Archive for July, 2016

MEETING / POLLINATION REACTION / COMMENTS / EVENTS

Saturday, July 30th, 2016

7/31/16

I. MEETING RECAP – 7/25/16
II. COMMENTS ON “POLLINATION”
III. COMMENTS
IV. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

=================================

I. MEETING RECAP – 7/25/16
Quorum was not achieved for the meeting on Monday so
there was no official meeting.

Board will decide on the new trial board member themselves
at their meeting on Tuesday.

Moment of silence for all those killed by attacks over the
last few weeks.

Bonnie Janofsky takes minutes since Gary Lasley is on his
way to ROPA. Substitute Parliamentarian standing in.

50 Year Pins: Jay Rosen presented.

OFFICER REPORTS:
President
Negotiations with 21 employers

GRIEVANCES
2016 10 grievances – 6 withdrawn, 2 settled and one is
in arbitration.

EMPLOYMENT
Processed over 5253 Contracts totaling over 38 million

NEGOTIATIONS
Pasadena Master CHorale
Pasadena Symphony
MET
Desert Symphony
Greek
Amoe Symphony and others

Other various events attended:
Screenings
Jacaranda is finally a signatory
Magic Castle charged
John Williams LIFETIME achievement award
Labor Unity – health achievement
State Federation of Labor convention.
Working toward union solidarity
Workshops have been taking place.
Big Sir Jingle Mixer

ORGANIZING
Eric Cruz from the Realtor’s Office who took care of the
sale of the building now is working for us.

New Organizer speaks. Wants to get members more
involved, and figure out how to do that….

BUILDING
Are in escrow on our building. 2 previous escrows fell through.

Alameda building is gone. The place used to sell everyone
on the sale of our building.
We walked away when the seller and the deal got weird.

New Option
Winona Near the Airport – 2 story with elevator – Lot with
150 spots.
Potential problems being investigated
Vapor encroachment – not unusual, but concerning and
must be investigated for effect on the membership. Will
cost thousands to mitigate the problem.
Question: Noise issue? Don’t think so. No commercial
airlines flying over that site.

General sale price is $25,250,000.00

LEGISLATURE
Withdrawn support for the bill AB1199
May re-introduce new bill in 2017

HEALTH CREW
Mergible Plans being discussed
AFM Updates – Best ever according to Acosta – elected to IEB.
Now says he has a real voice.

ELECTRONIC VERIFICATION –
used to do surveys with membership to vote on their contracts
securely. passed.

Parity resolution passed
Still in negotiations with Sound Recording Companies.

OTHER ISSUES
Ca Phil having problems – Canceled all but Disney Hall.

Riverside Philharmonic – They’re having challenges as well.
Could not guarantee wages. Cut performances and made payroll

Star Trek Settlement – Touring group – was at Pantages, didn’t co-operate. Have now settled.

EXHIBIT
Honor Local 767 – the Black Musicians Union. Raising funds.
Find it on the Local website.

—————-

VP REPORT
Glad Acosta is on the IEB starting August 1st.

June 1st – 4th – live TV negotiation in New York – 1st round.
New Media and Music Prep, Clip use. Will meet again end
of September.
Sept 19th – New York – Pamplet B nego
October 17th – Golf Tournament – Brookside Country Club.
Theme will be Broadway.
Thanks to Merisol and Diane Lauerman for their efforts.

Blessed to be the voice for out musicians. It’s exciting.
Everyday’s a learning experience.

Marc Sazar spoke on Video Contract – Right of new media.
Fox and ABC have now started streaming old TV content
immediately. TV like recording and everything else is going
to streaming.

FINANCIAL REPORT
2015 rev 4,319,365 – up from last year
Expenses 4350738 down from last year
Net loss 32,382 in 2015
Loss down a lot from 2014.

2016
1st Quarter – 1,641,218
Clerical 3% raise.

December 13th is the next election at Local 47.
Since no quorum.

Board will decide the trial board position tomorrow.

END OF MEETING NOTES

================================

II. RESPONSES TO “POLLINATION”

How much of OUR dollars has the current administration SPENT
to tell US HOW & WHAT they want US to vote their way?!?
I am sure that the monies the current administration has spent
to persuade us HOW to vote, and how to THINK their way would
have repaired OUR fine old Union building.

It seems that the MORE our union leaders need money to pay,
among other things, their high, fine salaries, the MORE we
NEED to SELL the building.

So what happens when they spend all that money? Do they
have an answer to the DIMINISHING REVENUES coming in
the form of Work and Yearly dues?

