Allegro
Currently Browsing: May, 2007
TENTATIVE BROADWAY DEAL REACHED
As Allegro goes to press, a tentative agreement has been reached with the League for a new three-year Broadway contract. In a message to Broadway musicians, President Landolfi stated in part the following: I am pleased to report that on
May Day Roars Back
Labor History Month
Drummers performing at an anti-war rally last year show that music of any kind adds emphasis to politics. Photo by Joy Portugal. Last year saw a resurgence of May Day activism around the issue of immigration reform with actions taking
President’s Report
Is There No Longer Any Honor Among Musicians?
You know you’re getting old when standards once widely accepted are replaced by a new reality. “In my day…” has always been the identifying cry of those whose day is past. Time does march on and the old always makes
Health Care: Our Challenge
Recording Vice President's Report
While it is too early to gauge the financial impact on the Local 802 health plan of the changes that became effective January 1, 2007, the impact on 802 members has been dramatic. The cuts in coverage have made most
A Good Year For Local 802
Financial Vice President's Report
I am pleased to report that 2006 year-end financial results for Local 802 were unusually robust. In fact, we ended the year with one of the largest gains ever: $877,624. To put things in perspective, we ended 2003 with a
The Financial State of the Union
Controller's Report
I have been at Local 802 for ten months and have now pretty much experienced all that goes on with my job. The LM-2 tax filing was a learning experience, but we got it done timely and accurately. When I
HMO Rates to Change
Membership Alert
As most 802 members know, the Local 802 health plans do not include hospitalization. However, for the past few years, 802 has offered an HMO plan that does include hospitalization. In order to qualify, you must first be on one
We Need More Like Him
Harvey Fierstein Shows How to Be United
Photo by Martin Steisand via Flickr. How often does someone in our business stand up and publicly support Local 802 and live music? Not often, it seems. However, there is one person to whom we owe thanks and appreciation. Harvey
Union Collects Big Money for Members
Money for musicians. That’s one reason Local 802 exists: to make sure that you get your fair share. In 2006, the union collected at least $2.25 million for musicians — and the figures are still coming in. Most of this
Anti-Scalping Law Up for Debate
Music and Politics
The state law that prohibits ticket scalping and regulates ticket resale expires on June 1 and the debate on the issue is heating up in Albany. The most contentious provision of the current law limits the mark-up ticket brokers can
Bread, Roses and Spring
Labor History Month
Bread and Roses is a center dedicated to workers’ art. The name comes from the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Mass. Workers came up with the slogan: “We want bread — and roses too!” In other words, it’s not enough
Broadway and the Blacklist
Labor History Month
How often have union members asked, “What has my union done for me?” How about this: my union helped fight the blacklist. The New York Labor History Association along with Actors’ Equity and the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives came
Are You My Son?
New Working Theatre Play About Love, Loss and War
“Back From the Front” runs from May 3 to 27 at the theatre at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue at 120th Street. For tickets, call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.ticketweb.com. Mention code AFM802 and receive a $5 discount. For information
The Beat on the Street
Labor History Month
May is Labor History Month. Union membership has been dropping in recent decades. Do you know musicians who aren’t union members? What should Local 802 – or the labor movement in general – be doing about this situation? The first
Singing History: Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Photo Section
Never forget! The New York City Labor Chorus sang at a memorial to the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire on March 26. One hundred and forty-six workers lost their lives on March 5, 1911 due to criminal conditions. For
Thank You, George Bush
Member to Member
Unionists protest the Iraq war earlier this year in Washington, D.C. This spring marked the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Photo by David Elsila. Yes, George, I’d like to thank you and your deceitful manipulating cohorts for
The Musicians’ Voice
The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o
Lending An Ear
Musicians' Assistance Program
The month of May ends with the annual observation of Memorial Day, a three-day weekend marking the beginning of the summer season. Aside from the classic fashion rule giving us permission to begin wearing white shoes and accessories, Memorial Day
You’d Better Shop Around
Legal Corner
While independent recording artists have a great deal of freedom to market and distribute their own original works, especially with the advent of digital technology and the Internet, the terrain in which they work is still not without substantial risks
May is Labor History Month!
2007 Events and Exhibitions
EXHIBITIONS New York Divided: Slavery and the Civil War New York Historical Society Central Park West at W. 79 St., NYC 10024 Through September 2, 2007 Tues. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Fri. until 8 p.m.) Slaves, abolitionists,
Remembering Siegfried Landau
Reminiscences
The music community was startled and horrified on Feb. 21 when news came of the tragic death of Siegfried Landau, 85, founding conductor and first music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Mr. Landau’s wife, the dancer and photographer Irene Gabriel,
Robert Abernathy
Reminiscences
Usually the beginning of the new year brings many pleasant things to think about and review the past. Unfortunately, 2007 brought news of the death of French hornist Robert Abernathy. He had been an 802 member since 1940. I was
Bylaw Proposal
The following bylaw proposal has been submitted for the June 2007 membership meeting. Whereas: The Anne Walker Scholarship provides a needed benefit to help the children of Local 802 members in their educational pursuits, and Whereas: The current annual Local
Executive Board Minutes
March 6, 2007 -- March 20, 2007
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo and Schwartz. Dennison distributed the minutes of February 27,
Bill Crow’s Band Room
Mikael Elsila got this story from a friend of his who used to work at the Andre Stein Senior Center. The seniors from the center were from working class backgrounds, and none of them had ever been to Lincoln Center,