The shockingly low pay for NFL cheerleaders

[davidn3600]

High-school cheerleaders rule the halls, commanding the admiration of every dweeb, dork, and quarterback. But as salaried adults, cheerleaders are at the bottom of the pyramid.

This week, current and former Raiderettes—the cheer squad for the Oakland Raiders—filed suit in the Alameda County Superior Court, claiming that the football team “withholds all pay from the Raiderettes until after the season is completed, does not pay for all hours worked and forces the cheerleaders to pay many of their own business expenses,” according to the San Jose Mercury News.

The Raiderettes’ lawyer, who is demanding tens of thousands of dollars in back-pay, said the cheerleaders make only $1,250 a year, or less than $5 an hour, and they’re fined for minor lapses like bringing the wrong pom-poms to rehearsals or for “not turning in written biographies on time.” One of the plaintiffs added that the team also makes the women foot their own hair, makeup, travel, and photo expenses.

The Raiders, though, are far from the only—or even the worst—offenders when it comes to cheaping out on cheerleaders. San Diego Chargers cheerleaders get $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass. The Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders make $100 for each of 10 (mandatory) performances at home games. That includes showing up five hours before the game starts, practicing twice a week for three hours from April through January, and participating in a “training camp” each June.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/shockingly-low-salaries-professional-cheerleaders-130000752.html

[El_Johns]

1. That actually is pretty shocking -- it's like a fast food job.

[dilby]

2. Cheerleading is not a career and the women know the pay before taking the job.

She knew what she was getting into before she accepted the position, you can't take a job then say you want more money after the season ends because you feel you deserve more than you originally agreed to. Also the sport of Football does not need cheerleaders, several teams do not even have them. Finally the ball boy is more important than the cheerleaders and they don't even get paid.

[anneboleyn]

6. My thoughts too. It is not a job in the traditional sense -- like a beauty pageant they do it for

self-promotion, pics in calendars, putting their names out for publicity reasons. They know all of this, so the lawsuit and complaining to the media post-season seems rather disingenuous.

[Nye Bevan]

7. So should it be legal for employers to pay less than minimum wage,

provided that the employees in question "know what they are getting into" ahead of time?

[dilby]

13. According to the IRS they are independent contractors.

So they are not employees and they agree to do a job for a set amount. If they don't like the amount they should not do the job, I don't think people should sell themselves for nothing then after they get paid ask for more. Ask for more before taking it or better yet form a union and have them negotiate with the owners on salaries.

[Nye Bevan]

15. Ah, OK, if they are really independent contractors then they have no case.

But I think there have been cases where people have successfully challenged this classification.

[dilby]

16. They can challenge it for sure.

Since they are supplied the uniforms and have to adhere to strict guidelines set by the team but I think it will be a hard sell because they are told about the practice schedule and game schedule ahead of time so they know the hours they will be putting in.

[Nye Bevan]

17. Actually I think part of being an independent contractor is the ability to set your own hours.

So that may actually count in their favor.

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. From 8:37 AM this morning;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024381769

[LittleBlue]

4. They should at least be paid minimum wage

They're as much a part of the game as anything else.

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Volunteers?

Were not the original Cheerleaders all volunteers? I don't find their pay so low as outrageous and shocking that the team would dare to charge people for them to appear somewhere.

[The2ndWheel]

8. If these woman are owed money then they should get it

However, there are a lot of pretty woman out there. Plus, while cheerleaders are eye candy at a game, nobody has to go to a football game to specifically see women in a small amount of clothing anymore. On top of that, nobody really needs anyone to lead cheers at a game.

Again, if they are owed money, they should get it no question. Professional cheerleaders aren't all that necessary though.

[FarCenter]

9. $75 for each home game, along with two game tickets and one parking pass.

How much are two game tickets to a Chargers game worth? > $100?

It's also an opportunity for really good-looking women to meet really rich men.

[MineralMan]

10. I did some looking around and, apparently,

most NFL cheerleading teams area also available for booking for events. In looking at the pricing, it seems like decent pay for those events. Here's a page on the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders rates for events.

http://www.vikings.com/cheerleaders/cheerleader-appearance-request.html

Appearance Rate:
•$500 per hour for 2 cheerleaders
•Appearance may consist of but not subject to performing, meeting/greeting guests, signing autographs, taking photographs, selling calendars.
(Example: 2 cheerleaders for 2 hours totals $1,000)

Now, I don't know how often they get bookings, so how much they can earn is unknown.

[Nye Bevan]

11. I wonder how much of that goes to the cheerleaders as opposed to the team? (nt)

[MineralMan]

12. I have no idea whatever.

Just providing a link.

[Ron Green]

14. They ought to try playing music for a living.

Talk about shockingly low pay for lots of talent and expensive equipment.