"Artists Play Lead Role in New Workforce"
				Beyond restaurants, they fill temp jobs By Emily Denitto It’s early in the morning and the phones in Manhattan Feather Dusters’ offices won’t stop ringing. Everet Goldberg, founder of the commercial and residential cleaning service, recently advertised for temporary employees. The responses are pouring in from an unexpected source. Mr. Goldberg placed his ad in Backstage, the entertainment trade magazine, and he’s hearing from actors, dancers, writers and voice-over talent.
				"People in the arts make great cleaners," he says. "They’re efficient, pay attention to detail and need their work schedules to be flexible." They’re also available in greater numbers than they have been in years. A revitalized economy is bolstering arts groups throughout the city, and renewing New York’s image as the place to make one’s mark. Starry-eyed artists are descending on the city in record numbers, and they need to make a living while they wait for Broadway or the latest Chelsea gallery to call. Once, these artists found jobs as waiters or bartenders on the side. bartenders on the side. Today, they don’t need to. Manhattan Feather Dusters is just one of a growing number of firms out trolling for fresh talent. "I’ve been working in real estate, retailing, telemarketing, as a film extra and more," says Richard Sauer, a painter temping as a cleaner. "There are a lot of options in the city today."
				Creative hiring policies Some agencies that hire temps focus on artists. Others complement traditional service offerings with niche businesses using the talents of underemployed creative types. Three years ago, Professionals for NonProfits Inc. opened a division specializing in "art handlers," which now boasts 115 part-time employees. "There isn’t a single worker who isn’t an artist as well," says Geri Thomas, a partner with the firm. "But in between their own shows, we put them to work hanging or organizing museum exhibits, library galleries and private collections." About 20% of the 1,500 temp workers sent out each week by The TemPositions Group of Cos. are in the arts. "They are especially good as computer workers, speechwriters, and receptionists," says James Essey, president. "Artists and performers are prime candidates because of their ability to adapt to different roles easily." The increase in artists working part-time reflects a rise in temp opportunities overall. Companies throughout the city have saved costs by cutting full-time workers and using part-timers as needed. The number of temp workers statewide has grown by 10% a year over the last three years to an average 50,000 per day, according to Mr. Essey, who is also president of the New York Association of Temporary Services. Growing demand is making it harder for the metro area’s 268 temp agencies to find the workers they want, and competition among firms is growing. One result is a rise in hourly pay rates, now up to about $8 an hour for receptionist jobs and $25 or more for sophisticated desktop or Web design work. Some firms offer health insurance and paid vacations after employees have put in a certain number of hours.
				The art of recruitment Increasingly, agencies try to tantalize artists and performers with their perks in part because they represent a rising pool of potential employees. Art schools are seeing major growth in the number of applications they’re receiving. New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts received 3,500 requests for the current year - a 169% rise from 1991. "I’d love to say it’s all because of our good work, but there’s no question that the city’s public persona plays an important role in this growth," says Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School. In between classes and-if they’re talented and lucky-arts jobs, most creative types struggle to earn their rent. But the effort isn’t quite as painful as in years past. Patricio Suarez, 22, came to New York from Miami about five weeks ago. Already, the actor/dancer has appeared in the Madison Square Garden Halloween show, in a music video and with a dance company. Still, he needs to supplement his income, and he’s relieved to have opportunities for other work that can be done on the side. "I found out about temping possibilities in New York before I moved here," says the 22-year-old, who’s been doing administrative duties between performances. "I had work the minute I hit the city. And it gives me time to focus on my career."
				© 2002 The TemPositions Group of Companies