Allegro
Currently Browsing: May, 2009
MAY IS LABOR HISTORY MONTH!
See all events and exhibitions below, or download calendar of events. EXHIBITIONS Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow Museum of Jewish Heritage 36 Battery Place, NYC 10280 Opens May 1 Sun. – Tues. & Thurs. 10 a.m. – 5:45 p.m. Wed.
Keeping Broadway Working
Broadway musicians ratify new promo agreement
Publicity helps everyone. That’s something that a majority of Broadway musicians agreed upon when they ratified a new promotional agreement with Broadway producers on April 18. The agreement allows the promotional use of captured material from Broadway performances and rehearsals
Arts – and Politics – in Motion
Music & Politics
JAMMIN’! Local 802 member Wynton Marsalis dazzled and inspired his audience with a moving lecture mixed with performance titled “The Ballad of the American Arts.” The 22nd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy was presented to a
Broadway on Pay-Per-View? Yes, and it’s Union!
Broadway’s on TV and it’s going to be union. Local 802 has negotiated an agreement with Broadway Worldwide, Inc., an entity that plans to do full-length pay-per-view broadcast of Broadway productions. The organization is the inspiration of Bruce Brandwen, who
President’s Report
Organize or Die
I got an e-mail from our controller, Ira Goldman, several days ago. It was a two-sentence message: “What can be done about a membership drive? Numbers are declining.” Ira is looking at the problem of declining membership from purely a
It Pays to Work Union!
Union collects over $3 million for members
If you’ve ever tried to sue someone in court — and then tried to collect on the judgment — you know what a hassle that is. Sometimes it’s impossible. But musicians who work under union contracts don’t have to worry
Recording Department Breaks New Record
As the economy began to slide last year, and as recording work started a downward turn, Local 802’s Recording Department was still able to collect the most money for musicians in union history. The total number — which includes grievances,
For the Next Generation, Classical Music is a Click Away
Tan Dun composed the “YouTube Symphony.” Photo by Nan Watanbe. What’s one way to get the next generation excited about classical music? Put it on YouTube. The popular video site just completed its YouTube Symphony project, which let musicians upload
A New Way To Audition
Earlier this year, members of the New York Philharmonic — including myself — were involved in judging entries for the “YouTube Symphony.” (Other orchestras participating in the process were the Berlin Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Hong Kong Philharmonic.) We
Giving Unions a Bad Name
Organizing Matters
Having worked 30 years as a full-time staff member at various unions, I have had to confront the stereotype of the corrupt and inefficient union. One doesn’t remain a union organizer for very long unless one can ignore that particular
If There’s No Contract, See You in Court!
If you work a nonunion recording session and get stiffed, sometimes the union can still help. When there’s no union contract to back you up, civil court can sometimes be an option. And often, Local 802 reps can accompany you
League and 802 Settle Over Stagehands’ Strike
The Executive Board of Local 802 has accepted a settlement of a grievance for musicians who lost work as a result of the stagehands’ strike in 2007. Readers will remember that when stagehands walked out, Local 802 members were instructed
HALT THE HIKE!
Do you take the subway? The MTA has voted to raise fares by at least 25 percent on New York City subways, buses, Metro North and the Long Island Railroad. It took this step because our state legislators in Albany
Holding Hands with the Next Generation
Labor History Month
Pete Seeger at 90 is still inspiring others. Photo courtesy Clearwater. The lifelong labor and music activist Pete Seeger turns 90 on May 3 and a star-studded group of his friends and fellow musicians will celebrate with him at Madison
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
LaborHistory Month
Geraldine Blankinship and Olen Hamm, veterans of the 1937 Flint sitdown strike, were honored by their modern-day counterparts in Detroit in February. To the left and right of the Flint strikers are two workers from Republic Windows and Doors. Last
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 Local
We’re Now on Twitter!
Music & Technology
Local 802 has joined the cutting edge of the 21st century and is now “tweeting.” To “tweet” is to send a message using Twitter, and Twitter is the latest addition to social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn.
From Blogging to Gigging
Music & Technology
I landed my first tour because of a little blog I kept about playing keyboards on a cruise ship. I called it the Chronicles of a Cruise Ship Musician (CCSM). I’d only meant for it to be a casual way
Music and Money
Book Review
“Hey! Mister Horn Blower” is the autobiography of Local 802 trombonist Gene Hessler, who is an interesting mix: he’s both a musician and an expert on the history of money. Hessler’s musical resume would impress anyone: Performed in the Army
Is it Better to Settle? Sometimes!
Legal Corner
Sometimes it’s better to settle. Here’s a story of two cases, one where the parties settled and one where they didn’t. Go back to my December 2008 and January 2009 columns. (You can read them on my Web site, at
Negotiations & Grievances
NEW DEAL FOR ‘ORPHEUS’ The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Inc. has reached a successor agreement with Local 802. The new two-year agreement runs from Sept. 1, 2008 to Aug. 31, 2010. Musicians won wage increases of five percent in the first
Why did you join the union?
From time to time, as space permits, Allegro will spotlight some new or readmitted members. I am a violinist, electric violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. I’ve been the concertmaster of regional orchestras as well as a recitalist and soloist. I joined
Are You in Grief?
Musicians' Assistance Program
The office of the Musicians’ Assistance Program (MAP) is your one-stop shop for musicians’ health. We offer counseling — both one-on-one and in groups — as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, food stamps
Executive Board Minutes
March 17, 2009 - March 24, 2009
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2009 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, Johansen and Roach. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of January
Bylaw Resolutions
The following resolutions have been submitted to the June 10 membership meeting. RESOLUTION #1 Whereas: Until 1983, Local 802 Executive and Trial Board Members also worked as staff members and supervisors and, Whereas: Up to that time, most Executive Board
Breaktime Answers
Crossword and Sight-Sing
SIGHT-SINGING ANSWER: “America” from “West Side Story” (Leonard Bernstein) Across 1- An arms treaty SALT 5- Oohs and ____ AAHS 9- Secretary Clinton has a great one SEAL 13- Coconut-husk fiber COIR 14- Permeate IMBUE 15- ____ libre CUBA 16-
Bill Crow’s Band Room
While chatting on the phone recently, Frank Tate and I were remembering the late, great Dave McKenna, who spent most of his career playing solo piano. Dave sometimes denied being a jazz musician. “I’m a song player,” he would say.