Do Mssrs. Acosta, Baptist, and our Secretary/Treasurer have
any answers, MAGIC OR REASONABLE, to revive the work that
has disappeared from Hollywood’s Sound Stages? Do you wonder
at why Rick Baptist stopped playing the trumpet for fun & profit,
and ran for Union office? He is a very intelligent person, and saw
what has happened to our sources of income as many studio
players have found out, the hard way.

I was both lucky, and fortunate, to have worked in the business
from my first record date with Val Alexander in 1959, till thirty
or so years later, when President Bernie Fleischer hired me soon
after as a recording rep. I wanted to keep playing, but I realized
it was time and I had to move on.

Some time later, Max Herman asked me to run of V.P., and I
accepted, thankfully & gladly. As long as you get called to
work, and make a living at playing, music prep, writing,
producing, contracting, or whatever you do in the music
business, it’s usually fun, and great, and we all want to keep
doing it, right? I did it as long as the phone rang!

I was a member of the recording fraternity for many years,
and as a UNION OFFICER I saw the loss of work happening.
I learned first hand, what many producers, and industry
movers & shakers wanted to get rid of; Secondary payments!

You may not like it, but that’s the truth. If you don’t believe,
ask the people that knowŠ people who work with industry,
such as Jay Cooper.

My own first hand encounter of this was when I contacted
the talented composer, Michael Kamen, who is no longer
with us, to ask why he was scoring “Die Hard With a
Vengeance” in Seattle. He told me how much he loved
recording here in Los Angeles, but it because of the producers.Š
My secretary spent most of the week plowing through all the
A.D.’s Secretaries, Special Assistants, etc., till I got Andy
Vagna on the phone. I told him that I’d heard that his company
trucked all the necessary equipment to Seattle, installed it in
a church or chapel that was supposed to have acoustics as
good as Fox or MGM, but blew out every fuse, circuit breaker, etc.,
in the place. Then, after it had all been repaired, the SeattleOrch.
which is no longer affiliated with the Union, packed up one day,
in mid session, according to the story I’d been told, because
they were contracted to do a concert, and had to go.
I asked Mr. Vagna, “Why not do it here?’

He replied, “Cost!” I said, “If your gross was less than 30 mil
the first weekend, I’ll come over and personally Simoniz your
Bentley.” He said, “The back end!” He told him what the back
end would beŠ only so & so much dollars, and he responded
very emphatically, “It’s so many thousand I can’t put in my
pocket!!Š F—- You!” I said, Well, I’d like to talk to you, see
if there’s a way to do thisŠ
” There’s NOT!” and banged the phone down.

I realize that this is a business, and if you are working every
day, and on or in the top 200 or so, Life is Good, and I’m glad
for you. If you’re not, perhaps it’s a fact of Life; and matter
of dollars, and some producers’ sense of business!

The late Lew Wasserman, the former head of Universal Studios,
who was largely responsible for building that Show Biz Empire,
told our former president, Max Herman when we went on strike
for secondary use payments on TV show, “Listen, Max! You and
the musicians are going down the wrong road! We’ll give you
higher scales,more money but we WILL NEVER give you secondary
payments when we resell our TV shows!” Max knew we wouldn’t
want to hear that, and kept quiet about it. But many years later,
Max confided what Mr. Wasserman had told him.

When my fellow musicians were about to lose their homes,
etc., Max stopped me on the stairs to the Credit Union, and
said, “BIll, what can we do to help you members during
this strike?” I responded, “Why don’t you officers forgo your
salaries, and put them into a Relief Fund for the members
who are losing their homes, and so on, as long as we’re on
strike?!?”

Max kind of spluttered, but finally told me, “The By-Laws
don’t allow that!”

I replied,

“THEN CHANGE THE BYLAWS!”

——————————-

LA is getting roughly one third (maybe 40 movies) of all t
he possible theatrical 120 ish releases be it large budget
studio pictures to small budget inde movie shorts – for
various reasons but mostly producers do not want to
work for an organization that has so many flaws and
is ANTI relationship sometimes – not all the time – there
are wins every day with AFM jobs coming back to LA
and also AFM losses every day going out of LA – there is
a global market now and frankly many of the other global
recording locations are providing something better whether
it’s lower cost or “good enough” quality – at the end of the
day – are we in LA doing all we can to remain a location
for recordings? – my opinion is not to offer an answer
but to pose up this question once again – “are we happy in
LA only getting one third of the recording work we used to get?”

I am not…….

================================

III. COMMENTS

Who will run to replace the “bobble heads” on the Board?

