Allegro
Currently Browsing: February, 2008
DIALING UP JUSTICE
Finally, performers have a chance at getting paid when their music is heard on the radio. The Performance Rights Act (H.R. 4789, S. 5200), introduced in mid-December, would give musicians the same right that songwriters and publishers now enjoy. Most
Pops and Union Reach Agreement
Contract may be template for other freelance orchestras
Photo by Steve J. Sherman On Dec. 21, a tentative agreement for a new contract was reached with the management of the New York Pops. Negotiations were long and laborious, having begun last spring. Traditionally, it has been the agreement
Nightmare Tours
Musicians, beware of bad tours! Once you leave U.S. soil, all bets are off. This poster is real. It advertises a performance of the “New Kersey Phioharmonic Orchestra” in Korea. Shoddy promotion can be the least of your problems on
Work For Free? Not!
802 makes good on recording contract for New School students
Twenty-four-year-old Colin Dean is an 802 member, jazz bassist, bandleader, composer, and a recent graduate of the New School’s Jazz and Contemporary Music program. And now he can add one more title to that list of accomplishments: Advocate for Fair
The War On Workers Continues
Organizing Matters
Today, the right to form a union — one of the fundamental conditions behind the economic progress that created the middle class — is being brazenly trashed. From now on if employees win their union by signing everybody up, the
Writers’ Strike Update
Labor Solidarity
BREAKING NEWS As Allegro went to press, the following letter had just been posted on the Web site of the Writers Guild of America, East (www.WGAeast.org), dated Jan. 23, 2008. To Our Fellow Members, We have responded favorably to the
President’s Report
The Legacy of Jerry Ashby: Lessons From a Loss
Jerry Ashby passed away on Dec. 26. He’s pictured above on French horn, along with David Finlayson (trombone), Warren Deck (tuba), Carl Sakofsky (trumpet, left) and Wilmer Wise (trumpet, right). See Wilmer Wise’s letter remembering Jerry Ashby and Jerry Ashby’s
Good News from the Health Fund
Recording Vice-President's Report
There is encouraging news to report regarding the Local 802 Health Benefits Fund. For the first full benefit period following the Broadway contract settlement last March, most of the members who were on the union health plan have seen a
Home to Harlem
A Chapter in the Life of Trumpeter Hot Lips Page
Oran “Hot Lips” Page, pictured above around 1944. Page, an unsung trumpet legend, was known as “Mr. After Hours” for his ubiquitous presence at jam sessions in Harlem between 1937 and 1954. Local 802 jazz rep Todd Weeks has written
The State of the Arts Industry
Music & Politics
Arts and politics can work together. Cornell University’s Industrial Labor Relations program recently organized meetings and seminars with state legislators and aides to Gov. Spitzer about the nature, role and impact of the arts and entertainment industry. 802 Recording Supervisor
Learning How to Lead
Views from the Board
Executive Board members Ethan Fein, Andy Schwartz and Maxine Roach are in the process of attending a two-year program in union leadership from the Cornell Industrial and Labor Relations School. Below, Fein and Schwartz give their impressions of one of
Taking a Closer Look at Our Membership
In 2005, the Local 802 Executive Board contracted with the Labor Relations and Research Center at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) to survey the Local 802 membership. The aim of the survey was to assess the state of our union
Caring for Others
Musicians' Assistance Program
Sooner or later, many adults are faced with the complex and overwhelming responsibility of caring for an elderly parent, spouse, or other close relative or friend. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the magnitude of this challenge until there is
Vegas Memories
Member to Member
The first time I came to Las Vegas was back in the early 50’s as a member of the Xavier Cugat Orchestra. We were the hottest Latin Band in the country, and many musicians referred to us as the Latin
Supreme Court Slams Equal Pay
Legal Corner
When it comes to the Supreme Court, justice is often dependent upon one vote. Sometimes the swing vote will herald enlightened and progressive results. For instance, in 1937, despite strong political resistance, the Supreme Court said that the National Labor
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
Negotiations Roundup
With the conclusion of 2007, Local 802 wrapped up several contracts for Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway productions. Producers for MAKE ME A SONG and FRANKENSTEIN agreed to the terms of Local 802’s Commercial Off Broadway Area Standards. (This
Executive Board Minutes
December 4, 2007 -- December 18, 2007
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge Fein, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach and Schwartz. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of
Health Fund Contribution Rates Other than Broadway
Single Engagement Club Dates $27/engagement ($28 1/1/08) Freelance Classical Concert $41.73/ performance* Freelance Opera and Ballet $42.38 / performance Sound Recording $22/first session of the day, $16.50 ea addl. Motion Picture and TV Film $20.34/ day TV/Radio Jingle $17 +3% of
Breaktime Answers
Crossword and Sight-Sing Challenge
SIGHT-SING CHALLENGE:“Jesus Christ Superstar” (the Broadway musical) CROSSWORD PUZZLE: Across 1- Lowers the light DIMS 5- A stupor? ACOMA 10- Well informed about UPON 14- ____ Code AREA 15- “____ In the Sky” CABIN 16- Auto parts chain NAPA 17-
Bill Crow’s Band Room
Len Dobbin, up in Montreal, told me about one of the last record dates Pepper Adams did before he passed away. The date was with the Denny Christianson big band, at Montreal’s old Victor studios. Pepper, already suffering from terminal