Looking for help in NC

[shadow009]

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for working with the locals in North Carolina?  I've had absolutely no luck getting the Charlotte local to so much as acknowledge my tens phone calls and my attempt to physically visit their offices wound up with me lost in an area of complete urban blight with no sign of any offices of any sort, anywhere.

I'm stuck in the area at least until I can get a few jobs under my belt, and I was hoping anyone on here would have some experience with the Charlotte, Greensboro, or Raleigh locals.  I realize it's a bit of a long shot, seeing as these aren't the most theatre-rich cities in the country, but here's hoping.

Thanks!

[LEDmonster]

Good luck getting anyone with 322 to answer any of your questions.  I was hung up on three times with them by merely inquiring as to whom they held contracts with.  You said it - not much going on there.  Try Blumenthal for overhire...I think they work with a temp agency that's a good way to get your foot in the door.  Not sure which it is off the top of my head though.

[IATSElocal22]

I know it can be difficult some times to get locals to let you in the loop, which really is unfortunate, but it is mainly because often times there are not enough jobs to go around as it is, which again is unfortunate.  There is no easy answer to this problem, but over all it is a good way to go, to go union. 

I would say keep trying, thats how I managed to get in with my local.  It used to be that my local tested people determination to join by doing something like this.  Trying to weed out the people who are just in it for the money from those who actually love doing it as a job.  Im not trying to say it is a good thing to do to people, Im just saying that I have head of it being done in the past.

Also I know some one who is on the E-board of one of the NC locals, if you want i could contact him and see if he would talk with you or something.  Shoot me a private message if you are interested.

--Foley

[TrussMonkey]

Try looking in to 635 in Winston, they seem easier to get in with then Charlotte or Gboro.

[WeylandsApprentice]

I've worked for both the Winston and Greensboro local. I preferred the crew in Winston is better, but there's just not much work in the way of overhire. Over the past 3 1/2 years I've worked 17 shows in their colosseum. Greensboro gets gigs with larger call lists (115-150) more frequently. I haven't worked enough to become union, but 4-6 steady gigs a month wasn't bad. However, there are some issues with upper management.

Just some advice-
Be nice to Brittany and her sister, her grandfather is the Steward and her grandmother is head of payroll. Also, when you call Herald to get signed up, make sure it's during the day. His wife has answered the phone, which leads me to believe he works from home. The loading "dock" in Greensboro is pretty ridiculous. I've been working more then one call where the touring crew placed bets on who was going to get smashed into the wall while running down the incline.

Both are good locals to work for. Winston has a smaller, tighter crew. But, I've got more then a few good working buddies in Greensboro as well.