[Dixielandjazz] Union Fodder to change the subject

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

Hi Folks:

Here is a post I pulled from another list from an executive of the 
Local San francisco Musicians Union:

Shows just how out of touch they are with Reality about the Music 
business.

These are the same cats that solicited those Garage Bands into joining 
the union just get the initiation fees and then threw them to the 
wolves.      It should be noted also that his comments about the 
Hotels, and the unions actions with them resulted in there Being NO 
Live Music at those Fine hotels any more, except that which is brought 
in by outside private events.

Now they tell the young garage bands to HAVE BALLS,  ROTFLOL

They showed the Hotels their Balls years ago and the Hotels showed them 
and all the musicians on the payroll the back door and locked it behind 
them.

The garage bands they are now giving advise to mostly don't even have 
45 minutes worth of material to play, which is why the clubs have to 
bring in four  or five bands a night just to get four  hours of 
business, and many of the band run more people out than they bring in.

You flash a union card in one of them today and they will have TINY the 
door man throw you out.

Many of these clubs have more bands and musicians in the joint than 
they do customers, so how the hell are they going to pay some nobody 
musicians $1,000.00  not to mention that if they do get a crowd, they 
don't show up until 11;)0 or 12:00 p.m.
and they must shut down the bar at 1:30.   Since the musicians usually 
get Free drinks and most of the people in the house are musicians and 
their non cover charge paying friends on the GUEST LIST, also getting 
free drinks slipped to them by the band members.  No wonder there are 
no places for them to play.

Yep those musicians are indeed the real reason those folks came, to 
hear and amuse themselves because they are in a Band and get free 
drinks.  :))

Cheers,

Tom Wiggins


 Date: 2005-09-04, 4:22PM PDT


I applaud you and give you a standing ovation. I said this years ago. I 
guess the younger generation doesn't know what real pride in your trade 
is about.
  I wish the musicians union was still as strong as it use to be. I 
remember having to show your card before you could set foot on stage at 
the Fiarmont or St Francis or the Fillmore. Now though , musicians 
aren't as good or as talented . A lot sound like garage bands. Loud, 
can't hear the vocals even if they are just screaming and banging out 2 
or 3 chord intros that they pass off as a song. What ever happened to 
song writing anyway ? Maybe real music was just in San Francisco, New 
York and Philadelphia. I know your talking about Sonoma County and I 
agree. Hey all you bands , have some balls and tell them. Okay 4 45min 
sets , Beginners who are good should at least get $1000.00 a night. 
Don't play for less. That's a 5 piece band up here. You are the reason 
the people come .  FRANK AFM LOCAL 6 San Francisco