(more…)

MEETING / POLLINATION / 1ST WEDNESDAY / EVENTS

Sunday, July 24th, 2016

7/24/16

I. LOCAL 47 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
II. MEMBER COMMENTARY – CROSS POLLINATION FOR POLITICAL GAIN
III. ASMAC FIRST WEDNESDAY – AUGUST 3rd
IV. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

=================================

I. LOCAL 47 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The next Local 47 General Membership meeting will be
this Monday night, JULY 25TH at 7:30 PM at the Local
47 Auditorium.

=================================

II. MEMBER COMMENTARY – CROSS POLLINATION FOR POLITICAL GAIN

Dear Editor,

Contrary to the initial reasons offered by the Local to sell Vine
Street, e.g. the need of a new roof, electrical upgrades, and the
desire for ADA compliance, the real reason to sell Vine Street
appears to be about having enough money to continue doing
business as usual. To get the referendum passed, the Local
spent thousands of dollars of our resources beyond the cost
of those which were charged to the “Club”. There were multiple
mailers… and by their own admission… the Union generated
20,000 phone calls encouraging members to vote YES.

While not all the expenses of the referendum were paid directly
by Local 47, (reportedly paid by “the CLUB”), the employees that
were were working on behalf of the referendum were on the
Local 47 payroll.

What the membership might not know is that the Union hired a
person by the name of Erick Cruz at the beginning of the referendum
process in October. Erick, who only one month prior, appears to
have been an employee of the same company that was hired to
promote the sale of Vine Street.

Erick Cruz was assigned to help the Election Board and indeed
was the person identified by the Election Board Chair as the person
who helped scan the ballots.

Erick Cruz’s LinkedIn profile identifies his job description at Bridge
Street as “Social Innovation Organizer” and subsequently Local 47
“Campaign Manager.” Does anyone see a problem with this? A
partisan with his hands all over the ballots? In what universe does
the administration reside in thinking this is appropriate?

An attempt to speak with Erick Cruz on the day of the referendum
count concerning his participation was thwarted by the gruff
intentional intrusion of the Local’s attorney, Lewis Levy. Not only
was the conversation interrupted but, Lewis physically removed
him from my inquiry.

The Board minutes of 2/16/16 reflect the resignation of Jay Rosen
from the Election Board. I was  a member observer at this Executive
Board meeting and can attest to the mention of Erick Cruz by Jay
Rosen that certain of Cruz’s actions were disturbing.

Member Observer

p.s. A long time employee, Jeff Surga, was “shown the door” by
reason of budget considerations. However, according to Rick
Baptist…(giving notice to the “cats” in the rehearsal rooms on
Wednesday, 3/23/16), Vice-President Baptist represented that
Jeff was “unhappy for some time.” Guessing Rick wasn’t in the
room when John fired him.

The obvious question is…Since the Administration got the vote
to sell Vine Street and put millions of dollars in the bank…why
would our long time employee be released?

___________________________________

Subsequent to the “let go” of a long time employee due to “budget
considerations” as he was told by President Acosta…. as of this last
week, Local 47 has hired an “organizer”. (This position was posted
on the internet on a job site.) Looking at the past minutes, the BOD
has voted to hire someone for a position that arguably pays much
more $$$.  According to the “new organizer’s” presentation to the
BOD last Tuesday….the membership can get ready to have him
come to your job and seek to get you a better deal because he will
“make every member of the union an advocate for a Union contract.”
Don’t you just love the pie in the sky guy?  Of course, this comes
from the top, put in charge of Local 47.  Someone who does not
care who doesn’t work as long as the “we know who we are club”
gets what they want.  Does this “organizer” really know what is
going on? Has the President of our Local ever worked under a CBA?
Inquiring minds want to know?

[EC: We don’t by the “Jeff was unhappy for some time” pablum
either… and if they’d just made millions on the sale, they must
think members are pretty stupid to buy that it was budget
considerations. Problem is, most members have already
given up on the Local as hopelessly corrupt, except for the
chosen few. The 99% simply don’t care anymore, which
unfortunately give the elites and the Local 47 administration
exactly what they want.]

