Breaking news from Local 802's jazz campaign!

802 NOTES: the electronic newsletter of Local 802

This edition: June 12, 2013

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Tonight only:

A special screening at tonight's membership meeting

Please come to our summer membership meeting TONIGHT: Wednesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. here at Local 802. We will be showing an inspiring film about the Fifth Avenue Theater strike in Seattle in 1997 when musicians and AFM Local 76-493 used a well thought-out campaign to achieve a victory against an intransigent employer. Paul Frank, the AFM's newly-appointed director of organizing, will speak about the lessons that this film teaches about building union power in an era of declining membership and union strength. This film is not to be missed! Please come tonight.

Christian McBride endorses union's jazz campaign!

Christian McBride has publicly endorsed Local 802's Justice for Jazz Artists campaign. The celebrated jazz bassist has performed and recorded with a huge number of jazz legends and ensembles, including Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Diana Krall, Roy Haynes, Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Wynton Marsalis, Hank Jones, Lewis Nash, Joshua Redman, and Ray Brown's "Superbass" with John Clayton, as well as with pop, hip-hop, soul, and classical musicians like Sting, The Roots, Kathleen Battle, Carly Simon, Bruce Hornsby, and James Brown.

McBride was heralded as a teen prodigy having joined saxophonist Bobby Watson's group at age 17. From age 17 to 22, he played in the bands of older legends such as Watson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Milt Jackson, J.J. Johnson and Hank Jones as well as his peers such as Roy Hargrove, Benny Green and Joshua Redman. In 1996, jazz bass legend Ray Brown formed a group called "SuperBass" built around McBride and fellow Brown protege', John Clayton. The group released two CD's: "SuperBass: Live at Scullers" (1997) and "SuperBass 2: Live at the Blue Note" (2001).

McBride began leading his own groups in 1995 after his debut CD Gettin' To It (Verve Records) was released. Saxophonist Tim Warfield, pianists Charles Craig and Joey Calderazzo, and drummers Carl Allen and Greg Hutchinson are a few of the musicians who played in McBride's early groups. From 2000 to 2008, McBride fronted his own acoustic /electric, jazz, fusion and funk ensemble, "The Christian McBride Band" with saxophonist Ron Blake, pianist/keyboardist Geoffrey Keezer and drummer Terreon Gully.

Welcome, Christian!

If you're a jazz artist who wants to endorse Justice for Jazz Artists, or if you want more information about the campaign, see the campaign web site here, or send the jazz campaign an e-mail by clicking here.

Christian McBride's bio and photo above edited from his entry in Wikipedia.

SURVEY: Does the union reflect the diversity of its members?

Last week, the AFM e-mailed a survey to all members, including all members of Local 802. The purpose of the survey is to discover to what extent officers, staff and other leadership positions reflect the diverse membership of the AFM and its locals. This initiative is spurred by the AFL-CIO diversity guidelines, which were adopted at the 2010 AFM Convention. Please respond to this survey now by clicking here. (If you've already taken the survey, thank you! Please don't submit duplicate surveys).

What's your health care story?

In recent months, our union magazine Allegro has published stories on Medicare, Medicaid and women's health. Local 802 is interested in hearing about musicians' experiences and stories as they search for health insurance, whether it's with the Local 802 plan, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or no insurance at all. If you care to share your experiences with us, we will add them to our research. We hope the results will ultimately help musicians. Your confidence and privacy will be respected. To share your story, send an e-mail to Martha Hyde by clicking here. (Martha is a multi-instrumentalist and Broadway musician. She serves on the union's Executive Board and has served as a trustee on the union's health fund since 1993. She's written several stories about health care for Allegro.)

Next Thursday only:

Support your music!

Have you thought about a sideline or parallel career to support your music? Hear from fellow musicians and other artists who have found satisfying side work in such fields as arts education, real estate, graphic design, training, and administrative support. Thursday, June 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., here at Local 802. Free. No reservations necessary; just show up. For more information, contact Patch Schwadron at (917) 281-5953 or click here. This clinic is sponsored by the Actors Fund Work Program.

