Another November and another visit to Orlando to attend the annual IAAPA Expo, 2019 edition, and some reflections on what I saw this time and more.
Photo courtesy: Themed Entertainment Association
The TEA Booth
First of all, the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) booth was always crowded. Not just at times they were making announcements, such as about the THEA Awards. But, almost all the time. The booth needs to be about twice the size it has been with more chairs.
That said, it was great meeting up with so many folks in the business looking for their next project gig.
I do wish more booths had seating so folks could just visit and network — and rest their weary feet.
The characters from the Garfield comic strip. Garfield’s creator gets paid very well. Photo by Mark Eades
Proper Pay for Creators
I met with a few young folks, fresh out of college or about to graduate, and talked about a variety of things – including how to break into the business. During that discussion I talked with one young writer who had gotten a few small writing assignments and I inquired about the pay rate.
Let me tell you, it was not enough. By the time that person would have had to pay for all of Social Security and Medicare, and then would have made less than $12 an hour. Shame on the person and company that paid that ridiculously low amount.
I’ve heard similar stories from a few starting (starving) artists too.
I’m not saying that inexperienced folks should be paid as much as high end experienced creative talent, but the pay should at least be more like at least $17 an hour after paying the government mandates.
I also think that TEA should give lessons on things like how to understand the tax consequences of getting paid via a flat rate that does not cover those things, and the resulting hit on income taxes.
The artists and writers are the creators and should be compensated fairly for creating attractions for companies that are the ultimate revenue and attendance drivers of folks visiting themed entertainment venue. They should either get paid more or get a part of the gate.
I know these businesses expect a return on their investment, but maybe better deals would offer some kind of profit sharing. In the movie and TV businesses those that create share in the money those items make mostly through something known as residuals. Maybe there should be a consideration of the same thing for the theme park business.
The IAAPA Expo 2019 Floor. Photo by Mark Eades
Total Solutions
Many companies at IAAPA offered “a total solution” to theme park design. The “one-stop” shop that has become so vogue. All these businesses are like mini versions of Walt Disney Imagineering was back when they were WED/MAPO.
From a contracting standpoint that can make sense, but it doesn’t always work. Often, by the time the finished product opens (be it a ride, attraction, land or more), it sometimes seems like it doesn’t really work as originally conceived – to the bitter disappointment of everyone, including the public and a company’s bottom line.
That is partly the fault of the company doing the hiring. Everyone buys into the concept as it moves along through the design, production and construction pipeline. It seems, sometimes, that no one says “wait a minute.”
Several times in my years in and around the business, I’ve heard people say “we should have taken a step back.” Well maybe companies should think about hiring an independent person or persons whose sole job is to be that “step back” person, and point out issues they can see as they are not so close to the project to begin with.
Catching the problems in the various stages before they lead to something that doesn’t work right at all when it opens to the public should be an important adjunct function. The themed entertainment business is littered with failed rides, shows and more because everyone involved was too close to it and could not see that they were no longer on the yellow brick road to success.
Saying goodbye to IAAPA Expo 2019. Photo by Mark Eades.
I’m a curmudgeon truth sayer
Yes, I’m saying all these things because I’m a bit of a curmudgeon and in my two careers (in theme park design and then covering them as a journalist) I’ve seen a lot of these. Maybe that’s the consulting business I should start: Nothing but the blunt truth, whether you like it or not. Think of how many cruddy projects I would stop in their tracks!
Those are my thoughts coming out of IAAPA 2019. Feel free to comment with the unvarnished blunt truth. Or hire me to tell it to you.
