Not paid year-round. Only paid during tour for weeks with shows. If you are on tour during a week with no shows, you receive a very small stipend, but not an actual salary. Management DOES get paid for down-time during tour, but not during breaks between tour. It is not a full-year salary for anyone except the Company Manager and Business manager.
In terms of wages, crew has ability to make much more than their direct supervisors depending on the week. Sometimes as much as 10-30 percent more than their stage manager/company manager makes.
Performer/Skater pay changes based upon talent.
Very long working obligation hours (60+ hours/week) for crew and staff. Performers/skaters work about 35-40 hours/week.
Internationally for crew/staff-tight schedule and overnight shifts that leave you sleepless, but still forced to work with no sleep, causing dangerous conditions.
Safety is getting better, but employee health and wellness is VERY low on the priority list.
Very evident 'cliques' with upper management. If you aren't one of them, you are passed over for promotional consideration. Blatant favoritism.
Upper management and operations very unwilling to share even irrelevant information to anyone. Communication between corporate and the units is abysmal. They keep everyone but a select few of their friends 'in the dark' about most topics ranging from promotional opportunities to important tour information.
The company is a penny wise and a pound foolish. Instead of being proactive, they throw tons of money into fixing a situation. However, employees are always having to 'make do' as the company never seems to have enough money to help fix issues ranging from equipment to quality of life.
They do NOT follow industry standards, such as providing per diem or single occupancy hotel rooms.
Lower-level employees (cast/crew) on tour are forced to share rooms in hotels. They are also required to pay the company for their room at a rate much higher than most people pay for rent to have their own space. Approx. $600/month to share a hotel room with a roommate.
Most salaries are about 25 percent below industry standard.
