President's Report
Broadway Musicians Need Our Assistance
(From our colleagues at Local 802 and the TMA)
On March 2, 2003, the agreement between AFM Local 802 and the League of American Theatres and Producers covering Broadway's orchestras expires.
Based on the negotiations for the Pamphlet B Touring Shows that I attended from October 2001 through March 2002, the League is prepared to play hardball with the Broadway musicians on a number of issues.
The biggest issue with the League appears to be "house minimums". From the earliest days of musical theatre, every Broadway house has had a minimum number of musicians. That situation produced what was affectionately called "walkers" (musicians paid but not playing). That situation was corrected in 1993, whereby a diverse panel of theatre professionals has approved flexible orchestra sizes depending on the musical needs of the show. The list of sharply reduced orchestras includes Smokey Joe's Café, Footloose, Chicago, Swing, Aida and Momma Mia.
So, if this is working so well, what are the issues in these negotiations?
It seems the League wants the right to further reduce, and/or eliminate orchestras.
Is Broadway in trouble? Do they need financial help?
Broadway grosses have set records each year of the past decade, the one exception being 2001, when the impact of 9/11 was felt. But with the help of all the employees on Broadway, by the summer of 2002, it had bounced back and is now once again reporting record grosses.
The AFM believes that audiences view Broadway Theatre as the 'pinnacle' of this art form. In the quest for short-term profits, producers seem willing to kill the goose that lays the golden egg 8 times a week in Broadway theatres.
Are the producers that short sighted?
From the AFM's standpoint, we hope not.
I urge you to visit the website and sign the on-line petition to save live music on Broadway and get more information. Go to www.savelivebroadway.com . This affects our Local 655 theatre musicians, as well as the musicians across the nation that performs on touring Broadway shows. If the League has its way, trust me, you'll see the "trickle-down" theory working to perfection when it hits our town as well.
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