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Edward Libonati
Edward Libonati - Summer Theatre of New Canaan Ed Libonati Imposed utterly outrageous demands upon carpentry staff... and then tried to stiff us on pa
13th of Dec, 2010 by User205639
I got called in to work for SToNC at the beginning of this previous summer from a friend of mine. It seemed like a great gig at $22 per hour (1099 contracting) working as a stage carpenter. Twenty-two per hour is fairly ordinary in this field and while the job was a schlep and a half (coming from South Brooklyn all the way out to New Canaan, CT), it was good pay and I needed the work. Within the first couple of days, I received warning from the sound guy that the previous year's carpenters never got paid. However, I had also heard that they had done a pretty horrendous job (given the way the stage pieces were slapped together, I didn't doubt that). I didn't pay it too much mind, but filed that thought away in the back of my mind nonetheless. The first week went well. It was a tough week, but we all made it out alive and all got paid on time. However, the work consistently took considerably longer than necessary due to the fact that Mr. Libonati was always giving us orders and then proceeding to change his mind about them once the necessary tasks had been completed. The first example of what would become many was when he instructed us on where to place the stage and then, several hours later when the stage was nearing completion, declared that the entire stage must be brought forward several feet. Luckily, the technical director was willing to hitch the stage to the back of his van and, albeit with difficulty, we managed to get the stage forward. Again, we got paid on time. The following month, when we came back to work again, it was more or less the same story. This time, however, the offices conveniently happened to miss a pay cycle. We all got paid just three days before we were scheduled to come in again for the following month. The last week, in which we took the set down, was where all patience for Edward J. Libonati was lost. After loading an entire truck with stage and set pieces, Ed decided that he was displeased with the way everything looked inside the truck. All necessary safety precautions had been taken, all elements inside were secure, and yet somehow this was not satisfying to Mr. Libonati. Nonetheless, we performed the task at hand with maximum efficiency, and eventually had the truck loaded to Ed's delusional specifications. Upon departure from this final, hellish week (we were working outdoors in the middle of this past summer's heat wave), we were informed that our checks would be mailed the following day. We thought all was well, congratulated each other on a job well done, and waited for our checks. After two weeks had passed, the head carpenter contacted Ed with regards to payment and was told that the checks had been mailed out, but must have gotten lost (Keep in mind that this entails no less than three paychecks going to different locations). Upon mention of his contract, however, the lead carpenter was paid with every ounce of swiftness and efficiency that one might expect from a halfway decent employer. There remained, however, two more paychecks. I personally contacted Ed about my payment, was told, "The check's in the mail," and heard no more from him. Over the course of three or four days, I attempted to contact him about my check but was consistently met with his answering machine. On the fourth day, I left Ed a voicemail saying that if he did not pay me, I would have no choice but to contact both the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut and the CT State Attorney General. Two minutes later, I received an angry phone call from him telling me that I was rude, impatient, and inconsiderate, that he "hope[s I'm] happy" and that the check will reach me shortly. A week or so later, well over a month after my last shift at the Summer Theatre of New Canaan, I finally received my paycheck. As far as I know, the last carpenter had to wait another two weeks before he confronted Ed and was given his check. Good word of advice: Don't piss off a bunch of men who swing hammers all day.

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