Musicians Union?

[Michael O'Regan]

Is it important to join?

[Terry Wetzel]

It can depend on several things. Years ago, when I was a proffesional musician,(like, before I understood the importance of living indoors and eating) I and my band joined the local Musicians brotherhood. I won't say what area of the states. I soon found out that the only benefit to belonging was paying dues! If you don't pay when due, you are suspended and cannot be reinstated until you pay up, sometimes with a fine! The other benefit to belonging was that the local dictated where you could play and where you couldn't according to their nightclub black list. It was kind of like being between a rock and a hard place. If you have not already learned, club owners are a devious lot who will go to great lengths to screw musicians every chance they get so, you either take your chances with the club owners or the union. The choice is yours. Of coarse things may have changed over the years but I doubt it. The only thing a union can garantee ius the right to pay dues. It's your decision.

[Seafroggys]

I fully support unions, but the musician union is one of the weakest ones around. They have no clout.

[mattr]

I was (and think I still am?) a member. I had to join it to play one particular gig, but haven't seen any benefits since. I heard something about if you were a member and stio paying your membership, then try to rejoin years later, you have to cough up the balance for the years that you didn't pay. Not quite sure if thats true or how it works, but I've heard a few people talk about it now. I don't fully understand it myself, even though I'm a member! My membership was paid for by Music For Youth, and it was at a concessionary rate anyway, so its never cost me anything! I won't be renewing it though.

[DavidK]

The UK union is much different than the American one.

[Michael O'Regan]

Well, my question was regarding the UK union - I didn't realise there was a difference other than different branches for different countries.

OK, then - is it worth joining the Musicians Union in the UK?

[DavidK]

Originally Posted by Michael O'Regan

Well, my question was regarding the UK union - I didn't realise there was a difference other than different branches for different countries.

OK, then - is it worth joining the Musicians Union in the UK?

Lemme 'splain:

Some gigs are union, most classical gigs are. I'm a classical player, so I have to be in the union, I've been in for 25 years. If I am not in, I can't do union gigs. I can do non-union gigs as long as I don't make a lot of noise about it, everyone does.

You join the union if you have an opportunity to play a union gig. Most are classical, broadway, big band etc. Joining the union doesnt get you gigs, you do that on your own. If someone says to you "Hey Joe, I have a gig in June, it's union" then you join. You can join before and network but it won't do much.

The one advantage of joining is the phone book, you get the name of every local member. You can look up "contractors" and find them all and send them a resume. Keep in mind that 99% of gigs are reading gigs, like shows. If that's your thing, check it out. Very few rock/bar/folk gigs are union.