================================

III. ASMAC FIRST WEDNESDAY – AUGUST 3rd

ASMAC presents FIRST WEDNESDAYS

with
Jay Leach
Slide Instrument Symposium
August 3, 2016 •  7:30 pm
at Local 47 in Hollywood
Writing for slide guitar is a mystery to most arrangers
and composers. Slide instruments are very popular in
film scores and song production, and writing for these
instruments is a valuable skill.  Plan to attend this
unique opportunity to attend the ASMAC slide instrument
symposium featuring premier studio musician Jay Leach.
Jay will provide live and recorded demonstrations of the
Pedal Steel Guitar, Non Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro,
Weissenborn and the Lap Steel. He will discuss detailed
information including tuning, registers, styles and history.
Jay’s TV credits include several seasons of the American
Idol (2006-2015), The Voice, America’s Got Talent, The
Tonight Show. He has recorded with artists including
Kenny Loggins, Dave Koz, LeAnn Rimes, Barry Manilow,
Taylor Swift, Jewel, Jessica Simpson, Crystal Bowersox,
Taylor Hicks, John Denver, Roy Orbison, Gladys Knight,
Clint Black, Bette Midler and Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks.
Film scores on which he has played include Hannah Montana,
Down and Out in Beverly Hills, 6 Days and 7 Nights, Team
America and many more. Video games: Call of Duty Black
ops II, Assassin’s Creed: Dead Kings, Lost Planet 3, and Open
Season.

He has played on countless Jingles including Citibank, Maxwell
House Coffee, IMB to name a few. Live Performances include
appearances with the LA Philharmonic, 9 to 5, Porgy and Bess,
Fiddler on The Roof, Ice Capades, Ringling Bros. Circus and
many more. Leach is also the author of several guitar technique
and style books.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn more about slide
guitars from the master, himself, Jay Leach.

To RSVP, click on the Reserve Now button, or visit www.asmac.org.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Check-in & Network:    7:00-7:30 PM
Program:                       7:30-10:00 PM
Reservations encouraged — Walk-ins are welcome.

$10 for Guests and Students
FREE for ASMAC & Local 47 members
Free parking.

LOCATION:
AFM Local 47 – Auditorium
817 Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90038

* For comments on past events or recommendations on upcoming events, 
contact [email protected]  Attn: Milton Nelson

PLEASE VISIT ASMAC.ORG FOR A FULL LIST OF UPCOMING
ASMAC PROGRAMS & EVENTS, AND VISIT THE ASMAC STORE
TO VIEW DOWNLOADS OF MASTER CLASSES, WORKSHOPS
AND ARCHIVAL HISTORIES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

===============================

(more…)

EVENTS

Saturday, July 16th, 2016

7/16/16

I. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

=================================

I. EVENTS

DEAN AND RICHARD

DEAN AND RICHARD are now at Culver City Elks the first
Friday of every month.
7:30pm-10;30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891

————————————-

LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584

NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.

Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way they
should be.

We are in the back room called the Trailside Room.

Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.

—————————————

AUDITIONS FOR CALSTATELA SYMPHONY

Please pass the word that the annual auditions for the CalStateLA
Symphony Orchestra/Olympia Youth Orchestra for the 2016-2017 season
will begin in June through mid August immediately after the season is
over.

Qualified students may submit the form on line at the website
http://www.olympiaphil.org

under “youth orchestra”.

I will be in touch to set up a time during the summer. The next
season begins late September of this year through early June of 2017.

The orchestra consists of talented students age 12 through college
age. Rehearsals are at CSULA on Sundays at 4:30-7PM. Tuition is $650
for the entire year. Scholarship is available on a need or merit
basis depending on instrument and individual student. The orchestra
students will also be able to take optional transferable college
credits from CSULA, perform with college music students in 4 on and
off campus concerts.

This is a great orchestra with lots of talented students taking part.
I look forward to hearing from students learning all orchestral
instruments.

Thank you!

Fung Ho
Music Director & Conductor
CalStateLA Symphony Orchestra/Olympia Youth Orchestra

______________________________________________

7/16/16

Wu Nation,

We will be appearing at Rusty’s Surf Ranch on Saturday,
July 16th 2016, starting at 10:00 pm and will play two
sets of your favorite Steely Dan tunes!  We want this to
be a fun evening for all, so please bring your friends
along and enjoy a great time with us.

The line up for this show will be:

Tony Egan: Lead Vocals
Leigh DeMarche: Vocals
Jodi Fodor: Vocals
Gil Ayan: Guitar
Steve Bias: Bass and Vocals
Roch Bordenave: Trombone
Jeff Dellisanti: Saxophones
Paul Salvo: Trumpet
Jack Cook: Drums
Zach Provost: Keyboards

Rusty’s Surf Ranch
256 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-7437
http://www.rustyssurfranch.com/

We look forward to seeing you there!
The Doctor Wu Band
http://www.doctorwuband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/doctorwuband
—————————————–

7/17/16

Join three incredible Los Angeles songwriters as they chat
with host BILL BERRY about music and perform their songs
in an intimate “in-the-square” setting. We’re in our third great year!

