It is hard to determine who exactly is in charge of hiring the dancers and volunteers for the Super Bowl Halftime show.
Is it the leading performer (in this case, Dr. Dre), the NFL, Pepsi (the sponsor), the city of Inglewood (where Super Bowl is being held), Sofi Stadium (Rams/Chargers owner), or someone outsourced?
Whatever the case, they are looking for unpaid volunteers, and Taja Riley is exposing that.
Here is what she said on Instagram about the process of hiring dancers and volunteers for the Super Bowl halftime show.
The show may be at halftime, but any dance artist participating should be PAID IN FULL!
Over the last couple days many of my dance artist friends received a casting email, or DM via their agent, friend, or the Super Bowl Coordinator @kristannesta , asking if any dance artists (with emphasis on pre-Dominantly African American Movers), would be interested to “volunteer for free” as talent for the Super Bowl Halftime show.
I’m sure I don’t have to explain but the Super Bowl is the most PROFITABLE GLOBAL SPORTING EVENT ON ANY GIVEN YEAR.
Why be cheap, especially on such an incredibly important performance honoring, + showcasing African American talent?
I’m wondering how many ppl involved are aware of this ask, + are willing to wield their power adding budget to include paying their qualified talent 4 their time, effort, + skill set. @jessecollinsent @fatima_noir @pepsi @superbowl2022 @sagaftra @officialfrandrescher
Based on All the info listed above, here are things that I find fishy: asking to sign an NDA b4 learning how the “volunteers” will be utilized, work exertion hours + “volunteering period”, having to pay your own transportation/food, not knowing who will be handling/directing the “volunteers”. And last but certainly not least —> agents allowing for their signed talent to even consider doing this. @blocla 👀
In previous years The Super Bowl has been known to pull in locals to volunteer as concert go-ers but To qualify as a “volunteer”, production CANNOT require them to learn any choreography, unless they must be PAIDDDD.
Dance artists that are looking to move forward w/ this: I resonate w/ wanting to elevate the resume, but I don’t think it’s cool for big budget productions (approved by the union) to take advantage of newer dance artists when it concerns “exposure”. Posting this in hopes that we can improve this situation for them + raise awareness to prepare future dance artists to receive specificity in deliverables prior to signing paperwork.🙏🏾
What are your thoughts on this?
Do you think the NFL, who makes billions, should come out of pocket for the locals helping them with the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Let us know on Twitter.
Flip the page to see Taja exposing on the docs from the NFL.