GIVE ME MY COPYRIGHT BACK!

It appears that 2013 may be a watershed year for recording artists. Under a little known provision of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, recording artists have the right to reclaim ownership of sound recordings they licensed to record labels or others. This may provide substantial leverage to recording artists who want to renegotiate recording contracts they signed 35 years ago. In fact, such artists could stand to profit tremendously.

Many in the recording industry claim that this is a potential game changer, since record companies stand to lose huge amounts of revenue. On the other hand, skeptics say that only a few recording artists will be able to take advantage of this law, since many recording contracts grant the record label the right to use the recording in perpetuity.

Read the full story here, as written by Local 802's lawyer Harvey Mars and published in the April 2013 issue of our union magazine Allegro.

ARE YOU READY FOR MEDICARE?

There is one advantage to reaching the age of 65: free health care! But how free is Medicare? Do you know how Medicare works? Do you know how to apply for it? What happens to your Medicare coverage if you're already on the Local 802 health plan? How does prescription coverage work under Medicare?

You don't want to miss our comprehensive story on Medicare and musicians that was published in the February 2013 issue of our union magazine Allegro. The story was written and extensively researched by Local 802 member Martha Hyde, who is a multi-woodwind player, Broadway musician and trustee of the Local 802 Health Benefits Fund.

Click here to read the story now.

Do you know any friends who are close to age 65? They need to know about Medicare too.

Click this box to share the story with your friends and musical colleagues:

Click the ad above for more details. Tell them you saw their ad in the Local 802 electronic newsletter! To advertise, click here.

Musicians: do you have a legal concern? Click the link below to reach Local 802's lawyer Harvey S. Mars:

Click the ad above for more details. Tell them you saw their ad in the Local 802 electronic newsletter! To advertise, click here.

To respond to this newsletter directly or to give any comments, click here

To reach Local 802 by phone, call (212) 245-4802. For more information on our services and departments, see www.Local802afm.org

Paid ads in 802 NOTES support your union and keep your costs down. You can advertise here and reach thousands of your peers. E-mail Allegro@Local802afm.org for more information.

Local 802 AFM

322 West 48th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 245-4802

Mikael Elsila is the editor of Allegro magazine and the 802 NOTES electronic newsletter. He can be reached at: Allegro@Local802afm.org

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR MUSICIANS

There are newly constructed apartments for rent at 529 West 29th Street, with 70 percent of the units set aside as preference for performing artists. The deadline to request an application is June 17. There is a full-page ad on page 34 of the current June issue of Allegro. We also posted this notice on our Facebook page. For more information, download a PDF by clicking here.

THE JUNE ISSUE OF ALLEGRO IS AVAILABLE ONLINE

DO YOU USE LS-1 CONTRACTS?

LS-1 contracts for health benefits are due no later than Aug. 15 for engagements performed from Jan. 1 to June 30. Anyone submitting an LS-1 must contact Bettina Covo by clicking here before the due date to be sure your submission is complete. IMPORTANT: If you have not used an LS-1 in the past 12 months, there may be changes that you are not aware of that could affect whether or not the LS-1 is appropriate for certain situations. Please note: There are no changes if you teach or perform as a self contained act (i.e. a pianist, harpist, guitarist, organist performing alone).

THE UNFAIR LIST: DO NOT PERFORM FOR THESE EMPLOYERS!

The current AFM UNFAIR LIST can be found here. AFM musicians are prohibited from working for these employers.

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD?

Have you ever lost a gig because your client or bandleader thought you were too old? What can you do about it? Click here to read the article that everyone is talking about, from the February 2013 issue of our union magazine Allegro. Let's blow the lid wide open on one of the most taboo subjects in the music industry: age discrimination. Tell us your story of age discrimination -- or give us feedback -- by sending us a confidential e-mail here .

Have you visited the Local 802 FACEBOOK PAGE yet?

If not, you've missed out on exclusive stories and announcements.

