To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 10:25:55 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] A Professional Puppeteers Union?


In theory, I am impressed and encouraged by the possibilities and usefulness 
of a professional Union.
In practice, in many fields, I've seen disasters. They start with good 
intentions, to defend and support the "little guy", and become these huge 
monsters the "little guy" is forced to avoid, or join,  or fight directly.

As concrete examples, I can mention the ones we have here in Quebec.
Union Des Artistes, which is a very vast and powerful organisation 
representing actors and some other artists in showbiz (T.V. and Theatre). 
They are so powerful that they can enforce laws they instated themselves, to 
the rest of the profession. If a show wants to hire a single member of the 
UDA because he is perfect in the role, EVERYBODY else on the show must 
either be a member of the Union, or pay Union fees, without any of the 
advantages of being a real member. Quite a barrier in one's developement, 
wouldn't you think?
Quite a few artists here refuse to become members for such reasons, and 
evidently are quite limited in their hiring possibilities. ALL the big 
productions for TV and Theatre here are UDA.
Which means, if you are broke financially, you cannot participate. Quite 
ellitist, me thinks.
This is not the only Union out here. There is the Musician's Guild, which 
can fine public establishments if they hire musicians that aren't member's 
of the guild. Fines can result in an establishments closing, so they take it 
VERY seriously indeed. A friend of mine was a new musician from out of town. 
She couldn't find work in clubs and bars because of this, until a famous bar 
decided to hire her despite the law. She's moved up in the business thanks 
to this.

I'm starting to see anything that gains a critical mass becomes cumbersome, 
complicated, produces red tape, becomes power hungry, and in the process 
does more damage than good, or at least does enough damage to put the 
integrity of a proffession at risk.

I'm talking professoinal union here. Not the same as the quite often 
necessary smaller unions in companies, designed to protect the employees 
from the abuse of their employers. Even if the principles are the same, the 
mass makes all the difference.

I have been semi-fortunate so far to be able to avoid situations where a 
Union was mandatory.
Of course, I have worked for smaller projects, whre a union was never 
necessary, becuase people were honest and could talk to each other openly.

Of course, if such a big Union contract came my way today, I would shut my 
mouth, grumble inside, and pay the fee out of each paycheck. My career is my 
passion, and to stop it short because of semi-political reasons would be 
self-destructive and, dare I say, stupid of me. Later, with more 
weight(contacts, reputation)  in the business, I could pick and choose  my 
contracts, and even start my own.

I do not appreciate other people telling me what to do and where to take my 
business.
The fact that Union contracts are better paid (members are protected and 
have guaranteed wages whatever contract they get) should not be enough of a 
reason to put up with the rest of the problems that occur.
I was told by members that even if they want to take a lesser paid non-union 
contract, to their own loss, technically they cannot, as this breaches the 
rules of the Union. Some do take the contracts anyway, but eventually have 
to pay a FINE! Can you believe this?

Besides money issues,  a professionnal Union might become so huge that 
judging someone's professionnal quality could become difficult. I'm always 
weary of things that become big and powerful. They lose judgement 
proportionately. I've seen it in Big corporations (Telephone, TV, Government 
departments), where a simple query takes months of roaming in a labyrinth of 
very sticky red tape(subject for a show?).
The more complicated an organism becomes, the more it becomes hard to 
manage. It loses personal contact and insight, thinks in numbers and rules 
and laws, (Sorry Sir, we can't do that) and the members become non-persons 
in its eyes.

I would rather trust an Association than a Union, although their mandate 
might sound quite similar.
Take away the money and judicial powers and you already prevent much 
problems.

Here we have a small Puppeteer's Association, of which I am on the board of 
administrators, and we keep it friendly, and human. Even in situations of 
crisis and hot tempers, which are very rare indeed.
We represent our members to the public and the world, as an information 
resource and a link from them to our members.  We also provide training in 
all the aspects of the field. We do not really produce shows ourselves, with 
the exception of a few events that benefit all our members. This makes us as 
unbiased as possible. We do not engage in silent hostilities between 
companies, should any happen.
As for the money, we rely on membership fees, and government educational 
grants (for the training we offer).



For those who think I'm taking this line of thought too far, I suggest they 
take a look at some Science-Fiction books and movies that take place in the 
future. Lots of them show what "could" happen with corporations and big 
agencies when left to their own growth. I'm thinking about Brazil(recently 
talked about here), The Matrix, Gattaca, and The Island, but many other 
works of "fiction" are there as witnesses to what could go wrong (and the 
hope that still lies within well-meaning individuals).


That was my very rare indeed political contribution...
I don't like complications. But somethimes it is necessary to face them and 
deal with them.
For now in words. Later?...





Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
www.creaturiste.com
(514) 274-8027 

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