[Fmpro] AFM Union Threatens $50k Fines Against Composers and other AFM Me...

[Mark Northam]

Hi Mike -

Here's the site for the International Guild of Symphony, Opera and Ballet
Musicians

http://www.igsobm.org

As a separate union recognized by the US Department of Labor, they are not
under the umbrella of the American Federation of Musicians.

I don't know their policy on allowing other union's members to work with
them, but I suspect you're right that they do allow this.

So I guess it seems to come down to: It's fine with the AFM if AFM members
work with the London Musician's Union orchestra on buyout jobs, but it's not
OK if AFM members work with the Seattle Musicians' Union on buyout jobs...
Seems like a blatant double standard to me...  I still find it amazing that
the AFM doesn't have a problem with John Williams recording a buyout in
London with a 100 piece orchestra, but some B-list composer recording a
buyout in Seattle (with Seattle musicians, not AFM musicians) is cause for a
$50,000 fine aimed at the composer, whose work as a composer isn't even
covered by the AFM.

Amazing.

Best,

Mark Northam


On 8/17/06 9:54 AM, "MVPROD at aol.com" <MVPROD at aol.com> wrote:

> I would be interested to know the name of the union (and address and phone
> number) with the buy out clause  that the Seattle recording musicians belong
> to. 
> Obviously they must allow AFM members not in their union to perform with
> them. Kind of an odd stance for a union to allow its members to work with non
> members.
> 
> Also the London musicians are not under the umbrella of the AMERICAN
> Federation of Musicians who are instituting this action.
> 
> Mike Vaccaro

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