What ever happened to the A.F. of M. ?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Monday Feb 23, 2004

Does anybody remember the American Federation of Musicians?

Was anybody here ever a member?

Does anybody remember getting their big pay on New Year's Eve so they could pay their annual dues?

Post by **Jim Price** » Monday Feb 23, 2004

The American Federation of Musicians is still around. I do not know how active they are here in west-central PA, but they've had tables at the Millenium Music Conference in Harrisburg the past several years.

They do have a website, www.afm.org.

ToonaRockGuy · Post by **ToonaRockGuy** » Tuesday Feb 24, 2004

But remember, us "dumb-ass musicians" ain't musicians. Only metalrules is allowed to join.

TJ Kelly · Post by **TJ Kelly** » Tuesday Feb 24, 2004

Back in the day I was a card carrying member and when I got stuck on a contracted job guess what the AFofM did for me? NADA! Even went to the NY city headquarters to discuss our case. Still Nothing! We did manage to get the club black listed in the AFofM's monthly paper which accomplished nothing as well. I did enjoy going to Mr. Appleman's to renew my card every year as he was a great guy to talk music with.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Feb 24, 2004

Yep, Loy was pretty cool. By the mid 70s, the AFM wasn't doing much more than collecting dues, but from what I hear they were pretty militant in the 50s and 60s. I heard stories of non-union bands playing and some union guys would go over to the club with baseball bats, etc., and halt the show. The band would then be "encouraged" to join the union.

Do you remember a special IRS meeting when several members got nailed for income tax evasion and they told us how to report income?

I guess for many on here, "paying your dues" is just a cliche...some of us actually paid them.

FatVin · Post by **FatVin** » Tuesday Feb 24, 2004

The Idea of a union is good but just how far do you think you'll get telling Big John or Claudio that your band must be paid union scale?

The question isn't WILL somebody work for less, the question is do you have a stopwatch quick enough to measure how fast somebody will go to club owners to undercut you.

Sad but true

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Feb 24, 2004

Vinny, I was just being nostalgic.

Besides I think those guys would froth at the mouth if they could pay union scale.

As I recall, union scale in 1976 was $10 for the first set and $5 for every set thereafter per person. I don't think its any better today on a relative scale. I was not a big union proponent after that.