Controversial New Blog at www.scharplingandwurster.com !

[Dorvid Barnas]

The great Brian Stack, long-time writer for Conan O'Brien, responded to Tom's blog entry thusly:

"Thanks a lot for posting those links.  I'm embarassed to say that even though I've been a huge fan of Scharpling and Wurster for years, I didn't even know about that blog.  And I was unfortunately unfamiliar with Henry Owings before now.

I'm very grateful to any bands that decided not to appear on the late night talk shows during the strike, especially those that were booked before the strike even started.  I know how hard it must be to get that kind of exposure these days, so I appreciate the fact that some bands chose not to cross the picket line, including The New Pornographers and The Mountain Goats (w/ Mr. Wurster on drums).  I was already a fan of both bands, and now I'm an even bigger fan.  I just wish all the bands that said "no" could get credit for doing so, but I don't know the names of  most of those bands myself. 

I don't think I could have brought myself to completely condemn any bands that appeared on the late night shows during the strike, especially the ones that I like a lot, but the fact that some of them chose to sit it out as a show of support means more to me than I can say."

I agree with everything Mr. Stack says except for the word 'unfortunately'.

[Tom Scharpling]

Sorry Tom, I don't see it.

These musicians aren't scabs -- they're not writing for these shows.  You can deride actors for crossing the picket line, because they're part of the same community as the writers and should show support for them.

Musicians are in the same boat as the wardrobe people.  They could make an ethical choice to support the writers, and not work on these shows, but its not necessarily fair to have that expectation of them, especially given how it could affect their livelihoods.  A lot of times appearing on one of these talk shows can be a big break for a band, and I think you undersell the importance it can have on their career.

Respectfully,
A College Student That Pays For Music

I'm not saying that they're going to get kicked out of the Rock Guild or anything. But it is a clear cut example of right and wrong, of taking a real hit to help fellow creative people who have been taking a financial and emotional hit for three months while fighting corporations for the right to get paid a fair wage. And plenty of bands have chosen to not cross the lines, from the New Pornographers to the Mountain Goats to the Moldy Peaches... they declined to promote their music on a talk show as a way to support the writers.

I'm not saying that any of this is easy. I'm sure it's hard to resist the invite to appear on a talk show and play live. But there's something big at work here. And if you are able to turn a blind eye and say, 'screw it - I'm gonna play on the show. It's my time to shine', good for you. I hope you enjoyed your four minutes of face time. But I'm not going to forget. And I hope others don't.

As for the underselling of the importance that playing on TV at 1:29 AM might have on a band's career, I haven't noticed any popularity explosion for the bands that have been crossing the picket line to date - Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding aren't exactly tearing up the biz post-Conan...

Tom.

[yesno]

A lot of times appearing on one of these talk shows can be a big break for a band, and I think you undersell the importance it can have on their career.

A good definition of a scab that distinguishes between those people who are condemned and those who are not would ask whether the person in question is taking advantage of an opportunity created by the strike for personal gain.

It may be that the only reason the bands got "a big break" by crossing the picket line is that they were among the few bands willing to do it.

In other words, the only opportunity for a big break was created by the strike.  You can't say that by crossing the picket line, they're simply making a living, and it's therefore okay.  That would be true of all scabs.

The lighting guys and so forth, on the other hand, aren't gaining in any way by working during a strike.  They'd be doing the same thing anyway-- they are not even arguably taking advantage of a strike for their own gain.  

[<<<<<]

I don't think it is cool for any bands to plead complete innocence over the decision to appear on these shows at all.

Entertainment is a family, even if it can be strained at times.  The bretheren of these band's stage workers are being hurt by the strike, since their union bridges music, theatre and motion picture.  Saying "I'm in music so what happens on television doesn't affect me" is a complete cop-out.

[Gentleman Jim]

OK, so I have a question that's a bit wider than guests:

Why is it ok for some people to cross the picket line, i.e. UNION stagehands, UNION electricians, UNION carpenters, as well as (presumably) non union wardrobe, production assistants, administrative, etc. while it is not ok for guests to cross the very same line?

I don't bring this up as a defense for the bands; I think if you cross a picket line you do so at the risk of your standing with the greater public.  I just don't get why the people who show up every day get a pass. Do the writers really expect more from some random actor or band than they do from the people they've worked with for years?

If any other union goes on strike and shuts down their place of work, (airline, newspaper, steel mill), there's no concern for the innocent bystanders; if you cross, you're persona non grata. It doesn't matter that you're a baggage handler and it's the mechanics who are on strike.  You're not supposed to cross their line, and when you go on strike they're not supposed to cross yours.  It affects everybody's families, and that's part of what keeps the unions strong. This picking and choosing allows the shows to continue, and the majority of people aren't noticing the drop in quality... or they just don't care.

Or are the unions not honoring the picket lines because the WGA is a guild, not a union?  I have some experience with various unions involved with music and tv, and they are seriously hard core.  Especially in New York. It would seem unthinkable that they would cross a picket line.

