wiseone2

What's a jazz set
Wilmer

Rick Chartrand

Ive never had a need for a union Alex as I have always created my own oportunities. Playing churches, clubs, busking doing wedings teaching students and creating a web of connections during the process is what Freelance and musical freedom means for me.

Wilmer. Music in NYC is cut throat as is most things in NYC . Its a beautiful city but I'd never live there. I dont like the idea of living in a city where I cant freely walk down the street without the fear of being mugged. I can only imagine that you NEED a union there. Fortunatly I live in a country and city that has always treated me fairly. I once was a union member and the union did NOTHING for me except take my initiation fee and suck monthly dues out of my pocket. Any connection I made was non union. But I am in a city that has many Freelance opportunitys

B15M

I don't work in New York but I go there frequently and I have never been mugged and I don't have any fear of it either.

Alex Yates

OK. I see your point Rick. I misunderstood your "free" statement. Around here and most other cities I have worked in, you have to be a cardholder for even some church gigs, clubs, studio work and pick-up orchestras for certain events. The fact that you have so many opportunities allowing you to pick and chose what you do, without answering to anyone, is truly a blessing. Congrats.

Mzony

I just wanted to weigh in on this a little. Wilmer and I have discussed this off the board once and I am (as many of you may already know) very PRO Union.
To be more specific, I am for the local chapters of the Unions that I belong to. To be completely honest, I don't feel the Federation has its pulse on the heart beat of today's workers...I think that they are neglecting and avoiding some very important issues.
However, the local chapters are a VERY democratic society, and the leadership of each local is only as strong as the members who subscribe.
If you are unhappy with the leadership in your local, you have the power to change things. There are elections for leadership positions, there are meetings, and if you get enough people interested your vision will materialize.
I've been a member of less than desirable chapters and as of late, I belong to TWO great chapters. These chapters have leadership that are deeply invested in their members and they listen very carefeully to our needs. It wasn't always like that, but changes were made...for the better and the proper people were put in the appropiate places.
The AFM is a good thing...They fight for us when no one else will or can. They stand up for the individual who has no voice alone, and there is always breathing room with collective bargaining.
Investigate the AFM, their pension plans, and all they have to offer. Ask lots of questions. Get involved. The AFM's future and course of direction is entirely up to its membership.

Mike Zonshine

Rick Chartrand

Come out Come out Chuck where ever you are...we're on to you!

Rick Chartrand

Hey Alex

I cant say that I really 'pick and choose' my gigs, but I have no shortage of jobs here. There are gigs that I just won't do like symphonic work. I do exclusivly Jazz and popular music in my gigs. I LOVE to listen to classical music but dont like to play it. It's to stringent and non improvising...if thats a word I love to improvise too much to be nailed down with classical. I do have to thank classical music however cause I put in 5 years of non stop classical training...and I wouldn't be the musician I am without that difficult training.

Wilmer and Alex

Im sorry if I came off sounding a little harsh against unions, but since I have been screwed by unions, I tend to stay away from them. I live in a large city and freelance opportunitys here are good I also do some musical jobs that others don't, like busking. It adds about $400 a week to your over all musical income. A lotta little freelance musical jobs make one nice over all income!

Anonymous

Rick I have been to both NYC and Windsor Canada. I felt more concerned for my safety in Windsor then I did in NYC.

Alex Yates

Hey Rick, there are no hard feelings and I am the one who apologizes for generalizing about what exactly it is that you do. Just from your posts, I assumed you had your own group together, etc. Also, I merely glazed over the union component and was debating your definition of "freelancing" with you. I will leave the union discussion to Wilmer and Mzony. They have expressed union concerns very well in this thread.

On a side note, I am a native NYer. I grew up in Brooklyn and also spent some time living on the upper west side of Manhattan. I have walked through Tribeca alone at 3 am and rode the trains at all hours. That whole "mugging" statement makes those who know (and love) our city laugh. NY had its problems in that regard......back in the 70's and 80's, but today it is one of safest, classiest places to be. If you want to worry about muggings and theft, go to any city in Europe. The thievery is rampant.

Clarence

Yea just like califonia, there isn,t a earth quake here everyday.