A Word from President Smolik
Hi Everyone,
Last month, I attended the LCC/PCC Conference in Las Vegas. The Player
Conference heads were all pres-
ent: Marc Sazer RMA, Bruce Ridge ICSOM, Carla Lehmeier ROPA, Francine Schutzman
OCSM, and Vicky
Smolik TMA.
I was able to have one-on-one discussions with some of the IEB members about
many of our issues, recorded
music in general, and the closing of Pamphlet B shows and shows going out non-
union. In addition, we
discussed symphony orchestras filing for bankruptcy, and the lack of available
work in our cities as well as the
pension fund’s rehabilitation plan.
On Saturday the PCC met and listened to each other’s problems.
RMA was happy to say the IEB is working with them through the negotiation
process in the SLRA negotia-
tions. Marc Sazer, RMA President, said in his RMA newsletter, “The assembled
Officers from both the Federa -
tion and Locals, Rank and File and Player Conference representatives, and AFM
and Local staff have formed
into a cohesive, democratic and effective team. We will be working diligently to
represent musicians who make
recordings throughout the American Federation of Musicians of the United States
and Canada.” Marc also
talked about New Use and how it could bring in money to the players involved and
the Federation.
Bruce Ridge ICSOM Chairman spoke about the attack on Symphony Orchestras
throughout the U.S., the
bankruptcies that are occurring, and the effect this could have on the AFM-EPF.
Bruce told us the New Sym-
phonic Services Director would be Jay Blumenthal from Local 802. Jay will also
be the assistant AFM treasurer.
Bruce also spoke about Local Officers and the AFM needing to help in tough
situations. Bruce cited several
symphonies that were in the black and doing well.
Carla Lehmeier, ROPA President, told us about many of the ROPA orchestras
declaring bankruptcy. She told us
about the effect this could have on all orchestras. One of these orchestras was
Carla’s own New Mexico Sym-
phony. The players in these orchestras in most cases have tried to continue on
their own but that is a very tough
way to go.
Francine Schutzman told us about the OCSM orchestras. She said they were not
experiencing the same financial
problems the American orchestras were experiencing. She also said the pay was
quite a bit lower in Canada.
She also cited the great health care plan Canada has. She mentioned the MROC
situation with Canada and the
AFM. She told us she is on the MROC Board. She also said she hoped that the AFM/MROC
issue would not
turn into another war within the AFM.
I spoke to the other Player’s Conferences about the use of recorded music in the
shows, the diminishing number
of theatre musicians in the pit, shows under AFM contracts closing and going out
non-AFM, and the granting
of P-1 visas allowing foreign orchestras to travel here and perform.
I also spoke about the Protect IP Act that gives the Department of Justice the
means to combat copyright
infringement of intellectual property through illegal downloads and streaming.
These actions make it difficult
to earn a living as a musician, and this Act will help to shut down these rogue
websites. I have written a letter to
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, supporting the Protect IP Act.On Sunday the PCC
met with the IEB with the LCC in the room
about all of the problems I mentioned above. It seemed as though our issues were
duly noted and we had support from everyone.
I was told we would meet regarding Pamphlet B negotiations.
Local 802 is having an arbitration over Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the
use of canned music to capture the Disco sound.
The theater has an 18 or 19 musician minimum and is playing with 9 musicians.
The 9 musicians do not include a string section in the pit, but there is a
string section on the recording.
The AFM is looking at the P-1 Visa issue and trying to make sure there are no
false filings.
In response to the orchestra bankruptcies, the AFM has hired one of the best
lawyers in the country to handle the bankruptcy problems that include the
pension issues.
Local 802 has a website www.savelivemusiconbroadway.com. Please sign on and
support them and send everyone you know to sign on and educate themselves on the
issues.
Local 2-197 has negotiated a 25 person minimum, with moderate raises in one of
their theatre contracts contract for 5 more years. So let’s all keep music live.
In a teleconference on July 8, 2011 with Steve Gelfand and several local
Presidents we learned that La Cage Aux Follies will hire by augmenting with 4
local musicians, Come Fly Away will hire 9 local musicians as per rule 24,
Memphis will hire 4 local musicians as per rule 24, Peter Pan will augment with
11 local musicians, Adams Family will augment with 9 local musicians, Million
Dollar Baby and Fela will be self- contained, and Christmas Story will augment
with 9 local players.