I am a professional musician, I have been a professional player for all my life. When I read the above post I was furious, I'm still quite angry.
I don't know where B15M got his facts, but they're wrong.
Let's talk about One Man Shows.
Musicians are paid to play if there is music. Hal Holbrook doing Abe Lincoln did not need, nor employ musicians for his One Man Show. Liza Minnelli's show had musicians and dancers because the artist needed them, not because of contractual obligations.
Theater minimums are set by mutual agreement, not by union strong arm tactics. Imagine West Side Story with singing dancers playing the score
Think of a sextet playing The Phantom of The Opera
Management knows just how to manipulate the media to make the workers look like the workers are calling the shots. It just aint so.
Management knows at which theater a show is going to be staged, and exactly what the mutually negotiated orchestra numbers are.
I have walked the picket line in Schubert Alley. I know just how devious management is. Don't believe the finger pointing management, check with the violas who are not hired on Broadway. Check with the trumpets, horns and trombones who are no longer needed for management to make more money than ever.
I am proud to be a Local 802 member. If Local 802 falls so will musicians all over the world.
Wilmer