This month’s guests:

SHELLY PEIKEN – multi-platinum Grammy nominated
songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits “What a Girl
Wants” and “Come On Over Baby”. Grammy nomination
for the song “Bitch” recorded by Meredith Brooks. She’s
had hundreds of songs placed on albums, and in TV and
film. Her new book, “Confessions of a Serial Songwriter”
is out now!

MICHELLE LEWIS – Peabody award-winning songwriter.
She’s had numerous cuts from her first radio hit, Chers A
Different Kind of Love Song in 2002, to last years worldwide
number 1 single Wings by the British girl group, Little Mix.
Songs by Katherine McPhee, Shawn Colvin, classical trio
Il Volo and many more!

CHE ZURO – Former LA rocker now performing in her
home state of Utah, Che is in town for a limited engagement.
From Kim Fowley’s post Runaways all-girl band, The
Orchids (Mercury Records) to stints with Phil Seymour,
Josie Cotton, Berlin, Charlie Sexton, Population 5 and
more, she has great songs and great stories!

Sunday Night, July 17th, 2016
Doors open at 6:30PM, Show starts at 7:00PM (sharp).
At the Lyric/Hyperion Theater & Cafe.
2106 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
$15 or $12 with discount code ‘song’  CLICK HERE!
The monthly showcase is hosted by BILL BERRY and features
songwriters from country to cabaret, r&b to folk and everything in
between. Enjoy a glass of wine and dinner with your show. Free
parking. More information at billberrymusic.com or at
lyrichyperion.com.

Thanks!
Much love,
-Bill
—————————————–

7/20/16

GLENDALE NOON CONCERT

JULY 20, 2016 GNC

On Wednesday July  20, 2016 at 12:10-12:40 pm
the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts will feature
flutist Kathy Marsh and percussionist Timm Boatman
performing duos for flute and vibraphone by
Kent Kennan and Petar Obradovic
at the Sanctuary of Glendale City Church,
610 E. California Ave. (at Isabel St), Glendale, CA 91206.
For more information, email [email protected]
or call (818) 244- 7241.

Info about upcoming programs through mid SEPT 2016
at the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts series
(concerts every first & third Wednesday at 12:10-12:40 pm)
are listed at http://www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Thank you for your support in publicizing the Glendale Noon Concerts!

Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, GNC
818 249 -5108

————————————————

7/22/16

BILL BARRY RECORD RELEASE SHOW JULY 22ND

AWKWARD STAGE 
is being released!
And I’m having a big show to celebrate!

Friday, July 22nd at 9:00PM at
Molly Malone’s
575 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Bill Berry and his Band will present a spectacular event!
8 piece band plus special guests!
Featuring songs from the new album as well as new songs!
Lots of great seating! Full Bar! Food!
Free Street Parking around the venue!

We’ve been working our butts off to put together
the very best show we can.
I hope you can work your butt off to be there!

Tickets $10 in advance HERE.
But wait! There’s more…

On the same night you can see
Legendary Rockers

The Records
featuring John Wicks
“Starry Eyes”, “Teenarama”, “Hearts In Her Eyes”,
“Rock N Roll Love Letter” and more hits!
at 11:00PM!

Renowned LA songwriter
Carla Olson
(Textones, Mick Taylor, Gene Clark)
with guitarist
Todd Wolfe
at 8:00PM

It will be a night I don’t want you to miss.
I hope you will join us!
Much love,
-Bill

—————————————–

7/31/16
THE PHIL NORMAN TENTET
One of the best bands today playing in the tradition of
cool West Coast Jazz

Sunday Evening July 31 – 7:30pm

Vibrato Grill Jazz
2930 Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, CA.90077
Reservations call 310-474-9400

Don’t miss their performance of “THEN & NOW”
Remembering the classic sounds & variations of
12 jazz legends to include:

The George Shearing Quintet
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet
The Cal Tjader Quintet
The Ahmad Jamal Trio
Miles, Dizzy and more

—————————————-

MASTER IN FLM MUSIC APPLICATIONS STILL BEING ACCEPTED

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program
At The
Seattle Film Institute

is still accepting applications to the One year

Master of Music (MM) in Film Composition

Recently rated as the #4 school for film scoring education
in the world by Music School Central and the #2 school
for earning a Masters of Music degree in Film Composition

Study with program creator and lead instructor

Hummie Mann

2 Time Emmy Award Winning film composer of
“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in
Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”

Click here to listen and watch student scores from previous years

Applications are now being accepted for the 2016
school year We offer rolling admissions – applying
early is recommended Scholarship support is
available to early applicants

================================

You can read all previous offerings at:http://www.responsible47.com

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

FAIR TRADE MUSIC / EVENTS

Saturday, July 9th, 2016

6/23/16

I. MEMBER COMMENTARY – FAIR TRADE MUSIC
II. EVENTS

…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

=================================

I. MEMBER COMMENTARY – FAIR TRADE MUSIC

Who comes up with these things? Free Trade Music? Is this how we become “more relevant”?
Will this “feel good” labeling pay our bills?

