| I have some very negative feelings about the musician's union. (and I'm a raving liberal) I was a member of the St. Louis local in the 1970's. 6 Flags got rid of their orchestras and went to all taped shows. The union picketed the park. All the big name bands crossed our lines to play shows in the park and the union did nothing. Years later I was working in Nashville. I was playing the Christmas show in the Opryland hotel. We were playing for somewhat less than scale, but then Opryland Talent Group frequently had deals with the union where they payed below scale. The union found out about it. Did they go after Opryland Entertainment? Of course not. They fined everyone who played the show. What kind of sense does this make?
I think if you are a big fish playing a symphony gig or maybe a top end freelancer, the union is a good thing for you. If you are a little fish like me, it does nothing for you but take your money. If I were you I wouldn't join the union until I had to. The union doesn't find you work, for the most part. Maybe a few trust fund jobs here and there. You have to find your own work.
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"Music is a fire in your belly that has to come out of your mouth, so you'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt" (paraphrase of Bleeding Gums Murphy) |