[Fmpro] AFM Union

[Scott Healy]

It would be for any session musician, not just a violinist of course.
You're preaching to the choir when you make the roto-rooter comparison,
I've often marveled at the low pay scale for professional work for AFofM
contracts, Broadway, jingles pay less for an hour than most plumbers
charge for a visit, certainly less than most doctors and attorneys. With
broadcast it was always the reuse that was the carrot, Broadway has high
pension and steady work with doubles.  I always think of the muffler guy
in Curb Your Enthusiasm who says "I put in a muffler and I don't get
paid every time you drive your car"

For these renegade cable networks, session musicians have to get about a
grand to make a buy out worth while based on the old model. Whether or
not they can these days is figured out on a day by day basis with no
help from the union because the new networks are not signators.
Obviously they're not getting it.

Plus, if you mention money to the wrong person in the wrong way you're
f'kd, and certainly if you say "union" before they do you won't get the
job. 

I just say yes, then wait til I get a feel for the finances. You can
tell when things are right. 

Has anyone ever been in a situation where the boss said "hey, we're NOT
signators, so figure out all the benefits you won't be getting including
pension and payroll tax and we'll try to come close to  that, and pay
doubles, double tracking, contractor, cartage, music prep, etc. Never
happened for me, but that doesn't mean anything.
Scott 


--Original Message-----
From: Les Hurdle [mailto:leshurdle101 at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 11:02 AM
To: scotty at bluedogmusic.com; fmpro at nxport.com
Subject: Re: [Fmpro] AFM Union 


On Aug 18, 2006, at 7:34 AM, Scott Healy wrote:
>  I don't know where you were playing in 1978!

LA.... disco land !!
>
>
> Obviously, HBO aint gonna pay no violinist no $1000 for some quick
> session if they don't have to.

[THE violinist !!] , we mustn't demean our own !
And here's our problem......... What would roto rooter charge HBO for 
the same number of hours in NY.. including travel time?

$1000 maybe?

L