[Fmpro] why does AFM not include composers?

[Christopher Alpiar]

well, thats speculative response, not a factual reason as to why.

Musicians and composers are both self-employed and are taxed that way,  
unless they form their own corporation or LLC, which both can do.

AFM does include arrangers, orchestrators and copyists, they are not  
part of the first response point you made any more than composers are,  
nor are they any farther from it

The AFM, as a branch of the AFL/CIO has TREMENDOUS collective power.  
They are not as funded, obviously, as the UAW or something but they do  
a lot of really good work. They also provide free legal services to  
its members. Did you know if you get screwed on money while doing a  
union gig the union lawyers will pursue it for you.

And they absolutely would negotiate with the PROs.

What I would want from a union or AFM extending itself to composers is

1. a guarantee minimum wage
2. the force of union lawyers backing me up
3. union programs like credit union, insurance, discounts
4. the lobbying power to take up issues to the government in a manner  
that holds credulity and has a clear path to delivery from individual  
composer, to union rep, to congressmen

Yes AFM has become much weakened in the last 15 years, you show me a  
union that hasn't. And they are working to make changes to become more  
current. Obviously as it stands today the AFM needs work, and those  
issues could have a chance to get fixed if more people tried to help  
rather than banter in the aisles about how its useless so lets all get  
together and slash wrists collectively... Personally I would love a  
union built with power and with money that would rip apart the people  
making our lives less than we deserve. But I would sure rather be part  
of the AFM then what we have currently, which is horse penis

So back to my original question:

Why has either the AFM historically not extended its membership to  
composers? And if they have what happened that it didnt work?

Christopher Kennedy Alpiar
Cinematic Composer
937.294.0900 (Dayton Studio)
310.339.9603 (Los Angeles)
877.294.0912 (Toll Free)
www.alpiar.com








On May 27, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Louis King wrote:

> For a quick response ...
>
> 1. Instrumentalists ( and vocalists) are by TAX LAWS employees ...
> Composers are not . How is that ???  When an instrumentalists is
> hired they are generally told where to be, when to be there, what to
> do once they have arrived, they are given a place to do said work ..
> etc etc etc ...
>
>  When someone hires a composer the above is not the same..... you
> work when you want, how you want etc etc etc  ...  We are 2
> completely different jobs to boot.
>
> 2. I don't know what great collective power you think the AFM has.
> Yeah they can secure 3% raises per year for the smaller and smaller
> number of people that can actually find a union gig. They are also
> blind to the changing world and slow to adjust with it.  ( buyouts
> come to mind ) SAG that's a union with some leverage .... AFM .....
> not really
>
> 3. I'm not exactly sure what battle you want a UNION to win for ya
> but I can tell even if composers were in the AFM you would still be
> writing library music for little up front and a nebulous back end,
> you'll still get "compose for my film for $100" ads ... the only
> thing that will change it is when no one will do those things ....
>
> 4. No Union is going to help your ASCAP BMI issues ....
>
> good luck
>
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