[Fmpro] why does AFM not include composers?

[Christopher Alpiar]

No I am not sure about much, but learning a lot! But I am sure that we  
deserve as composers to have a decent life, same as any screen writer,  
actor, plumber, construction worker, factory line operator, etc. As a  
professional composer, regardless of my stature, I should be  
guaranteed some basics in life: minimum wage that makes sense for my  
job type, legal aid when someone is screwing me, emergency fund to  
help when something really bad happens, retirement plan, benefits,  
lobbyists working for my voice in washington, at the state level, and  
with every group that I am forced to interface with as a composer.

Some basic rights.

I deserve them, and so do you.

I intend to get them ;-)

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 4:35 PM, James Ryan wrote:

> Are you sure about that?  As an ad music producer in the 90s, I had to
> join the union as a producer in order to directly hire AFM musicians,
> in spite of the fact that I was a player-member.  I dealt with a few
> smaller ad agencies that tried to go non union on some commercials.  I
> said I couldn't do that, so they made me be the responsible party for
> union payments.  They reimbursed me, but they were not able to be hire
> or pay the musicians as non signatories.  They may have had that
> wrong, but that was my experience.  Broadway is all union.  I'm
> finding it hard to imagine that the Broadway production companies
> weren't forced to be signatories based on the fact that they wouldn't
> have any musicians for their shows if they weren't.  I was also a
> player in the pit bands of a few plays, and the production company was
> totally under the thumb of the AFM regarding payments, pension, health
> & welfare, etc.  I think you might be wrong about this.. Anyone have
> any facts regarding this?
>
> Best,
> James