Allegro
Currently Browsing: September, 2012
Musicians’ Rights are a Global Fight
President's Report
ON THE WORLD STAGE: Musicians were well represented at the signing of the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances. From left: Alan Willaert (AFM vice president from Canada), Vince Trombetta (president of AFM Local 47), AFM president Ray Hair, Francis Gurry
No pay for Olympic musicians?
Is there an Olympic medal for exploiting musicians? The British musicians’ union was up in arms after receiving many reports of musicians being asked to play for free by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games. The union had
Musicians lift boycott of downtown venue
Musicians have lifted a seven-month boycott of the University of the Streets, a jazz venue on the Lower East Side. The boycott began in September, in response to a violent incident at the venue between a venue employee and one
Art vs. Business
Critics like to write about “what’s wrong with classical music.” Maybe the problem isn’t the music – maybe the problem is what happens when an orchestra is treated like a factory Over the past 150 years, many commentators have declared
Unions: friends or foes of the arts?
Guest Commentary
Musicians of the Brooklyn Philharmonic perform in an outdoor concert this summer. Photo: Dave Saunders, © Brooklyn Philharmonic In an era some have described as the neo-gilded age of union busting, let us take a moment to note some of
Do the right thing
Musicians demonstrated in front of the Village Vanguard and other jazz clubs in several actions this spring and summer. Photo: Walter Karling Lorraine Gordon, owner of the Village Vanguard, deserves her recent accolades. But jazz musicians are still wondering why
The Musicians’ Voice
The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to Allegro@Local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th
Young percussionists hear Broadway calling their names
Local 802 member Javier Diaz (left) gives pointers on playing hand percussion on Broadway to Ryan Fedak, Sean Harvey and Brendan Kent. If you’re a percussionist, how do you make it to Broadway? The New York University Percussion Studies Program,
Ray Mosca remembers Nabil Totah
Nabil Totah (1930-2012) In late 1955, I was working at the Saxony Hotel down in Miami and Nabil Totah was playing bass with Cy Coleman at the Eden Roc, a new hotel there. We met at a jam session and
When your hands are tied
Legal Corner
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or
If the boss calls you in…
If you’re a musician and you get called into a meeting with management where you think you are going to be disciplined, you should be aware of your right to have a union rep with you. The same applies to
Warm Sound
Scenes of Summer
On balmy summer Tuesday evenings in July, music lovers may be found flocking to Washington Square for extraordinary free concerts that feature Local 802 musicians playing under a union contract. Presented by the Washington Square Music Festival, the series offers
From the Heart
Scenes of Summer
Naima Barnes and jazz rep Todd Weeks, holding a tribute plaque from Local 802 to Wade Barnes. Jazz supporters take their message to Birdland. Taking it to the street are percussionist Richard Rivers, Naima Barnes and other jazz supporters. Bill
Therapy? Housing? Jobs? Emergency grants?
Musicians' Assistance Program
The Actors Fund offers something for everyone The office of the Musicians’ Assistance Program 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
‘Why we joined the union’
Scott Wasserman Andre “Virus” Karkos Andrea Belfiore Adriana Molello Marty Isenberg Lucianna Padmore I joined Local 802 after I was encouraged to join by other musicians. The reason I joined is to have access to the union’s resources and to
Executive Board Minutes
May 15, 2012 - June 12, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Meeting called to order by Financial Vice President Olcott at 11:08 AM. Present: Olcott, Executive Board members Brandford, Burridge, Dougherty, Hyde, Roach, Schwartz, Sharman, Assistant to the President Boyle. President Gagliardi absent on union business. Sharman
Calendar of Events
September 2012
HOLIDAY CLOSURE Local 802 is closed on Monday, Sept. 3 in commemoration of Labor Day. LABOR RALLY All Local 802 members are invited to march in the annual labor rally sponsored by the Central Labor Council. The rally is Saturday,
Bill Crow’s Band Room
September '12
David Wundrow sent me a link to an interview, published on the Internet, that James Tarmy had with the composer Elliott Carter in his Greenwich Village apartment. Here’s a bit of it: Tarmy: How long have you lived in this