Workers of all sorts can suffer an injury while in the course of their duties. Even stage directors are exposed to injury risks while directing a play, on or off stage. As with any work related injuries, stage directors should be protected by their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. A claim for compensation can help pay for medical treatment and can compensate for lost earnings resulting from an inability to return to work after an accident. Some stage directors and choreographers will be members of a union like the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society that can help with a claim. A workers’ compensation attorney can also provide useful legal assistance. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Stage directors and choreographers, whether they work on or off Broadway, in small or large theatres, anywhere in the U.S. have an independent labor union that works in their interests. The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) is an old established trade union, first set up back in 1959. The SDC negotiates with all types of producers for satisfactory contracts for directors and choreographers who work in a hugely diverse range of theatrical and musical environments. The SDC has two levels of membership, full and associate membership. Typical Injuries Encountered by Directors and Choreographers Directors and choreographers work in a large and varied work environment. In many cases their work takes them both off stage and on stage where the actual organization may often seem chaotic as it is progressively put into place before the performances are scheduled to begin. Both directors and choreographers can experience slip, trip and fall accidents as there are many obstacles they have to negotiate. Stage props may be insecure and fall on them causing head and body injuries, which can be serious if the object is heavy. Other potential injuries in and around the stage are electrocutions from loose or insecure wiring or electrical equipment and fire hazards in older buildings. What to Do If You Have Been Hurt On the Job as a Director or Choreographer If you know that your employer has workers’ comp. insurance then there are steps which you should be aware of before you actually submit a claim. Your SDC representative can point out what to do and you may also contact an attorney if at any stage you encounter resistance from either the employer or insurer. The first priority is always to get immediate medical treatment, even if the injury is relatively minor. Some injuries may not really become noticeable until days or weeks after the accident. Make sure you get whatever documents that are available which prove what was wrong with you and how much it cost to deal with it. You will need to formally let the producer know (or whoever is your key liaison in the business) about the injury, the accident that caused it and how it happened. This should be followed up by filing an accident report which will establish the time, date and nature of the injury as well as the fact that it happened while you were officially at work. Why Contact an Attorney An attorney is particularly useful if there is any dispute about your claim. Some insurers are reluctant to pay out for workers’ compensation and may reduce the claim amount to less than you consider reasonable or even deny the claim outright. A workers’ comp. attorney can help you appeal such a decision. Disclaimer The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be construed as legal advice. If you file a claim against your employer, you may not be entitled to any compensation.
