Pros
Creative, fun work. If you are talented and experienced you can basically do whatever you feel like as long as you complete the job. Upper management is completely clueless as to methods and materials so there is no reason to produce quality work in a timely fashion. In fact, the burnt-out full timers know that working harder only creates more work for themselves, so they do the bare minimum. And smart freelancers will take as long as possible in order to keep working.
Cons
Petty and unreasonable owners who are also ungrateful and disrespectful towards their workers. Incompetent and duplicitous middle management will take credit for your successes and blame you for their failures. The staff is actually intimidated by scenic industry professionals and will do their best to minimize or entirely divert the recognition of your contribution in the eyes of the owners who are easily fooled these costly sycophants. The longterm full timers are mired in bored cynicism and resentment towards the disfunctional hierarchy and getting too close to them may affect your own morale. However much more readily apparent above and beyond this counterproductive toxic atmosphere is the fact that this place is one of the lowest paying scenery shops in the NYC area bar none. Unless you are a complete novice you would do well to avoid this mess at all costs. The company is a complete laughing stock amongst NYC scenic professionals!