| Union Yes or No? |
| I hate unions I'd rather never play again! |
|
15% |
[ 4 ] |
| Union's were ok back then, but not now please! |
|
30% |
[ 8 ] |
| I would join if I had to for a great paying gig. |
|
46% |
[ 12 ] |
| I support my musicians local# ___ payin my dues |
|
3% |
[ 1 ] |
| I am union all the way! AFL CIO bless em all |
|
3% |
[ 1 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 26 |
|
| Author |
Topic: I need some advice on Talent Agencies and Unions... |
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
|
Posted 6 Apr 2009 4:47 pm |
|
Many years ago in California my band auditioned for a talent agency. They didn't want the band, but they did want me the pedal Steel player.
Long story short... It was the best paying gig I ever had, I had to join the Musicians Union, and travel some. Years passed, and I took other non-union gigs and quit payin dues.
Have any of you gotten bookings through an Agent? Did you have to join the union?
Will I have to pay back dues? Oh Lord I hope not!
I don't live in CA any more. I have developed a pretty good solo act but I could sit in with anyone too.
I await your experienced advice, and thank you in advance. This site is a wonderful resource, my band of steel brothers!
Dom Franco  |
|
|
 |
Tommy Shown
From:
Denham Springs, La.
|
Posted 8 Apr 2009 9:53 pm
|
|
Don, I will tell you something about agents, I had a gentleman one time offer to an agent for me. I was starting out as a writer and performer.The man talked a good speech about the "evils" in the business and If I would send him $100.00 per month as an advancement on his commissions, he would represent me. I talked it over with my parents and my uncle, they strongly suggested that I do not sign up with him, because if any person claiming to be an agent wants to represent you, should make all the calls for the investors and book the events you are scheduled for. Not you send him money. He gets his money in the end after everyone gets their cut.
Tommy |
|
|
|
Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 5:36 am
|
|
Wow, I am suprised, don't we have any union steel players on the forum? Or are they afraid to identify themselves for fear of ridicule or black listing?
I am really serious, I am looking for the better gigs. Why not join?
Dom |
|
|
|
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 5:52 am
|
|
Back in London I was always an MU member - there was no choice if you wanted good work like sessions, TV/radio and West End theatre work.
The only reason I belong to my local (Tampa) is for the access to good instrument insurance rates! Do you know I can't even persuade them to start a 'steel guitar' category in their listings of members? I'm there under 'Guitar', with a note listing my other instruments.
I have derived NO benefit from my six years of membership apart from the insurance rate. I once had a call from a girl-singer who had got my number from them - she wanted me to drive up to Tampa and rehearse 'just in case' she landed some gigs; needless to say, this would have been unpaid.
To this day I've made my own work connections here in the USA.
Re: the London MU - even though I'm no longer an active fee-paying member, they still see to it that all residuals from my session and TV work from the old days reaches my UK bank account. I must say, though, that they never actually got me a job, either!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
---------------------------------- |
|
|
|
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 5:59 am
|
|
THE POWER OF THE UNIONS...
Here's an 'aside'.....
About four years ago I was on a national tour of 'The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas'. It was well-paid, but not a 'Union' job. However, as we neared the end of the tour, the final week loomed ever-closer. This was to be a week at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, allegedly a staunch 'union house'.
Our Tour Manager asked the musicians which of us were AFM members in good-standing; it turned out that five of the six of us were. We were told that there would be a vast increase in our pay for that last week, so I naturally thought - 'That's good - at last I'll derive some benefit from the AFM!'
Wrong!!!! Once the powers-that-be discovered that five musicians would be due the extra reimbursement, it all got swept under the administrative carpet, and no more was heard about it.
And that was right in the heart of LA....
Makes you think, doesn't it? I wrote to their Local, but heard no more.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
---------------------------------- |
|
|
|
chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 10:24 am
|
|
i had to 'member up' a couple times...also to do whorehouse at the sacto music circus and other things..but with any luck, you need to have a rational friend in the powers that be somewhere who understand that you must be allowed to quit immediately after to survive without ridiculous fines.
in other words..join short term for a good paying gig! |
|
|
|
Ellis Miller
From:
Cortez, Colorado, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 1:14 pm
|
|
| Dom Franco wrote: |
Wow, I am suprised, don't we have any union steel players on the forum? Or are they afraid to identify themselves for fear of ridicule or black listing?
I am really serious, I am looking for the better gigs. Why not join?
Dom |
I will suggest that you will be severely dissappointed if you join the union on the presumption that it will get you a better gig. Most of the membership in the Musicians Union are not making a living playing music and therefore, the unions don't help out the professionals much. The casual players call the shots.
There are exceptions in the major music centers such as Nashville, LA, New York and Las Vegas, mostly in the recording studios.
The Musicians Union does not wield the power it once did. As I mentioned, it never did serve the function of getting its members better gigs and I am pretty sure that has not changed.
Hopefully some forumites from your area will weigh in.
_________________
Ellis Miller
Don't believe everything you think.
http://www.ellismillermusic.com |
|
|
|
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 1:26 pm
|
|
I never thought for a moment that the MU or the AFM would ever get me any kind of gig - good or bad. I've only ever been a member because it has a requirement in certain areas of employment.
The whole principle of Unions is, to me, at odds with the freelance nature of what I've chosen to do for a living. Trying to eke a living as a musician has. by its nature, a ring of independence about it rather than a structured one-for-all, all-for-one ethic.
I've always felt a little uncomfortable about membership, as it is basically at odds with my politics.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
---------------------------------- |
|
|
|
Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 6:09 pm
|
|
Back in the Seventies, I worked Union (Local 47) Los Angeles.
The Union had it's annual country music fair. There were five bands present, all Union members in good standing.
After sweating all day (outside gig) We set up and played our set.
I asked the union rep when we were to be paid. He stated the check would come out of New York, the headquartes of the AFM. 91 days later, I received a check for 23 dollars. So, I did not pay my dues for 91 days. I then found out I was blacklisted in the Union. I said great, and have never (and never will) play another Union gig. JMO |
|
|
|
Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
|
Posted 9 Apr 2009 8:47 pm
|
|
The last so-called union gig I played was maybeabout twenty five years ago,was a 4th of july gig here in Alabama in a park,at the time played in a band that backed up artist that came to town without their bands,It was maybe a 100 in the shade that day,the bandstand had NO cover out in the open,there was was about six artist we had to back up,John Anderson and Leon Everitt was two I can remember,Each would do about thirty minutes,and the next one would come on,did that for about two and ahalf hours,about a week later got a check for twenty five bucks and the SOB'S took tax out of that,That was the LAST one of those I did. DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
|
|
|
