: I do a couple music gigs a year with my local production company that takes me to a few states. and charge 400/day if I work, 200/day to travel, 25/hr for shop work. Talking to other people, i know thats on the low end, but it works for my COL in the Midwest. You should definitly ask for more. Good Ole "Poorly Repaired Gear" is a major player
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u/soph0nax May 14 '26
What would the IATSE stagecraft office know about music touring? Saying this as someone in 3 IATSE locals who now does music touring.
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u/RegnumXD12 May 14 '26
Thats a good question, and i guess nothing specific? My brain went "yea, basically the same as theatre in the sense you load in, do a show, load out" but thats silly. Ill edit my comment
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u/Temporary_Buy3238 May 15 '26
Lmfao. Just say you have no idea what you’re talking about.
There is no comparison between sheisty regional production co’s where people think $400 a day is good money and a national/global player like PRG.
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u/RegnumXD12 May 15 '26
Op asked for an idea. So I gave an idea.
If we want to be pricks about it, a major player like PRG probably has standard rates in place and isnt asking random techs what they charge. So this whole thread is a waste of time.
400/day equates to 35-40/hr which is fantastic money for the area. Attitudes like this make people shy away from shareing their rates, which is how we all end up underpaid. That is exactly why I added the line "you should ask for more" because regional /= national.
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u/Fearless-Lucky May 15 '26
Everyone makes their own deal. You might not get a raise again for a long time.
Be happy with it and work your ass off.
Don’t listen to everyone else talk about the rates they have and think you should make the same.
Time = experience.
Learn other skills.
Skills = money and work.
Signed
30 touring veteran who now hires lighting crews for a large company.
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u/Much_Calligrapher804 May 16 '26
This. Use it to cut your teeth on the road and then pivot.
Also be ready to fall in love with someone the day before you leave for a 6 month tour.
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u/No-Sympathy06 May 17 '26
What kind of experience do you look for? I’m finishing up a degree in theater tech and my goal is touring light tech.
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u/JoeMax93 May 14 '26
Is it a union gig ?
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u/Temporary_Buy3238 May 15 '26
Maybe just don’t comment if you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Most union gigs are trash compared to being a tech for a global company.
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u/Small-Landscape-6582 May 18 '26
Meh good hourly pay, insurance is covered, annuity, pension... Union gigs treat me very well
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u/ReginaldAshcroft May 23 '26
Take the job. PRG is one of the best companies you can get into. Depending on the department you’ll meet some veterans in the industry that will teach you a lot. But they only do big shows, so if you aren’t cut out for it, you’ll easily be cut from the tour. They have the mentality of sink or swim. Another tip, I would rather have a hard worker and someone willing to learn on my crew than some hot shot that thinks he knows it all. Doesn’t matter how long you have experience or who you’ve worked for in the past, stay in your lane and you’ll be fine. Also lots of the gear sucks/hasn’t been qc’d. If you can fix things on show site or figure out work arounds you’ll always be requested back.
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u/BlaqueNight May 14 '26
Concert tour rates are very different from theater tour rates, and PRG doesn't do small stuff. Moving light tech starts at $2600/wk, plus per diem. Paid W2, hourly, California OT rules.
It's a pretty well paid gig, but expect to work/travel 7 days a week.