Klarinet Archive - Posting 000638.txt from 1996/04

From: eric nelson <eric.nelson@-----.US>
Subj: the union
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 13:00:22 -0400

Regarding the musician's union A.F.M., things are interesting here in
Utah. It seems that at one time, the union was very strong here,
particularly in the Salt Lake City area and among symphony and show
players. In fact, I joined the union just to have priority among those
called for substitute gigs. At the time, a union service was paying
$67.50. At the same time, I was playing non-union rock and jazz gigs for
at least double that amount. Then some of the movie and TV contractors
"discovered" salt lake city, and began contracting recording work here,
using primarily Utah Symphony musicians. They were able to get these
people for less than half the hourly rate paid L.A. studio people, and they
were just as happy with the results. These sessions were, of course,
non-union, and the union members doing it were breaking their own rules,
but the money was too good for most of them to turn down ($45-50 per hour).
The union got wind of this, and sent some spies into the studio w/ cameras
to try to determine who was outside the lines. There was a major scene,
and over half of the Ut Symphony quit the union, and the union has very
little influence here now. I also quit, and have seen no difference in
number and payment of gigs. In fact, the scene is better now. There are
many working, professional non-union musicians around, and at least here,
membership in the union is not a criterium for being invited to an
audition. And union scale continues to be half or less than half of what I
usually get for a country club or convention casual. Will the union again
become valid here? who knows??

e

eric nelson
lightwood duo