| As Paul said, it depends on where you live.
If you live in a town with a good orchestra that may hire you sometimes as an extra, join. One week of concerts here with the Minnesota Orchestra is worth about 8 times the yearly union dues.
As a non-union player, remember that people hiring you will usually try to get you to play for less than union scale. Sometimes this gives you a niche, sometimes it leaves you getting paid less than you know you're worth.
For example, I would charge $120 for a wedding (doing solos in the ceremony and prelude and postlude). My friend, who isn't in the union, would charge around $60. Same work load. Same expectations by the ones hiring him.
If I ever went back to non-union status, I'd feel like I was selling myself short every time I went out for a gig.
(Just my $.02 worth) |