[Fmpro] The Selling-Out of an Industry

[Chris Alpiar]

Hey Mark and everyone

I hope I am doing this correctly, I am a list newbie and I am not sure if I
am supposed to just reply like replying to an email...

"But all of this starts with composers actually caring enough about their
industry to do something... If that doesn't happen, we'll see the same
erosion of composer fees, royalties, and rights that has been the sad
hallmark of the last 20 years."

I am a member of AFM and while I am very glad that I can go to the union for
legal council or to get a list of musicians, that's about all I can do
(since my main instruments are saxophones). For me, joining actually has
just limited the work I do and while I am helping the "legit" players in all
the philharmonics and broadway orchestras maintain a better lifestyle, it
doesn't do much for Jazz players or anything for the club scene for any
other musicians. I originally thought I might get group health insurance by
joining only to find out its affinity insurance with no real discount at
all, not a group insurance. So in that sense to me and probably 80% of
working musicians it's totally useless.

I know that you guys speak of unionizing and how that would fix everything.
Of course it really sounds awesome and to get in bed with the AFL/CIO and
get some Jimmy Hoffa types to come strong arm the publishers and studios and
ad agencies. That would be amazing! But getting all the composers together
to do it as one like you all have mentioned will be tough. I know I am in
the newbie category in the business end of composing and yea I am at the
point in my career that I will take any job that pays anything pretty much
until I have enough clout to get hooked up with Gorfaine/Schwartz or
something and attract the big feature films.

So how to do this? Is there any possibility for creating a union that not
only legally protects the composers but also works to channel jobs,
education, marketing opportunities and general exposure to the composers as
well? I know that if today I had to choose to join a union that would make
it harder for me to get work or to not join, I would probably not join. 

But if it's a choice of joining a union that helps me get work and exposure
or not well HECK YA I am joining, in blood, immediately. Something like a
free TAXI service for members is what I am thinking. That's hella easy if
there is a big bag of money sitting around. Seeing as I paid TAXI 250 to
join and 1 year dues, another 150 to upgrade to Dispatch status, another 50
for their partner website that is the only way to submit to their listings
online and another 5$ for each and every song I submit for placing, it
shouldn't be tough to offer the same service for the same level of money to
join the Composers Union, other then initial capitol to get it rolling

Maybe the idea is silly or already much discussed since I am a new to this
list. If so I apologize everyone for interrupting. It just seems like find a
way to entice seasoned pros already connected as well as new comers that are
true to the art but new to the biz scene and then all the worries of scabs
doing stuff for free gets eroded considerably. Anyhow just a thought. I am
really impressed with the excellent ideas and base of people here. Keep on
keeping on!

Chris

Christopher Kennedy Alpiar
Cinematic Composer
http://www.alpiar.com