Allegro
Currently Browsing: April, 2006
MPF Says No to Taped Music
Each year, Local 802 musicians lend their talent to “Broadway on Broadway,” produced by the League. But the annual show is starting to use more taped music. Photo by Walter Karling. Taped music has invaded Times Square. For the past
Is It Live? MPF Hopes So.
When records were invented, thousands of musicians lost jobs, partly because jukeboxes and D.J.’s replaced live bands. This led to musicians refusing to make records: the recording strike of 1942 to 1944. As part of the strike settlement, the AFM
President’s Report
On The International Front: A Week in Washington with the IEB
It was a busy week for the AFM International Executive Board when we convened our first quarter meeting in Washington D.C. last week, from March 28-31. I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the highlights of
It’s a Deal!
New York City Ballet Orchestra O.K.’s Contract
On March 3, the New York City Ballet Orchestra ratified a new three-year agreement retroactive from Labor Day 2005 through Aug. 31, 2008. “In these difficult times we got a pretty good settlement,” said Bob Biddlecome, bass trombonist in the
Spitzer Takes On Payola
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has sued Entercom, an owner of radio stations, in the latest ongoing effort to combat the pervasive influence of payola in the entertainment industry. Payola is the practice by which record labels and some independent promoters
Music and Decency
Beat on the Street
Last year, Congress came close to passing a law that would have fined musicians if they wrote “indecent” material that ended up on the air! (The AFM opposed the legislation.) As a musician, what’s your opinion on music and decency?
Attention Steven Scott Musicians
Local 802 has been informed that Steven Scott Enterprises intends to cease operations. However, we also know that Steven Scott bands continue to perform engagements already booked and in some cases are continuing to book engagements. It is our position
Earth Day is For Workers, Too
Guest Commentary
Not everyone is aware of it, but Earth Day on April 22 provides workers and unions with a major opportunity to promote occupational health and to forge strategic alliances with environmental organizations. Of course, not all Earth Day activities promote
Scabs Can Run But They Can’t Hide
802 Legal Corner
I was recently contacted by the president of AFM Local 369 (Las Vegas) with a question regarding the strike precipitated by Wayne (“Mr. Las Vegas”) Newton’s refusal to enter into a union contract for performances at the Flamingo. The president
Member to Member: Clean It Up!
...or it's time your music library came out of the closet
Okay, so you admit that you store your music wherever you can find the space to stash it. And you claim to know where it is. But every time you look for a piece, it takes you an hour or
“Who, Me?” A Little Denial Goes a Long Way
Musicians Assistance Program
Denial can be a normal, natural and even instinctive response to the stresses of life. It’s a way of refusing to deal with an uncomfortable or painful reality, or an aspect of our experience. Denial becomes problematic when its continued
New Faces at 802
A REP RETURNS Joel LeFevre passed his six-month probation on March 20 and joins the Recording Department as a business rep and recording organizer. Joel returns to Local 802 after a 20-year absence during which he worked in various organizing
Labor Against the War
March for peace, justice and democracy, and spread the word to bring our troops home now! On April 29, join other labor activists in saying no to the war in Iraq. JOIN THE LOCAL 802 CONTINGENT AT THE APRIL 29
Broadway Scales Go Up
As of March 6, the facilities rate for copyists on Broadway increased to 139.82 per day. There are also additional increases in the Broadway wage scales for copyists as of March 6. For more information, call the Music Prep department
Seeking Native American Artists
American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) is seeking talent for its Web-based Native American Artists Roster (NAAR), a source of multidisciplinary information on the rich array of emerging and established Native American artists who live and work in NYC and the
Free Spring Health Fair
A free spring health fair for all entertainment industry professionals will be held on May 9 from 10 to 3 at Actors’ Equity, 165 West 46th Street, on the second floor. The fair will include free blood pressure screenings, cholesterol
The Musicians’ Voice
The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o Local
Legislative Update
BLOOMBERG ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING Mayor Bloomberg gave the following remarks on his weekly radio address for March 5. New York City’s success story — our achievements in reducing crime, reforming our schools, and building our economy in all five boroughs
Money for Gigs? Yes!
MPF Deadline is April 20
April 20 is the deadline for requests for funding from the Music Performance Fund (MPF). You can use this money for gigs that take place from May 1, 2006 through April 30, 2007. If you have never applied for this
Theatre Roundup
“Barbara Cook & Elaine Stritch in Alphabetical Order.” An agreement was negotiated with Lincoln Center for this benefit production. The musicians’ wages are $250 (minimum) for one performance and $42.50 per rehearsal hour, with a minimum two-hour call. The music
Book Notes
“More Than Meets the Ear: How Symphony Musicians Made Labor History,” by Julie Ayer (Syren Book Company, 2005). “More Than Meets the Ear” is the story of a grassroots movement that transformed labor relations and the professional lives of U.S.
Breaktime
Breaktime is a new feature in Allegro. We’ll offer crossword puzzles, sight-singing challenges, cartoons – maybe even sudoku! E-mail your comments to Allegro editor Mikael Elsila at melsila@local802afm.org. Crossword Puzzle (blank) Crossword puzzle answers Answer to Sight-Singing Challenge: BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH
Executive Board Minutes
December 27, 2005 -- January 24, 2006
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2005 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss and Whitaker. Recording Vice President Dennison excused on vacation. Weiss took minutes of
Bill Crow’s Band Room
Bassist Don Payne, who now lives in Florida, was fresh out of the Army in 1958. He moved into a cottage in the Hollywood hills where he and a group of local musicians that called themselves “The Jazz Messiahs” often