MUSICIANS: check this out!

802 NOTES: the electronic newsletter of Local 802

This edition: Oct. 9, 2013

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ATTENTION MUSICIANS!

OBAMACARE IS HERE:

HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES NOW OPEN!

Everyone's talking about the Affordable Care Act, but how will "Obamacare" affect musicians like you?

** People who make $15,800/year or less will get free insurance, and people who make less than $46,000/year will get subsidies from the government to buy insurance

** In New York, insurance plans will include reimbursement for gym memberships.

** Everyone must have insurance by March 31, 2014 or pay a penalty (1% of their income).

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH OBAMACARE?

JUST CLICK HERE.

For more information on Obamacare, musicians and other artists are invited to attend a free workshop sponsored by the Actors Fund EVERY THURSDAY from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at 729 Seventh Avenue (between West 48th Street and West 49th Street), on the 10th floor. No reservations required: just show up! For more information, contact Renata Marinaro at (917) 281-5965 or click here. Local 802 members can also e-mail Local 802 health fund trustee Martha Hyde by clicking here with general questions about the Affordable Care Act.

One more thing: if it turns out Obamacare doesn't work for you, the Actors Fund has an outstanding web site that lists health insurance options for musicians and other artists. It's called the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, and you can visit it by clicking here.

To sign up for Obamacare, click here now.

A version of this article appeared on page 18 of the October issue of Allegro.

USE YOUR MUSIC TO TEACH IN THE NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

Do you want to use your music to enrich the lives of public school children -- while getting paid? The Actors Fund has come up with a very creative way for musicians and other artists to do part-time teaching gigs in the New York City public schools. It's not without some fine print, but it just might turn out to be a positive experience for you and a way to increase your income. Want to know more? Click here.

Do you have any friends who might be interested in this opportunity?

Share this story by clicking this link:

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC TEACHER?

Do you remember your favorite music teacher? What's the best (or worst!) advice you ever received from a music teacher? As back-to-school season begins, we'd love to hear your best anecdotes about the music teachers in your lives. Click here to share your stories with us. We'll print a selection of your stories in our journal Allegro.

JOIN LOCAL 802 AT A DISCOUNT!

If you have any colleagues who haven't joined Local 802 yet for whatever reason, now is the time! We are waiving our initiation fee for all new members who join the union between now and Dec. 31. Now there's every reason to join the largest and strongest musicians' union in the world. Call the Membership Department at (212) 245-4802 for more information or to join now. PASS ALONG THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR FRIENDS...CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

IS YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION CORRECT?

Thousands of musicians use the Local 802 membership directory -- both the print version and the online version -- as a vital resource for contacting and hiring their colleagues. We are about to compile the next edition. Some of our musicians don't have current contact info on file with us. Now is the time to make sure that your contact information is correct. Click here to check your contact info now.

SPECIAL NOTE: For the first time, we are going to print musicians' web site addresses (URLs) in the directory! If you have a personal web site, this is an excellent (and free) way to promote yourself. Click here for more info.

FREE FLU SHOTS FOR MUSICIANS

The Actors Fund is offering free flu shots to musicians and other entertainment professionals this fall and winter. Dates and times of the shots are:

Wednesday, Oct. 16 -- 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 -- 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 1 -- 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 11 -- 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 21 -- 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 9 -- 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The location is the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, 475 West 57 Street (corner of 10th Avenue). Please bring your union card. Appointments are not necessary. For more info, call (212) 489- 1939 and press option 3.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT NEEDS FUNDING?

Local 802's Coordinating Advisory Committee is a unique union body because it places a cash fund -- called the Special Projects and Services Fund -- of approximately $30,000 per year in the hands of union members to disburse according to specific guidelines, including creating new work opportunities for members. Click here for more details on the CAC and how to apply for funding.

FINDING THE GROOVE

Local 802 invites you to an evening with legendary drummer and groove master Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, along with Rob Paparozzi, world-class front man and harmonica player. They'll conduct a jazz clinic at Local 802 with the York College Big Band under the direction of Tom Zlabinger. Tickets are free, but SEATING IS LIMITED.

WHAT: Jazz clinic at Local 802 with Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Rob Paparozzi, and the York College Big Band under the direction of Tom Zlabinger

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Local 802

COST: Free, but tickets are required. SEATING IS LIMITED.

To reserve a ticket, click here.

For more information call Bettina Covo at (212) 245-4802, ext. 152.

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:

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.

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

MUSICIANS: CLEANING OUT YOUR CLOSET? DONATE YOUR USED CLOTHING TO CHARITY

We will accept all used clothes -- including stained, ripped or broken clothing -- as well as hats, belts and shoes (pairs only -- no single shoes, please!). We will also accept curtains, linens and handbags. No carpets.

Bring your donations to Local 802 between now and Oct. 22. Look in the club room for a donation hamper. If the hamper is not there or if you need help, call Marisa Friedman at (212) 245-4802, ext. 130 or click here.

All clothing items will be donated to Wearable Collections. This clothing drive is sponsored by the Broadway Green Alliance.

THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF ALLEGRO IS ONLINE NOW

Don't miss our special feature on the Titanic musicians who gave their lives to music.

CLICK HERE
IF YOU WANT TO HELP KEEP THE UNION STRONG

DO YOU LIVE IN A RENT STABILIZED APARTMENT?

The Rent Guidelines Board has set the following maximum rent increases for leases subject to renewal on or after Oct. 1, 2013 and on or before Sept. 30, 2014 for apartments under its jurisdiction:

One-year lease: 4 percent

Two-year lease: 7.75 percent

For more information or help, go to: www.MetCouncilOnHousing.org, or www.TandN.org, or www.HousingNYC.com

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!

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 applications for 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 Siena Shundi 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.