INFO ON FAIR TRADE MUSIC
Fair Trade Music
Fair Trade Music is a grassroots campaign raising standards for freelance
musicians through organizing, collective action and education. City-by-city
we are building an organization of musicians, community leaders and
fans to support Fair Trade Music principles including our right to:
•    Negotiate Fair Contracts
•    Create Equitable Business Relationships
•    Establish Enforceable Contract Standards
Learn more about starting a Fair Trade Music Campaign in your community
Far too many of us often “pay to play” or play for “zero minus expenses”
with venues paying nothing and musicians covering all the costs. Pay often
depends on the “take” at the door or proceeds from the bar, but many clubs
don’t provide documentation on income or expenses. Without enforceable
contracts, transparency or accountability—musicians lose out. Through Fair
Trade Music, we organize and win.
Learn more about starting a Fair Trade Music Campaign in your community
Seattle’s Fair Trade Music Campaign is an example of what happens when
musicians join together to raise the standard of living for all musicians in
their community. In the past year, over 25 Seattle area clubs signed a pledge
to abide by Fair Trade Music principles. Musician-loading zones were established
in the area. The City of Seattle even proclaimed May 20th as Fair Trade Music
Day in support of a living wage for musicians.
Read the recent report examining the impact of the music industry on the Seattle economy.
Learn more about starting a Fair Trade Music Campaign in your community

======================================

II. EVENTS

DEAN AND RICHARD

DEAN AND RICHARD are now at Culver City Elks the first
Friday of every month.
7:30pm-10;30pm,
11160 Washington Pl.
Culver City, 90232
310-839-8891

————————————-

LA WINDS JAZZ KATS 584

NO COVER, NO MINIMUM.
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at Viva Cantina
7:30-10:00.
900 Riverside Drive, Burbank.

Free parking across the street at Pickwick Bowl.
Come hear your favorite charts played the way they
should be.

We are in the back room called the Trailside Room.

Come on down. Guaranteed to swing.

—————————————

AUDITIONS FOR CALSTATELA SYMPHONY

Please pass the word that the annual auditions for the CalStateLA
Symphony Orchestra/Olympia Youth Orchestra for the 2016-2017 season
will begin in June through mid August immediately after the season is
over.

Qualified students may submit the form on line at the website
http://www.olympiaphil.org

under “youth orchestra”.

I will be in touch to set up a time during the summer. The next
season begins late September of this year through early June of 2017.

The orchestra consists of talented students age 12 through college
age. Rehearsals are at CSULA on Sundays at 4:30-7PM. Tuition is $650
for the entire year. Scholarship is available on a need or merit
basis depending on instrument and individual student. The orchestra
students will also be able to take optional transferable college
credits from CSULA, perform with college music students in 4 on and
off campus concerts.

This is a great orchestra with lots of talented students taking part.
I look forward to hearing from students learning all orchestral
instruments.

Thank you!

Fung Ho
Music Director & Conductor
CalStateLA Symphony Orchestra/Olympia Youth Orchestra

______________________________________________

7/10/16

JOHN CLAYTON JAZZ TRIO
July 10, 2016

Catalina’s Bar and Grill
6725 W. Sunset Blvd
Hollywood 90028
323-466-2210
http://www.catalinajazzclub.com

See you there!
Your fan,
John

______________________________________________

7/13/16

NORTH/SOUTH CONSONANCE

MAINE SUMMER SOUNDS

Claudia Schaer, violin
Max Lifchitz, piano

music by

Luciano Berio, Edmund Cionek, Max Lifchitz,
Nico Muhly, Daria Semegen & Augusta Read Thomas

Wednesday, July 13 @ 8 PM
Bar Harbor Congregational Church
29 Mount Desert Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609

http://www.barharbormusicfestival.org/2010_calendar.html

Claudia Schaer and Max Lifchitz to appear at the Bar Harbor Music Festival performing works by composers from Europe
and the US

The program will feature two new works especially written for the
occasion by Edmund Cionek and Max Lifchitz as well as recent
works by Nico Muhly, Daria Semegen, Augusta Read Thomas
and the late Italian master Luciano Berio.

