Whether or not you've just finished viewing the new member video or listening to the audio cassette introducing you to the American Federation of Musicians, this brochure will complete your introduction to the programs and services available to you as a member of our organization... It's the owner's manual to your Federation.
Our members usually call us "the Federation," or "the AFM" or "the Union." Whatever you call us, the Federation and Local 546 offer programs and services that greatly enhance the working life of a professional musician. Your owner's manual will explain in clear, straightforward language exactly how this dizzying array of benefits can help a very important person... you, an AFM member.
The American Federation of Musicians has been serving professional musicians since its founding in 1896. It is made up of over 100,000 members belonging to approximately 300 Locals. The American Federation of Musicians is an international governing body of Locals representing musicians within specific geographic areas. Locals negotiate minimum wage scales for local engagements and deal with most matters within their own regions. The Federation bargains collectively for all members involved in network radio and TV, videotape, educational TV, music videos, theatrical motion pictures, TV films and other electronic recording.
Review this catalog with an Officer at Local 546. If you purchased a new VCR or stereo, you wouldn't throw away the owner's manual. You've made an investment and want to get your money's worth. The owner's manual helps you use, protect and appreciate your purchase. Your Federation membership is also an important investment. You contribute dues to Local 546 and the Federation, but you reap a significant return of dollars for your pocket, and opportunity for your future.
Make your Investment work for you...
... Read your owner's manual!
The AFM exists to serve its members. That is our first priority. The AFM's member services have been developed by musicians, for musicians. We urge you to get full value from the Federation by taking advantage of AFM services that benefit you. A Local Officer is always available to answer any questions you have.
We also urge you to remember that to receive most of the AFM's services at the Local or International level, you must have signed and filed an engagement contract.
A signed, filed AFM contract is the cornerstone of your professional life. It opens the doors to most major Federation and Local services and benefits. AFM contracts are not difficult to complete, and most ethical purchasers will sign them if asked. The Federation and its Locals supply legal contract forms to its members for all types of professional work. In a later section of the catalog, we'll show you a contract and explain how to use it correctly.
4 signed contract is necessary for complete access to Federation services.
The Federation has negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements in the U.S. and Canada covering national and international electronic and touring employment. An international group of producers, agencies, labels and packagers negotiate with the AFM to establish these agreements, which then become the accepted standard for all such employment. Examples of these contracts are available through Local 546, where the staff can show you how to complete them
Many of these electronic agreements provide for additional payments to you in the event of new usage or reuse of your recording. National and international touring employment covered by Federation-negotiated agreements includes ice shows, circuses, musicals, operas, ballets and stage shows. Before you accept touring employment, check with an officer of Local 546.
All national and international agreements call for mandatory purchaser contributions to your pension account, over and above scale. When the proper AFM agreement is signed and filed, the employer will automatically deposit pension contributions into your account in New York. The majority of AFM-negotiated studio and touring contracts listed above call for AFM-EP Fund contributions of nine to ten percent.
When you're on the road, far from home, and a gig goes bad--you get fired, canceled or stifled-the Federation's Emergency Traveling Assistance Program is there to bail you out.
One telephone call puts you in contact with a Federation staffer who will give you advice and assistance. You may even be advanced emergency cash based on Federation scale. The Federation will even go to court to collect the rest of your money, at no cost to you. Your signed, filed contract is all you need to benefit from this service.
Through agreements negotiated between the FM and film and record companies, special trust funds exist to pay scale (as set by Local 546) to members who perform at events for which no admission is charged. Such events include parks concerts, educational concerts and performances for hospitals and senior citizens. To participate, you and a co-sponsor must apply to Local 546 well in advance of the event. Contact Local 546 for more information.
If you make an audio recording or motion picture for an employer who has signed a Federation Agreement in that medium, you will receive additional pay over and above scale for several years from a pool of funds created from contributions by all AFM-contracted film and record producers.
Each year, all AFM members who have played in film or audio recording sessions divide the pool, according to the number of sessions each musician has played. The more sessions you play, the larger the distribution you receive.
We hate to repeat ourselves, but to qualify for the Special Payments Fund, members must file signed contracts!
The Federation has endorsed an insurance package for members' instruments. You can purchase professional all-risk insurance for your instruments, equipment and sound system at group rates from A. H. Wohlers & Co. for $2.20 per $100 for the first $1,500 and $1.00 per $100 thereafter of instrument value per year.