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Good enough question.  I've never been a member of a union for extended periods of time or during a strike of any sort, so I have no personal experience of the sorts of internal dialogues that might be going on within in them.  I was a union member during the WTO in Seattle though and my union actually worked it.  The official word on it was that it was a good source of income for union members, but those who were not working it were free to participate in the protests.  Granted, it wasn't a strike, but it was an interesting insight on how such an organization can rationalize working both sides of a conflict at times.

[Gentleman Jim]

pmuse wrote:

They could make an ethical choice to support the writers, and not work on these shows, but its not necessarily fair to have that expectation of them, especially given how it could affect their livelihoods.

Yes, and the same argument could be made for almost anything. Having your music licensed for an ad campaign for junk food aimed at children.  Playing for the ruling military junta of Myanmar.  Looking the other way as your fans are beaten by meathead security. Suing your fans for sharing files online.  Charging $125 for a ticket to a crappy arena show.

streetcleaner wrote:

Entertainment is a family, even if it can be strained at times.  The bretheren of these band's stage workers are being hurt by the strike, since their union bridges music, theatre and motion picture.

I don't know what Fluffy Strawberry Rainbow Unicorn nonsense you're on about, but take it from this old, bitter ex-roadie: there is NO brethren/family relationship between tv and music. You've heard Tom dismiss the rock-comedy connection, right?  Well there's even less of a connection between television production people and music production people.  Bands who go and play talk shows are, for the most part, treated like lepers and ignored to the maximum degree allowed by law. In order to play that one song at 6:30 pm, the band's crew has to be there with the gear around 8 am.  This is because there are strict union regulations about who can do things like move a guitar amp from a van to the stage area, and the only people who are allowed to do this have a very particular schedule to keep.  Of course, this means hours of sitting around watching nothing happen, wondering why it is that you couldn't get there at 12 noon, since they're not going to let you plug anything in until 2 pm anyway.  But the reason is because they are not concerned with your feelings... because they're neither your family nor your brethren.

IATSE Local 1 can go someplace hot and smelly for a long, long time as far as I'm concerned.

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Bands who go and play talk shows are, for the most part, treated like lepers and ignored to the maximum degree allowed by law. In order to play that one song at 6:30 pm, the band's crew has to be there with the gear around 8 am.

I've done stage work in music too, but can't say I've ever done the TV show thing.  Sounds pretty believable and can't say I envy you the experience. 

Heck, some days you're lucky if you can simply get the light guys and sound guys to act like "family".  haha

[yesno]

Why is it ok for some people to cross the picket line, i.e. UNION stagehands, UNION electricians, UNION carpenters, as well as (presumably) non union wardrobe, production assistants, administrative, etc. while it is not ok for guests to cross the very same line?

Because they are not being opportunists, while the guests are.

[Gentleman Jim]

With all due respect, that argument is illogical hogwash.

Guests aren't being any more opportunistic by going on a talk show now than they were when they went on a talk show last year, or when they go on a talk show after the strike is settled. The issue is whether or not they should be held in low esteem because of crossing the picket line.

But how are the rest of the employees of the shows not opportunists?  Nobody's forcing them to work at these shows, either. They have the opportunity to cross the lines, work, and get paid.  If they do so I think they do it with the same attendant risks as Hulk Hogan.

[yesno]

With all due respect, that argument is illogical hogwash.

Guests aren't being any more opportunistic by going on a talk show now than they were when they went on a talk show last year, or when they go on a talk show after the strike is settled. The issue is whether or not they should be held in low esteem because of crossing the picket line.

But how are the rest of the employees of the shows not opportunists?  Nobody's forcing them to work at these shows, either. They have the opportunity to cross the lines, work, and get paid.  If they do so I think they do it with the same attendant risks as Hulk Hogan.

Someone who appears on a talk show during a strike, when many other people have said "no," is being an opportunist.  He is taking advantage of the fact that no one else wants to appear on the shows.

This is clearest with someone like Hogan.  He wouldn't be on the shows at all if it weren't for the strike.  Because of the strike, an opportunity presented itself, and he took advantage of it.  This is the same as a scab who sees writing for a soap opera during a strike to be a big break.  By contrast, the lighting guys and others are just doing what they otherwise would do.  They're not taking advantage of a shortage of talent for personal gain.

It may be that one or more of the guests would have had the slot on the show even without the strike.  But we can't know that.  This is why we often require that people even avoid the "appearance of impropriety."

[Gentleman Jim]

Hogan's under contract to NBC, just like Conan. He may not have as much say as others think.

To reiterate: I'm not defending anybody who goes on.  I'm only wondering why it's ok for the employees of the talk shows to go about their business while it's not ok for guests.  Personally, I find the argument that they're just making a living to be a weak double standard; Tom apparently doesn't.  He of course knows a lot more than I do about the entire situation.

Don't the crews of scripted shows have bills to pay?  If the cast and crew of ER decided to do improvised shows so that they could all make a living I imagine that would be frowned upon mightily. Heck, while we're at it, what about Saturday Night Live?  Half the time an improvised show would be better.