______________________________________________

7/20/16

GLENDALE NOON CONCERT

JULY 20, 2016 GNC

On Wednesday July  20, 2016 at 12:10-12:40 pm
the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts will feature
flutist Kathy Marsh and percussionist Timm Boatman
performing duos for flute and vibraphone by
Kent Kennan and Petar Obradovic
at the Sanctuary of Glendale City Church,
610 E. California Ave. (at Isabel St), Glendale, CA 91206.
For more information, email [email protected]
or call (818) 244- 7241.

Info about upcoming programs through mid SEPT 2016
at the Free Admission Glendale Noon Concerts series
(concerts every first & third Wednesday at 12:10-12:40 pm)
are listed at http://www.glendalenoonconcerts.blogspot.com
Thank you for your support in publicizing the Glendale Noon Concerts!

Jacqueline Suzuki
Curator, GNC
818 249 -5108

————————————————

7/31/16
THE PHIL NORMAN TENTET
One of the best bands today playing in the tradition of
cool West Coast Jazz

Sunday Evening July 31 – 7:30pm

Vibrato Grill Jazz
2930 Beverly Glen Circle
Los Angeles, CA.90077
Reservations call 310-474-9400

Don’t miss their performance of “THEN & NOW”
Remembering the classic sounds & variations of
12 jazz legends to include:

The George Shearing Quintet
The Dave Brubeck Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet
The Cal Tjader Quintet
The Ahmad Jamal Trio
Miles, Dizzy and more

—————————————-

MASTER IN FLM MUSIC APPLICATIONS STILL BEING ACCEPTED

The Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program
At The
Seattle Film Institute

is still accepting applications to the One year

Master of Music (MM) in Film Composition

Recently rated as the #4 school for film scoring education
in the world by Music School Central and the #2 school
for earning a Masters of Music degree in Film Composition

Study with program creator and lead instructor

Hummie Mann

2 Time Emmy Award Winning film composer of
“Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and featured in
Variety Magazine’s article “Leaders in Learning”

Click here to listen and watch student scores from previous years

Applications are now being accepted for the 2016
school year We offer rolling admissions – applying
early is recommended Scholarship support is
available to early applicants

================================

You can read all previous offerings at:http://www.responsible47.com

UNTIL NEXT TIME,
THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

HAPPY 4TH! / PROPOSAL / FLASHBACK DISSOLUTION / COMMENTS / EVENTS

Saturday, July 2nd, 2016

6/23/16

I. HAPPY 4th!
II. CONTRACT PROPOSALS FROM THE FORMER RMASF
III. FLASHBACK – RMASF DISSOLUTION 2007
IV. MEMBER COMMENTS
V. EVENTS
…Absolutely guaranteed anonymity – Former Musician’s Union officer
…The one voice of reason in a sea of insanity – Nashville ‘first call’
scoring musician
…Allows us to speak our minds without fear of reprisal – L.A. Symphonic musician
…Reporting issues the Musicians Union doesn’t dare to mention – National touring musician

—————————————

I. HAPPY 4th!
Please have a great July 4th weekend and stay safe!
THE COMMITTEE

II. CONTRACT PROPOSALS FROM THE FORMER RMASF
A Logical forward thinking contract
PROPOSAL
RMASF’s Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Agreements and Low
Budget Agreement proposal consists of two co-existing separate options:

2. An Optional Buyout Agreement
a. Double the current motion picture scale
• Higher up-front payment
b. Buyout for soundtrack and secondary markets
• No back-end payments
• Pre-existing motion pictures with secondary markets to be grandfathered in
c. Pension raised to 15%
• Long-term, back-end payment
d. All other working conditions (i.e. doubles, overdubs, cartage, working
hours, health and welfare, overtime) remain the same as current 2002
agreement.
Benefits of the Optional Buyout Agreement for:
The Musician
• Increase in volume of work-outsourced work returns and comes
under contract
• Increase in up-front wages to double scale
• Increase of pension to 15%-long term. “back-end” payment
The Industry
• Many producers can close their books upon completion of their film productions
• Composers confined with “package deals”-where they are unable to
commit to future back-end payments-can now record on union
contracts.
• A simple and concise agreement for the Industry to work with and understand.
The AFM and Locals
• Financial and labor burden to police soundtrack and
secondary market compliance is eliminate.
• More time and money available to lobby for more work through
federal and state tax incentive legislation
•Increase in local union work dues from additional work
• ”Phono to motion picture” inequities eliminated.

