2008 ROPA Conference Report

Benjamin Salsbury

Palm Beach Opera Orchestra

The 2008 ROPA conference held in San Francisco was very helpful in gaining valuable insight on how the resources of ROPA can help us as well as understanding much more about labor law, bargaining, and recording agreements. Of course, it was also very beneficial to network with the other ROPA orchestras from Florida as well as around the country. There seem to be both great success stories as well as big problems around the country.

The negotiating orchestra workshop preceded the ROPA conference proper. This was a great time to pick the brains of all the SSD negotiators and hear about the issues that have come up over the past three years. They took special note to make sure we look out for Mellon Foundation thinking coming from our management. The power analysis between management and orchestra really helped clarify the areas where we can our focus to get results. One question that was raised was, “what is 655’s relationship with the Labor Council or United Way, as well as the media?” I also learned that a new ballet and opera Audio/visual/internet agreement is going to be bargained in the near future.

The conference opened with the usual reports from the ROPA officers. ROPA highlights included attending the Symphonic Summit in Virginia, and the Audio Visual negotiations in New York. ROPA was also a key player in coordinating actions with the other player conferences to resolve the situation with Arizona Opera.

There were many keynote speakers at the conference. William Thompson kicked things off with a presentation on Information Relations. He has been very successful helping orchestras use economic data to create a story that shows how poorly the board has been performing compared to organizations in other cities. In one case he showed the percent of metro income that was being spent on the orchestra was absurdly low compared to its peers. This effectively yanked the board’s argument of “too expensive” out from under them and even compelled the mayor to get involved. Better information is a huge advantage and is generally easy to find.

One session was dedicated to the phenomenon of consultants being hired by managements. AMS was hired both by Columbus and Shreveport. Most often the reports generated by these firms make forecasts far into the future, beyond the scope of negotiations. One major goal seems to use strategies to co-opt musicians into thinking that all our interests are the same. This was followed by a hands on Electronic Media workshop. We were placed into different management and players groups and had to negotiate a live recording agreement regarding the production of archival material. It was extremely valuable to go through all the forms and see what mistakes (or tricks) can be made while making these agreements.

Employment Law and “Orchestra Committees and Players Associations” were the meat of the technical sessions. The bottom line was to make sure that we all negotiate discrimination and leave language (ala FMLA) into our CBAs. It was made clear again that the purpose of the orchestra committee is to communicate with the local so that the CBA can be effectively enforced. The presenters said many times that the CBA is this the local, not the orchestra.

The final session was a great presentation by the director of freelance and member development. I was shocked at how much work is being done in this area. We need to encourage all our members to list their groups on GoProMuisc, list their teaching on GoProLessons, sell and buy instruments on GoProAuction with no fees, host their website at GoProHosting for as low as $19 a year, and take advantage of the self-produced/joint venture agreements and sell your music at GoProTunes where 80% on the dollar with make it to the artist. The AFM will even warehouse and ship hard product.

In addition to learning all this valuable information I was able to hear from many other orchestras about their problems and successes. The common themes this year were daytime services & growth, music police, travel & mileage, media, downsizing, cannibalism, apathy, right to work, and mind mapping (Alexander technique). Of special relevance to South Florida is the cannibalism issue. I was approached by all of the Ohio orchestras and asked what I was doing about the Cleveland Orchestra residency issue. They implored us to start writing letters to the media in Cleveland to bring light to the fact that they are taking work away from other union members. Not only is Cleveland sucking away support for local musicians in South Florida, they have started to play Operas in Cleveland and are taking the jobs of the opera musicians there. I was also encouraged by members of ICSOM that this discussion needs to be had -- in the name of solidarity. Union members should not be expanding their reach at the expense of other members’ jobs.

The ROPA delegates passed 13 resolutions. Most were in support of orchestras involved in contentious negotiations or lockouts, as well as minor changes in ROPA bylaws. Resolution 6 called upon the AFM and the RMA to resolve their differences.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the conference as the delegate for our orchestra. Regular involvement with ROPA can only help to inform and make us stronger in the future.