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Currently Browsing: March, 2018
Music, Social Justice, and Diversity in the Union
President's Report
March is Women’s History Month, which has its roots in the textile industry, where women historically endured terrible working conditions. It’s the month when we remember the 146 victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, the largest industrial disaster in the
Don’t Let the Insanity Get You Down
NYC has bright lights to offer hope to artists and other workers
I’m sure I am not alone when I report that the relentless bluster and bumbling incompetence – plus a healthy dose of malevolence – emanating daily, even hourly at times, from Washington, D.C. leaves me frequently exhausted and a bit
‘If I Were a Musician’
Our elected officials sound off about their musical tastes, the music in their district…and what instrument they wish they played! RUBEN DIAZ JR. Ruben Diaz Jr. is serving his third term as Bronx Borough President, during which time he has
Welcome, Patriot Brass!
Bandleader signs a union contract with Local 802: musicians will enjoy protections, benefits and more
Almost a year ago, the Organizing Department received a call from an enthusiastic Local 802 member who wanted to see how he could get the work of his ensemble covered by an 802 contract. That member was Steven Behnke, and
‘Why I Signed a Union Contract With Local 802’
Horn player and Local 802 member Steven Behnke recently signed an agreement that provides union wages and benefits to his musicians in the Patriot Brass Ensemble (see story). Below, Behnke explains why he did it. There is no more affordable
EAP: Emerging Artists Project UPDATE
Local 802 is very pleased to report that the Emerging Artists Project continues to move toward selecting our first awardee. The jurors have finished their work rating 52 groups of musicians who perform all styles of music. The level of
Bylaw Proposal
The following bylaw amendment will be proposed and voted on at the Membership Meeting on June 6th at 5:00pm in the Local 802 Club Room: CURRENT LANGUAGE: Article III, section 5: (a)…A further portion of the amount thus collected by
Local 802 at the Grammy Awards
I feel incredibly fortunate to work on projects that strike that special chord in me, the one that compels me to dive wholeheartedly into a record without any hesitation, happily putting in countless hours as I strive to make the
‘Why we joined the union’
I had temporarily left Local 802 after I went on the first national tour of “The Bodyguard: The Musical.” Now I’m happy to be back in New York and rejoining Local 802. My musical goal in NYC is to create
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 to play “Elf: The Musical” at Madison Square Garden, which was also my favorite recent gig. My musical goal in New York City is to play in an orchestra on a Broadway show. My principal instrument
‘Why we joined the union’
I re-joined Local 802 because it’s the backbone of my livelihood. Along with making it easy to get paid, the union stimulates my career. I started music at the early age of three, and it’s still the key factor in
‘Why we joined the union’
After 17 years of teaching and playing in New York City, I finally got a chance to shine a little brighter when I started subbing on “Phantom of the Opera” in late November. Local 802 is a fantastic network and
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 to stay protected as a professional musician. My musical goal in NYC is to perform again as an actor/musician on Broadway. One of my favorite recent gigs was being a part of the original Broadway company
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 when I was cast in the role of Katie (the bassist) in “School of Rock” on Broadway. The kids in the band joined Local 802 because we were both actors and musicians. I love playing gigs
Labor Board Blues
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
Roe v. Wade Must Be Strengthened in NY
Guest Commentary
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. This anniversary also marks a year of groundswell organizing across the country with people showing support for the health, rights, and
Phantom Turns 30
Open up your mind Let your fantasies unwind in this darkness which you know you cannot fight the darkness of the music of the night. – Andrew Lloyd Weber, “The Phantom of the Opera” Andrew Lloyd Weber’s global phenomenon “The
When the violin music got wedged in the “Phantom” chandelier…
This “Phantom” story happened more than 20 years ago. Before every show, the chandelier, which is on the stage and covered by a tarp, is uncovered by a stagehand, checked out and re-covered. That evening, when removing it, part of
Winter Jazzfest takes on social issues
The 2018 NYC Winter Jazzfest featured over 100 performances during a week of programming at venues all over lower Manhattan. The festival, now in its 14th year (and its seventh year under a union agreement with Local 802), presented a
The Power of Cultural Diversity
Local 802 joins new Immigrant Arts Coalition; theatre rep Marlena Fitzpatrick García elected president
The Immigrant Arts Coalition, an alliance of New York City cultural organizations, has unveiled an agenda aiming to recognize the important and ongoing contributions of immigrant artists and arts organizations representing America’s diverse cultural mosaic. Local 802 theatre rep Marlena
In the Groove
Drummer Sherrie Maricle does it all
Sherrie Maricle, a member of Local 802 since 1988, is a top bandleader, music director, composer, arranger and percussionist. From the drum set, Maricle leads three incarnations of her DIVA groups: the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the DIVA Jazz Trio, and
How can Pilates help me?
Improve endurance and stop masking performance pain!
The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,
‘The Rolls Royce of the Music Business’
My tribute to Peter Duchin
When I first started out in the club date field, there were a lot of club date offices in and around the New York area. My goal was to work with the top of the line, the best of the
Remembering Shirley Givens
The music world lost a beloved concert violinist, pedagogue and humanitarian on Jan. 10. Shirley Givens, 87, had been a member of Local 802 since 1953. She was known throughout the music world for her great work teaching generations of
Executive Board Minutes
October 10, 2017 - October 31, 2017
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cutler, Garnett, Hyde, Namkung, Sharman. Minutes from October 3, 2017 reviewed. It was
RMA-NY Annual Meeting Report
On Jan. 31, the New York chapter of the RMA held its annual beeting in the Local 802 Club Room from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Among those in attendance were Pat Varriale, the head of the AFM Electronic Media
The Band Room
March '18
I met Teddy Wilson when I joined the Benny Goodman band in 1962 for a tour of the Soviet Union, with a warm-up week beforehand at the Seattle World’s Fair. During that first week, Benny decided he needed a more