The Federation also provides an increasingly important low-cost performance liability insurance as well as low-cost group medical insurance. Ask a Local 546 officer for more information.
If you're a member of an American AFM Local, the AFM will act as your sponsor for engagements in Canada. No more hassles from Canadian Manpower. Just complete an EMP-AFM-1 form-available tom Local 546--at least 30 days prior to the performance date. Have his form signed by an AFM officer and send it with a copy of your contract to the AFM office in Canada. They will present it to Canadian Immigration and obtain your work permit. Canadian immigration requires a fee of $150 for individuals and $450 for groups of up to 14.
Six times a year, you'll also receive the industry newsletter of Local 546, Notes.
Local 546 is affiliated with the Southern Conference and the Regional Orchestra Players Association.
Once every two years, Local delegates attend and participate in the International Convention at which AFM Bylaws (rules) are reviewed, and International Officers are elected. The Convention is the supreme governing body of the Federation.
The Federation's labor affiliations and conferences are important links in the AFM's network of Provincial and State Representatives and U.S. State Legislative Directors, who participate in an ongoing dialogue with American and Canadian governmental agencies and bodies, for the purpose of encouraging the enactment of legislation beneficial to professional musicians.
In order for your contract to be enforceable, it must be filed and distributed before the engagement date. File one copy with the local where the engagement takes place, file one copy with the purchaser and, of course, save one signed copy for yourself.
Be sure your Agent is filing your contracts!
- You walk off the stage after a show during a two-week gig and the manager grabs you to say he's closing and canıt pay you for the rest of your performances. He's cancelled his live entertainment policy, and you with it.
-Youıve completed your engagement and are sitting down with the owner to collect your fee. But he gives you less money than had been agreed upon in the contract. "But we signed a contract,² you remind him. "Well,² he says, ³I thought weıd make more gate. I canıt afford to pay you that much. Itıs this or nothing."
We hope for the best, but it is possible that experiences such as these will befall a professional musician sometime in his or her career. While you may never experience a canceled or unpaid engagement, your Local and the Federation have established procedures for recovering wage claims.
To fight for unpaid wages, you must follow these Federation rules and procedures. If you don't have a signed, filed contract, your claim could fail!
If you have a claim against a Local member, it must be processed through Local 546.
For all claims resulting from an engagement that took place outside your home Local's jurisdiction ("run-outs"), contact an Officer in the jurisdiction where you're working or contact the New York Office at 1-800-ROADGIG (762-3444).
The jurisdiction of Local 546 incorporates eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southern Virginia.
Local 546 will handle all problems you encounter while performing within that geographic area.
Every AFM Local is charged with an array of significant jobs, such as establishing and maintaining the Bylaws (Local rules) for your area; administering local services and benefits to local and traveling AFM members; servicing local wage claims and enforcing AFM contracts; encouraging the employment of AFM members and promoting a professional music industry and establishing events and services that build solidarity among professional musicians in your area.
Local 546 has negotiated an exclusive Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. This agreement provides professional wages, working conditions and an automatic pension contribution of one percent over and above scale to your personal account in New York for all covered employment.
Many Federation Locals collect a small percentage of money paid to members for certain engagements they play, based on scale. These "work dues" form the fairest possible system for funding both the Federation and Locals. This way, those members who are not working pay nothing. Those who do work pay a modest percentage of scale to the AFM. The more you work, the more you are likely to need services. Without a work dues system, funding for both the Federation and Local services would have to be generated through annual dues of several hundreds of dollars per year.
Local 546's work dues rate is three percent for all work. Work dues for all trust fund engagements are five percent.
The leader is billed for work dues monthly, or casual/club-date musicians can estimate and pay their dues for the year by February 28 in accordance with the Local chart and policy.
The Federation (for traveling groups) and some Locals have established Escrow Account payment systems. This system allows you to make bulk payments in advance and avoid billing on a per-engagement basis.
Does attending General Meetings sound boring? In fact, they're very important.
Members set Bylaws (rules), scales (prices) and dues at General Meetings. When you don't participate, you allow others to make these important decisions for you, and you give up your voice in AFM affairs.
The meetings of Local 546 are also terrific for meeting other musicians and making professional contacts.
Federation and Local Bylaws are available to all members. Get a free copy from an Officer of Local 546.
Local 546 has a series of Committees, whose job it is to advise the Executive Board. These Committees are always looking for new ideas. We welcome the suggestions of our new members as well as our old! You'd be surprised at the rewards and satisfactions of Local activities.