HOUSTON, TX – Workers at the House of Blues in Houston, Texas have voted to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 51. The November 3 election results revealed an overwhelming 95% of votes cast in favor of union representation, uniting a group of 42 employees who work across lighting, sound, video, carpentry, props, stage management, hospitality, freight, and backstage coordination.
House of Blues Houston is a 43,000-square-foot concert venue with multiple performance spaces and a maximum capacity of 2,100 guests. Owned by Live Nation, it is part of the House of Blues chain of venues, which includes eleven locations across the United States. By joining IATSE, the Houston crew becomes part of a growing number of Live Nation-operated venues where workers have organized in recent years, reflecting a nationwide movement of live event professionals coming together for fair treatment and respect on the job.
Workers reached out to Local 51in August 2025 to begin the process of formal union representation. In the months that followed, workers held regular meetings to discuss how they could build a safer, fairer, and more respectful workplace together. “We came together to form a union because every worker deserves a safe, fair, and respectful workplace,” said Stagehand David Allen. “Our goal is simple: to ensure that all employees have adequate working conditions free from favoritism, intimidation, and hostility. We believe that no one should have to choose between their safety and their livelihood.”
“This is a historic moment for the Houston live music industry, and we’re proud to welcome these House of Blues workers into IATSE Local 51,” said IATSE Local 51 President Barry Thomas. Local 51 Business Representative Mark Grady added, “This election is another win for working people in the City of Houston, which—along with the recent successful hospitality worker strike—shows that Houston is quickly establishing itself as a leader in a new wave of worker-driven organizing.”
“The House of Blues crew is a family, and IATSE has really welcomed us into their family,” said Sound Engineer Lee Robinson. “Our crew is very diverse in age and makeup. We decided to join because of how IATSE listened, encouraged, and included us in this process.”
With this successful election, the newly organized workers at House of Blues Houston join the growing movement of entertainment industry professionals across North America who are coming together with IATSE to secure fair treatment, safety, and dignity on the job. Workers who want to get involved or learn more can visit iatse.net/join.
