Boy oh boy @ekpickle and @pocketchange sign me up for the gigs that I'd have the luxury of standing around, chatting, smoking and enjoying craft service treats. I'll give you there is down time but specifically in the commercial world the work is steady and the days are long. I can't name a job that I got to eat with the rest of the crew or hit the bathroom more than once while on set. Not very glamourous if you ask me. I did laugh when @ekpickle mentioned she was scared to see what her hourly wage really was... on my latest tampon spot I made well below minimum. I'd say with the hours I put in no union could afford most p.a.'s or a few folks in production. The bank would be broken. That being said, no matter how difficult the schedules are or how hard the days have been it has afforded me a lifestyle to raise my family. The flip side? So many crew members health including mine has suffered in the long run. Again I say balance is the answer... solid hours and enough turnaround for all.