> As far as work dues go, I look at it this way, if the musicians union
> gets me a $250 gig, I will gladly pay them their piddly $3.75 for the
> referal.
>
> Robin
Actually the Union also wants work dues for the jobs you do that they did NOT
refer.But I agree that there is no good reason why most harp performers should
join a union unless they are in a large metro area and qualify for orchestra
subbing or pick up work with touring shows. Here in the Twin Cities only pedal
harpists belong to the union and out of the twenty or so professional harpists
perhaps 6-8 of them are on the sub lists for orchestras. However there is other
work paid for out of the Musicians Trust Funds that is administered by the
Union. Such work as school gigs, Local music societies, Orchestra 'Pops' events
are paid out of this fund in Minnesota. There are many qualified folk harp
performers that could access these funds if they were union members. If a
touring theater show needs a folk harper on stage, or a movie set, they need a
union member. I'm not a big union fan but they still have a lock on much of the
'high profile work'. It really depends on your professional goals.
Fred
Maxemilian Productions voice 612 227 6041 fax 612 227 0320
PO Box 40275 Email: schlomka@well.com
St Paul MN 55104 USA Order Line 800 985 8040
"Twas a little fairy harpist playing on the subtle air."
-Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice