[Dixielandjazz] Playing for free

[Mike]

Thank you for your response Dave.

I'm really not trying to make this into another long thread 
about unions, but given the reduced power that they have in 
todays world, do they still serve a purpose in terms of 
musicians pay? Or are musicians of today literally on their own?

What's the pay climate like in other areas outside the US?

Mike



Dave Hanson wrote:
> *Mike,*
> ** 
> *The American Federation of Musicians across the US and Canada have 
> minimum scales that are ratified by the members of each particular 
> Local. If the Union musicians want to give their services away, the 
> Local's have no way to prevent it, but the players involved should 
> ask their particular Board for permission to do so.*
> ** 
> *Problems do occur, for example, when a band is video taped or 
> recorded without permission, problems can arise. All musicians whether 
> Union or not, should make up their collective minds if they want to play 
> for free.*
> ** 
> *Dave Hanson*
> *Atlanta*