What I Learned At The Rodeo

I spent 27 years and 3 weeks (but who's counting?) working as the Business Representative for the Animation Guild, Local 839 IATSE. (That's a labor union for those wondering if such rare and exotic organizations still exist. And the term "Business Representative"? Which is a synonym for "union thug", if various politicians are to be believed).

What I found out doing the gig, in descending order:

1) You get what you have the leverage to get, and little more. (And it's useful to know, if possible, what your leverage is).

2) There is no "fair" and "unfair". Those words are sales devices. (See #1).

3) Employees performing free work is an ongoing reality of the animation workplace (and many other workplaces), loosely proportional to the fear employees have of losing their jobs. Sometimes free work is done when there is little risk of layoff. Then its usually done to keep up with other artists, the better to avoid some future, if indefinite, job loss.

4) Politics is always a part of the work environment. "Playing well with others" is important to mantining a health career, and some employees never learn this basic strategy. "Being right" takes a higher priority.

5) Studios usually hire good artists over great artists if the great artist is a constant pain in the backside. (See #4)

If the above sounds like things I've said at different times and places, it is. And you're welcome.