The Hospitality Suite

Ballet Company Replacing Musicians with Recordings it Made in China
Company outsourced culture, is an artistic fraud and consumer rip-off, Musicians say

In June, 2008, the artistic staff of a Fort Worth ballet company traveled to Shanghai, paid $30,000.00 to the government of China and killed the jobs of our members. Join with us March 27, 28 and 29 as we converge on Bass Hall in Downtown Fort Worth to protest one of the most deplorable acts ever staged in the history of classical ballet theater.

Read more… Labor, Legislative, National Discussion, Symphonic/Classical

Responding to daily revelations of corruption and scandal with the AIG bailout, an estimated 10,000 Americans are hitting the streets tomorrow, March 19, in more than 100 public demonstrations across the country. These public displays of mass outrage will surely force accountability and oversight that decades of litigation and lawsuits could never produce.

Read more… Labor, Legislative, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga

A DMA (Denver Musicians Association) member called me yesterday asking if it was necessary to buy liability coverage for his band. He was offered a gig to provide lunchtime entertainment in a public square for a downtown business. This is the first time he’s been asked to show liability coverage, so he was curious how to respond.

Read more… Local Discussion, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga

This mornings email blast from the Colorado Council on the Arts (CCA) contained disturbing news about anticipated stimulus grants. We should be very concerned that 1) only a handful of employers are even eligible to apply for these funds, and 2) if utilized, may only enhance a travel getaway for musicians who summer in Colorado.

Read more… Legislative, Local Discussion, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical

We must also encourage our elected officers to write and present their viewpoints in a public forum. This increased public visibility will strengthen our collective viewpoints and simultaneously create a forum for debate. Disagreements often arise within a board, as they should. Differing opinions lead to necessary and healthy discourse, but it serves no purpose if these discussions are confined to the boardroom … does it make a sound?

Read more… Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga

…I hope to illustrate positive concepts concerning, among others, management/union relationships; funding possibilities; community visibility; and musical relevance with respect to educational outreach…That said, I recently had an interesting conversation with national union activist Chris McKeever. Chris laughed and said that musicians really aren’t union people.
Thoughts?

Read more… Conductor's Corner - Tom Jensen, Labor, Symphonic/Classical

On this day (March 3, 2009) representative AFM members from across the U.S. are meeting with members of the House and Senate to lobby in support of the Performance Rights Act, H.R. 848 and S.379. Denver Local 20-623 members’ Bob Montgomery and Tom LeRoux are among the AFM contingent. This effort is made possible through contributions to the AFM’s Legislative Action Fund (formerly TEMPO).

Read more… Electronic Media, Legislative, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga

Larry has established a worldwide reputation as an arranger, orchestrator, and innovative composer of contemporary music. He’s an accomplished keyboardist, saxophonist, oboist, vocalist and producer. His diverse background, talent and experience, make him the obvious choice to handle the heavy responsibilities of ‘Orchestral Music Director/Conductor/Arranger.’

Read more… Electronic Media, Feature/Interview, Labor, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Rock/Pop, Symphonic/Classical, The Denver Musician

The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is a major player with respect to economic stimulus. SCFD currently distributes $40 million annually to arts and scientific organizations in seven metro-Denver counties. Recipients of these public funds are legally bound by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that currently sets Federal Minimum Wage at $6.55/hr. FLSA requirements, or even friendly reminders of the minimum wage obligation, have never been understood or acted on … until now.

Read more… Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, The Denver Musician

It wasn’t until 1938 that the 40-hr. work week, along with minimum wage guarantees, child labor protections and more, were signed into law with the passing of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Credit for this historic effort goes first and foremost to generations of workers who held out principle before their personal livelihood.

Read more… Labor, Legislative, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, The Denver Musician