I am deeply honored and humbled to step into the role of president and executive director of Local 802 after being appointed by the Executive Board almost three weeks ago. This role is both a privilege and a significant responsibility, and I commit to advocating fiercely for the rights and needs of the working musicians of this union. As Local 802’s president, my message to each of you is simple: I will stand by you — and for you — always.

I am the product of a union household on Chicago’s south side, raised by my mother, a member of the American Nurses Association, and father, a former truck driver with the Amalgamated Transit Union. The dignity, job security, fair pay, and good benefits that their unions afforded them was life-changing for my family. It formed both the backbone of the education I received and also the values I was raised with that I proudly fight for today.

As many of you know, I most recently served as the recording vice president and, before that, chief of staff. In both roles, I helped lead Local 802 through several high-profile negotiations and the critical issues facing our members today. This included negotiations with the New York Philharmonic and the Broadway League, winning access to New York State’s film tax credit for musicians, and coordinating our union’s public campaign against musician replacement through recorded music on Broadway with Here Lies Love.

With this experience, I embrace the role of president with a clear understanding of our industry’s rapidly changing landscape and the numerous challenges we face. From the lingering impact of the pandemic to the rise of artificial intelligence in music production and machine learning, we sit at a critical crossroads. Closer to home, we must navigate some key obstacles facing Local 802, including the status of our building at 322 West 48th Street and several upcoming contract negotiations.

Tackling the broader issues facing our industry, as well as the more immediate challenges facing our union, will require bold leadership and innovative solutions. Make no mistake: these are not abstract concepts or mere talking points, but the essential building blocks of this administration that will guide our future.

I can think of no better example of these two principles in action than the fact that Sarah Haines will be the first playing recording vice president at Local 802. By reframing the role of recording vice president to allow for a playing musician to step into that position, we have elevated an energetic and dynamic voice to our union’s leadership as a step towards creating pathways for working musicians to pursue leadership roles without leaving their careers.

We’ll continue our path of bold leadership and innovative solutions as the Executive Board focuses on its strategic planning initiative, with the goal of setting Local 802 on a course of collective action with our members, driven by the collective thinking of the union’s leadership. Through this process, we will confront the many challenges facing our membership, be it the skyrocketing cost of healthcare, employer pushback against fair wage growth, and the existential threat to our livelihoods posed by artificial intelligence.

But I cannot meet this moment without your help and involvement.

That is why I plan to conduct a listening tour of Local 802 to meet with you, the members who are the union, hear your concerns, and, together, develop solutions that benefit every member, regardless of genre or experience. With your support, we will navigate the challenges facing our industry and seize new opportunities for artists in New York City.

Thank you for your trust and confidence. Together, we will build a stronger future for our union and ensure that the voices of working musicians continue to resonate across our stages and beyond. I look forward to working with Financial Vice President Karen Fisher, Recording Vice President Sarah Haines, and the Executive Board to accomplish these goals.

I wish you all a safe, happy, and successful new year and I look forward to seeing you soon.

In solidarity,

Dan Point