Klarinet Archive - Posting 000564.txt from 1996/04

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: Amateur players and paying gigs
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 13:27:33 -0400

Nate,
Your right. My criticism is aimed at the ICA. But, I'll warn you,
you're treading on very thin ice when you bring up amateur players taking
paying jobs (below union scale) from union members. When an amateur gets
paid to pay, they are taking work away from a professional player that
would like to work for a living as a musician. I don't know your
profession, but how would you feel if your bose told you that you only have
to work 30 hour/week (pay reduction included!) because he found someone
that can do about the same level of work at half the price? I love music
and I try to make a living at it - which at times is very hard. Watch out,
next time you or a friend takes a job and thinks, "neat I can play and make
some fun money to boot", think about some musician that could use that gig
to just pay rent or live on. If you want to get paid for playing, join the
musicians union and compete against professional - if you get the job fine,
congrat! But at least don't undercut someone for "fun" money.

Sorry about the piece of mind

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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