Get special tips, and network with other musicians on our Facebook page. Click here to get started.

WATCH OUT FOR AUDITIONS ON BROADWAY!

It has come to the attention of the Theatre Department that some Broadway musicians and substitute musicians are being asked to audition for theatrical productions on Broadway. Auditions are not allowed for Broadway shows without the full cooperation and notification of the Local 802 Executive Board. If you are asked to audition for any position on a Broadway show, contact the union immediately. Auditions have only been allowed in the past under very special circumstances after approval of the Local 802 Executive Board and only if the appropriate wages, including pension and health benefit contributions, are made to the musicians involved. Please let us know immediately if you are asked to audition on Broadway. Your anonymity and confidence will always be respected and ensured. Call (212) 245-4802 and ask for the president's office or the Theatre Department.

ALLEGRO

CLASSIFIEDS

Do you want to see the BEST DEALS on used instruments and other services for musicians? Click here to check out the Allegro classifieds. To purchase a classified, click here.

LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

Did you know that there's a housing project for musicians where the rent is only $635 a month? Click here to learn more!

AND: Click here for information on a new housing lottery that just opened up!

LOOKING FOR MUSIC WORK?

When someone calls the union to hire musicians, our referral service handles the call. We match up our members with prospective clients. If you're a Local 802 member, signing up for the referral service is easy. Send an e-mail to Steve Singer by clicking here or call (212) 245-4802, ext. 156.

Also, from time to time, movie and TV producers call the union looking for musicians to perform on camera. If you're interested in being considered for this kind of work, ask about sideline work.

If you are a Broadway musician and your show closes, can you apply for unemployment? Yes. While you are collectingunemployment, can you sub on other Broadway shows, teach lessons, and play other freelance gigs? Yes, but your unemployment check may be reduced.

What if you're a club date musician and your leader or office hasn't booked you on a wedding gig in months? Can you apply for unemployment in that case?

For the answer to that question and more information on musicians and unemployment benefits, click here to read a story written by Local 802's counsel Harvey Mars with the Workers Defense Fund.

WANT TO HELP MUSICIANS, MAKE CONNECTIONS AND HAVE FUN?

Interns at Local 802 make a tremendous impact on the lives of musicians while gaining valuable experience and connections. You or someone you know can help us make a big difference. The union is now accepting applicationsf or interns. Spread the word and click here for more information!

DO YOU HAVE YOUR COPY OF THE LOCAL 802 DIRECTORY?

The Local 802 Membership Directory is available for members only. Pick up a free copy on the second floor of the union building. Or for mail delivery, contact the Membership Department by clicking here. (You must be an active member to get a directory, so be sure to tell us your union card number!)

NEED FINANCIAL AID?

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND?

The Emergency Relief Fund helps musicians in need. Financial assistance is provided in the form of a directed grant to the musician's creditors; for example, to a landlord, physician, etc. The eligibility requirements are:

A minimum of two years' membership in the union;
Union membership in good standing, with all dues paid;
"Dire need" as defined by the fund's trustees. This can include: threat of gas, electric or telephone cutoff; eviction; medical debts; costs incurred due to the theft of instruments; auto repairs vital to continued employment; and other emergencies.

To apply, contact the union's social worker Cindy Green by clicking here or calling (212) 245-4802, ext. 180. Cindy can also help you apply for other financial help from sources like the Actors' Fund and other relief organizations.

Click the ad above for info.

JAZZ JAM!

There is a jazz jam on most Mondays at Local 802 (322 West 48th Street), from 7 to 9:30 p.m. For more information, call Joe Petrucelli at the Jazz Foundation of America at (212) 245-3999, ext. 10, or click here.

DO YOU HAVE MONEY WAITING FOR YOU?

Somtimes the union may have a check in your name, but no way to get it to you because your address is outdated. To see if there's money waiting for you, click here.

Paid ads in 802 NOTES support your union and keep your costs down. You can advertise here and reach thousands of your peers. For more information, click here.

Click the ad above for info.