[Fmpro] Unions

[Mark Henderson]

Hey, it's not just about the "best in the world" when it comes to the  
union. I have been a freelance musician for nearly forty years. I  
don't live in LA, but I make a decent living playing for broadway  
tours, orchestral concerts, occasional jingles and sessions, and  
casuals. I know what I'll get paid when I am hired to play a broadway  
show and I know that money will be contributed to a pension fund for  
me to have some sort of retirement. I get none of that when I play  
non union gigs. I don't consider myself privileged and affluent. Just  
middle class. I do lots of arranging and orchestrating, and some  
composing, but the union isn't involved in that at all. I can see  
this picture from both sides since when I wear the hat of composer, I  
have to look out for myself. But I know that given the option, the  
powers that be would pay absolutely as little as possible for live  
musicians, and would often live with the trade off in quality for the  
extra  profit. For this protection, I am thankful to the union.

YMMV

-mark

On Oct 3, 2006, at 7:00 AM, fmpro-request at nxport.com wrote:

> Unions and "progressives" etc. are supposed to care
>  about workers, the little guy, the oppressed, the
>  disadvantaged, etc. etc.  Yet we are marshalling all
>  our resources to protect the interestsof the most
>  privileged and affluent among us.
>
>  And we persist in this idolatry, conceit and swooning
>  about the "best in the world?"  Puleeez.
>
>  Rick



Mark Henderson


mark at dirtydogproductions.net
952.210.4801