Allegro
Currently Browsing: October, 2010
President’s Report
Are You Overdue?
Members who have been forgetting – or ignoring – their dues obligations to Local 802 need to know that we are serious about collecting If you’ve been ignoring your work dues bills from Local 802 – or if you’re supposed
‘How Do I Get a Gig in This Town?’
Sometimes, it’s all about who you know. The gatekeepers to many of the best gigs in New York City are contractors: musicians who place the other musicians in jobs. Five years ago in Allegro, we heard from seven top contractors.
It’s Time to Get Out the Vote
Local 802 has endorsed Eric Schneiderman for attorney general. Photo: Azipaybarah via Flickr.com It was a good night for New York State politics. Of the 17 candidates endorsed by Local 802 so far, seven were in contested primaries on Sept.
‘Tell a Story, Don’t Just Play Notes’
Janos Starker's musical mastery
When cellist Janos Starker speaks, musicians listen. Starker recently gave a master class in southern California, and it was a pleasure to be there. Over lunch we spoke about making a film of his extraordinary life. The cellists of the
Live from Times Square!
Photos by Walter Karling Times Square became a Broadway stage on Sept. 12, when the 19th annual “Broadway on Broadway” event took place between 43rd and 47th Streets. The extravaganza traditionally consists of musical numbers from both long-running hits and
Steps Ahead
Justice for Jazz Artists
Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola has a great view, and now the club pays pension for some musicians. Photo: LuizFilipe via Flickr.com It’s official: some jazz musicians at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola are receiving pension contributions for the first time The
Local 802 Collects $50K for DiCapo Musicians
Local 802 has recovered over $50,000 in wages, pension and late fees for musicians who performed with Dicapo Opera last season. Management had failed to pay musicians for productions of “Il Caso Mortara,” Donizetti’s Requiem and “Madama Butterfly.” The Concert
‘Meet and Greet’ Offers Chance to Learn and Network
Theatre Roundup
Click to view flyer If it’s October, it’s time for our annual Meet and Greet, an event where new theatre musicians – especially those playing at the New York Fringe Festival and New York Music Festival – can get acquainted
‘Union Boot Camp’
ICSOM conference becomes a life-changing
This August I had the great pleasure of attending the 2010 conference of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians as an alternate delegate. This was quite a departure for me, for even after 20 years in the New
People Power
Politics are never boring at the COPE conference
Workers who make Mott’s applesauce and other products were on strike for four months. I recently got an education in the New York State labor movement when I attended the Convention on Political Education (COPE) convention in Albany on Aug.
Five Years Later…
A young trumpeter practices in New Orleans. Photo: Kefuoe via Flickr.com As a sister city of live music, New Orleans shares a musical connection with New York City. Allegro’s correspondent in New Orleans gives us her annual update on the
Taking a Deeper Look at Indie Musicians
Let's follow through on a proposal to study how we can succeed
As the article “Indie Musicians Come Together” in the last issue of Allegro makes clear, the current administration at Local 802 is making an effort to “become a resource and help give voice” to indie musicians. In order for this
Allegro Wins Major Writing Prize
Saul Miller Award has a surprising connection with Local 802
Allegro recently picked up a prestigious writing award in the annual journalism contest of the International Labor Communications Association. We won the Saul Miller Award for best organizing story for the piece in last year’s October issue about the annual
Need Some Personal Help?
Therapy offers some tools and answers
As New Yorkers, we get very used to hearing our friends talk about therapy and their therapists. Therapy serves as a great source of comfort and support for many people. Years ago, there was often a negative association that therapy
‘Why we joined the union’
Christos Rafalides Ray Joh Giuseppe Fusco Amy Baer Jonathan McElroy Aaron Cotler As a professional vibra-phonist, I earned degrees from both the Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. I’ve been leading my own band called Manhattan
Bill Crow’s Band Room
Herb Gardner passed along a story he got from the late Arvell Shaw, who was Louis Armstrong’s bass player for many, many years. Arvell told Herb that the first tune of the night on Louis’s concerts was always “Back Home