fic research

[jmtorres]

So I've been poking the IATSE website and google and wiki and I can't figure out--

--what local would a crewmember of a touring show join? like, a roadie for an arena show, touring rock band kind of thing?

--what's involved in reinstating a lapsed membership (on the order of like, 2-3 yrs lapsed? or is that going to be specific to the local?

Comments

[pocketmouse]

There's a local specifically for touring. I don't know its number, but it exists. I'm sure if you emailed, they'd be happy to answer.

I think reinstating membership is specific to the local, since the rules I got when I joined the local referral list were specific to my local. When I didn't call in to the referral list for a year, they didn't need any new info from me, but the referral list is different from being a member, since I don't vote or pay dues. The only thing I'm not sure about is whether they'd have to start all over again, in terms of levels, or if they'd just lose one level or something. I know if you don't make enough hours, you don't qualify to advance, so I'd say that there's something. Again, if you call/email and ask, I'm sure they could tell you.

[jmtorres]

...I feel superweird contacting them to ask a question for fanfic.

[pocketmouse]

Well, you don't have to say it's for fic. I can ask on twitter, though, if you want.

They also might not be officially unionized, they might just be yellowcarded, though that's usually for touring plays, I think. Most touring rock concerts I've worked at haven't had IATSE crew, from what I could tell.

[jmtorres]

*reading* Okay not that this is 100% consistent, but doesn't yellow card mean that the traveling crew is union and the venue crew must be paid at union rates if they are not union? *headtilt*

[pocketmouse]

I think yellow card is both. But if they are union, then it does apply to what you're looking for, right? Then it might not be an individual union, they're just generally in IATSE, and percentage out to whatever region they're in.

[jmtorres]

I... don't think it's possible to be a member of IATSE and not be a member of a local?

Found this: "Once you're in, you can transfer your membership if you move. Also your Local will issue a 'traveling card' if you accept a job with a touring theatrical production operating under a 'Pink Contract' or 'Modified Pink Contract.' A partial list of Pink Contract/Yellow Card (don't worry about Yellow Card, it's administrative) shows is on the International's site."

So I'm thinking there is not a local for traveling tours specifically, your local is always your homebase local? I think.

[pocketmouse]

The only reason I'm not sure is that I feel like I've heard someone mention a touring local. But everything else there is correct, so I'd say go with that. Though he doesn't specifically mention that while you can move to a new local if you move, you have to start at the bottom again (because most locals have a rule that to move up the list you have to have spent X amount of time in the region covered by the local performing the work of a stagehand). It must be something like with taxes, where you have to register somewhere as a home state, and pay taxes there, even if you're on the road and living out of hotels 50 weeks out of the year.