Allegro
Currently Browsing: April, 2004
President’s Report: Perpetrator Turns Into “Victim”
Virtual Orchestra Machine Files Unfair Labor Charge
Did you ever think you’d see the day when a machine designed to eliminate live music, and ultimately jobs, would try to pass itself off as the injured party? Well, my friends, that day has arrived. On March 4, approximately
On the Trail with John Kerry
802 is Labor Liason for Kerry's Campaign in NY
For the first time in decades, New York became a focal point of Super Tuesday. More often than not, the Democratic candidates are narrowed down to one frontrunner by the time March 2 rolls around. However, with John Edwards still
Union Finances Back in the Black
Controller's Report
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2003, Local 802 enjoyed a gain of $142,109, compared with a loss of $348,570 in the prior year. The audited financial statements for the year appear on page 18 of the April 2004 issue
Getting Paid for Digital Downloads
AFM Seeks to Add Internet Music to SRLA
Digital downloads are no longer dirty words around the AFM. Up until recently, digital downloads were considered the realm of Internet pirates — or music fans too cheap to buy their own records. Local 802 and the AFM had only
Local 802 Gets SET to Confront Big Media
New Program Trains Entertainment Unions How to Mobilize
To fight back against the consolidation of power by media corporations, various entertainment unions in New York recently hired Cornell University to formulate a new training program. One purpose of the program is to give research and strategy tools to
Union Report Blasts Clear Channel
Company is "Poster Child" for What's Wrong With Media Deregulation
The AFL-CIO released a Cornell University study on Jan. 28 about Clear Channel, one of the country’s top largest media conglomerates and a lightning rod in the debate around media consolidation. The report — “The Clear Picture on Clear Channel”
Breathing Clean Air is Everyone’s Right
Guest Commentary
Every year, when the labor movement marks Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28, we mourn those who have been felled by occupational injury and disease and we renew our efforts to make workplaces the safe and healthful environments that they
Member to Member: Swinging on the Picket Lines
A Blueprint for a Radical Street Marching Band
“Fewer and fewer people in this country entertain each other with verbal games, recitations, charades, singing, playing on instruments, doing anything as amateurs — people who are good at something because they enjoy it.” — Adrienne Rich. About a hundred
Solidarity of the Heart
Musicians Lend a Hand to an 802 Child
Last fall, I was offered the chance to lead a brass ensemble in Duffy Square to let people see live musicians playing live music and enjoying themselves. Gotham Wind Ensemble was born. On Oct. 20, 2003 we rehearsed each piece
A Personal Sound: Portrait of David Weber at 90
I had heard a lot about legendary clarinetist and teacher David Weber. I arrived at his apartment on the Upper West Side, and was welcomed by Weber and his gracious wife Dorothy. Weber’s music room is filled with photographs and
“If Only I Could Get a Good Night’s Sleep!”
Musicians' Assistance Program
We’ve all had bad nights, when we toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. Persistent sleep problems can lead to a loss of productivity, irritability, diminished pleasure in daily life, and increased health problems. Sleep is not simply a “time
“The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq”
Book Notes
THE FIVE BIGGEST LIES BUSH TOLD US ABOUT IRAQ, by Christopher Scheer, Robert Scheer and Lakshmi Chaudhry, Akashic Books, Brooklyn & Seven Stories Press, New York City, 2004, 190 pp., paper, $9.95. It’s now widely accepted (by all except dyed-in-the-wool
Allegro Announces Photo Contest
Are you a photographer? Local 802 announces a photo contest with a top prize of $50 and publication in Allegro. The winning photograph will be the one that best promotes live music. The best photo will be chosen at the
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. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o
Labor Solidarity
NEW SCHOOL TEACHERS Part-time teachers at the New School are close to finally winning union representation with the United Auto Workers. In late February, the National Labor Relations Board certified that 530 teachers had voted for a union, compared to
Legislative Update
Local 802 has reprinted the New York State AFL-CIO’s progress report on the current status of bills in the New York State Legislature affecting working families. On Feb. 24, several bills important to the New York labor movement were moved
Negotiations Roundup
OFF BROADWAY “Naked Boys Singing!” After six months of lengthy and tough negotiations, which included an unfair labor charge against the employer, a new contract was finally reached with Boyzco, L.L.P. (Jaime Cesa, general manager). The musical takes place at
Executive Board Minutes
January 30, 2004 -- February 10, 2004
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, and Assistant to the President Delia.
Bill Crow’s Band Room
This story was told to Jamie Aebersold by trombonist John Welsh, and was sent to Pete Hyde by Pat Dorian, an educator out in East Stroudsburg, Penn. Pete passed it along to me. John, 18 years old and naïve, was