—————————————

III. FLASHBACK – RMASF DISSOLUTION 2007
Dear —-l:
This letter shall serve as official notification to RMA International
that on May 21, 2007 the membership of RMASF voted to relinquish
its charter and dissolve the chapter. We regret the necessity of
this decision but the membership and board of directors believe
that this official affiliation between the recording musicians of the
San Francisco Bay Area and RMA International has not only failed
to promote their careers and professional needs, but in fact has
worked to their detriment.
We look forward to a better working relationship in the future
towards our mutual goals of improving the work and security of
all AFM recording musicians.
Fraternally,
The Board of RMASF
##############
May 25, 2007
Dear Members of the International Executive Board of the American
Federation of Musicians:
We are writing to inform you that on May 2 l, the membership of
the San Francisco Chapter of Recording Musicians Association
unanimously voted to dissolve RMASF. The RMASF Board of Directors
would like the IEB to understand why this unfortunate decision
was necessary.
As you are well aware, the commercial recording industry is in a
tremendous state of flux. The increase in outsourcing of recording
work to non-Union venues, both domestic and international, has
created a situation where the former paradigms of compensation
for such work are no longer inevitable. Our goal has been to
recapture that work for local players, with a Union contract that
works for both producers and musicians.
The mission of RMASF has always been:
• to unite and organize professional recording musicians in the
San Francisco Bay Area
• to promote and develop recording opportunities in the San
Francisco Bay Area
• to communicate, exchange information and address issues of
mutual concern with other RMA chapters
We have increasingly found this mission impossible to fulfill
under the existing conditions within the RMA Players Conference.
Especially with regard to motion picture, television and videogame
recording work, RMA International seems to exclusively serve the
interests of a small group of musicians in its Los Angeles Chapter.
In turn, RMALA appears to be dedicated to keeping this work away
from RMA musicians in other chapters, and, in fact, other musicians
within their own Local. One particularly offensive example of RMA
International’s attitude toward RMASF was its attempt to raise the
qualification levels for contract ratification, which would have
rendered almost all of our members ineligible to vote. We were
pleased that the IEB saw fit to maintain these levels, and hope it
will continue to do so in the best interests of all recording musicians.
RMA International has been consistently unresponsive to our concerns
about the state of the recording industry, and it has deliberately
and actively blocked our initiatives. Each time we have formulated
a proposal, whether for video games or motion pictures, we found
the support we needed from AFM Local 6, and accordingly submitted
our proposals through our Local.
Our experiences with RMA International have been exceedingly
frustrating and unproductive. In pursuing our primary goal of
increasing the quantity of high-quality recording work nationally
and in the San Francisco Bay Area, two significant proposals were
offered by RMASF: A theatrical motion picture proposal was made
in 2005 that effectively addressed the outsourcing issues plaguing
the motion picture industry, and most recently, a video game
promulgated agreement proposal was put forward that would
recapture recording in an industry that has seen only 2.5% of its
games recorded on AIM contracts over the past five years. Both
RMASF proposals were dismissed by RMA within hours of their
submission, and as a result had to be presented by AFM Local 6.
The Board and membership of RMASF feel that it is impossible to
continue to pursue our objectives through the RMA Players Conference,
and that by maintaining an RMA chapter in San Francisco our members
are unwittingly undermining their own recording opportunities.
The best service we can do our members, our colleagues and the
Union is to withdraw from RMA, state these issues publicly for
the record, and urge the IEB to:
Our motion picture and videogame recording industry is in crisis.
On behalf of the Union recording musicians in the San Francisco
Bay Area we urge you to consider our withdrawal from RMA as a
symptom of the inequities and abuses within our industry that
require your ongoing scrutiny and stewardship.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
Fraternally and in solidarity,
Board of Directors, RMASF

======================================

IV. MEMBER COMMENTS

Hello Editor,

Perhaps someone can explain why the return envelope for a
ballot to ratify a CBA (which already included the member
return address affixed) requires a signature on the outside
envelope (which can be seen by anyone handling the U.S.
Mail) and this procedural safeguard was NOT required for
the referendum to sell Vine Street?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[EC: Member, the Local got what they wanted, they don’t
care about answering any further questions.]

——————————

I was very concerned about having to affix my signature
to the OUTSIDE envelope to mail back my Dolby ballot.
Whose idea was this anyway? When I go to the bank to get
a copy of a check, the bank will not copy the signature
line because of “possible replication”. Does the Union
realize requiring a publicly visible signature on the
outside envelope could expose their members to potential
fraud and identity theft? The Union implementing this
reckless procedure demonstrates once again poor judgment.

NAME WITHHELD

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