nice gig tonight

[Paul]

I just got back from a nice dinner music gig.

The Brantford Musicians Association, local 467 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year. Tonight was the 'gala' event. My guitar/sax duo was hired to play some light dinner music. Between the speeches, we played at best for an hour.

In the audience were all the people who hire groups like mine, for events like this, so it was a nice 'exposure' gig. (We did get paid).

Also in the audience was Tom Lee, (the International President of the AFM), Bill Skolnik, (V.P. for Canada), Paul Sharpe, (director of the Freelance Services Division), along with members of the board of dierctors of several other locals.

When the local musicians association needed some live music for an event, they called me. That's a nice endorsement from my peers.

[Milkman]

Glad it went well for you.

The musicians union doesn't call me.


I do like duos. Actually I'm doing a half hour set with my keyboardist this Saturday as part of a benefit for cancer research.

[Paul]

Glad it went well for you.

The musicians union doesn't call me.


I do like duos. Actually I'm doing a half hour set with my keyboardist this Saturday as part of a benefit for cancer research.

Well, to be fair they hired musicians from the local. Given the nature of the event, that makes sense.:smile:

The AFM is working on changing public perception. To many people the AFM is "The Union". That mindset doesn't work to the advantage of either the musicians or the talent buyers.

The AFM is working on creating a culture and service model more along the line of the CAA or the AAA. They are working to create a pallette of services and products that meet the needs of working musicians. Part of that process is finding out what working musicians need, and what they are willing to pay to get those services. The CAA and AAA have been hurt a bit by the automanufacturers offering roadside assistance, but the CAA is much more than a tow truck, a boost or a gallon of gas. So too must the AFM become more than contracts and work dues.

The AFM will have to change to stay relevant and effective. A positive note is that the AFM was instrumental in developing a royalty structure where musicians will be payed a performance royalty for music played on internet radio. Songwriters and publishers get paid for music on traditional broadcast radio, but currently the musicians get nothing. The AFM has also worked to create a professional relationship between musicians/composers and the video game industry. As a composer it was possible to have a million seller on a video game, and have no legal rights to your creative works.

The AFM isn't for everybody, and never will be. Membership works for me.

[Milkman]

Well, to be fair they hired musicians from the local. Given the nature of the event, that makes sense.:smile:

The AFM is working on changing public perception. To many people the AFM is "The Union". That mindset doesn't work to the advantage of either the musicians or the talent buyers.

The AFM is working on creating a culture and service model more along the line of the CAA or the AAA. They are working to create a pallette of services and products that meet the needs of working musicians. Part of that process is finding out what working musicians need, and what they are willing to pay to get those services. The CAA and AAA have been hurt a bit by the automanufacturers offering roadside assistance, but the CAA is much more than a tow truck, a boost or a gallon of gas. So too must the AFM become more than contracts and work dues.

The AFM will have to change to stay relevant and effective. A positive note is that the AFM was instrumental in developing a royalty structure where musicians will be payed a performance royalty for music played on internet radio. Songwriters and publishers get paid for music on traditional broadcast radio, but currently the musicians get nothing. The AFM has also worked to create a professional relationship between musicians/composers and the video game industry. As a composer it was possible to have a million seller on a video game, and have no legal rights to your creative works.

The AFM isn't for everybody, and never will be. Membership works for me.


Yeah I was being flippant Paul.

I would never expect the AFM to call me for a gig. It has to take care of its paying members first of course.

I've never had any dislike for the AFM, I've just never found it to have any real merit for me. I asked for and received some information from the local after the "bring your axe and jam" thing this summer.

I reviewed it in detail and couldn't rationalize the return on investement.

It really depends on the type of shows and "work" you want.

:food-smiley-004:

[Steeler]

It's good to hear the they contracted live music for their event.
You getting the call is indeed a feather in your cap.

This is a nice positive counter to a story I heard recently where the Brantford Symphony (I assume all AFM members) hired a DJ for their fund raising dinner.

[Paul]

It's good to hear the they contracted live music for their event.
You getting the call is indeed a feather in your cap.

This is a nice positive counter to a story I heard recently where the Brantford Symphony (I assume all AFM members) hired a DJ for their fund raising dinner.


Yes, yes they are, and yes they did. Although the current president of the BSO now tells me the DJ donated his services. So they are taking a free DJ over paid musicians. It's a fundraiser, so you know the sob story they are telling. There will apparently be some live cocktail music provided by BSO members, and apparently they have it in the budget to fly in an accordian player from Italy to provide some entertainment at the "Evening in Venice" dinner/dance/fundraiser.

My take on playing for free is this: If everybody else in the room is working for free, then it's OK for the musicians to work for free. If you can pay the bartender, then you can pay the musicians.

The DJ is causing more than a little bit of a stir, and it is now very difficult to get anybody connected with the BSO to talk about the lineup of entertainment. The best they will do is to say that there will be music for dancing. I had bought tickets for some BSO shows this year, trying to be supportive of live professional music in our community. Since they choose to not support live music, I am now trying to get a refund. It'll take some time, but I think they will refund my money, it's better than bad PR.

[Beatles]

You're quite fortunate that you were able to land a gig like that. Being a member obviously has it benefits. I certanly hope that their "model" works out. It would certainly benifit a lot of musicians.