Membership Benefits

Theatre Musicians Association

The Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) is dedicated to ensuring live music remains a vital and valued part of theatrical musicals now and in the future. Our purpose is to represent and serve the needs of all local and touring theatre musicians.

Dear fellow Theatre Musician:

We all share a passion and dedication to our profession: performing the highest quality musical theatre for audiences in our home cities and across the country. The Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) is dedicated to ensuring live music remains a vital and valued part of theatrical musicals now and in the future. Our purpose is to represent and serve the needs of all local and touring theatre musicians.

TMA is the AFM Player Conference devoted solely to issues and concerns of theatre musicians. As a member of TMA your voice is heard and represented at the negotiating table—both nationally and locally. In conjunction with the AFM, TMA has accomplished several key goals on behalf of our U.S. and Canadian members. Most Recently TMA:

Helped eliminate 'Tiers' in the Pamphlet B Contract for Touring Musicians:

The Short Engagement Touring Agreement (SETA) replaced the five ‘tiers’ of weekly wages under the Alternative Touring Agreement (ATA) of the Pamphlet B contract. As a member of the bargaining unit, TMA strongly recommended to the AFM to eliminate the tiers. Under SETA, there is one weekly scale rate. SETA established a new scale: currently $900. It’s in the fourth year (as of March 12, 2015) of the contract. In addition, musicians can now share in the weekly overages of financially successful productions. Other gains in the negotiation include: raised scale and rehearsal rates, increased contribution for healthcare, and added a third “double” for those performing multiple instruments.

Ensured Pamphlet B is not abused by producers to “get around” local minimums or other obligations:

In one recent case, TMA Leadership, along with AFM staff and local Union Officers, fought attempts by producers to sidestep local hiring requirements.
In this case, producers attempted to classify an open-ended run as a “touring stop” in order to hire fewer players. TMA and AFM activism created a total
of 16 local hires (instead of the 9 which the producers initially proposed) for over 10 months employment.

Increased our membership by over 20%
Welcomed Four New Local Chapters: Phoenix * Las Vegas * Washington, D.C. * Dallas-Fort Worth

And now . . . we want you to get involved!

TMA Membership dues are tax-deductible and affordable—only $40 for 2015 (some chapters have a modest local dues addition) — and our
application is easily accessible online at www.afm-tma.org Plus, it’s simple to join online with PayPal and support this crucial work:

*Protecting & Preserving Theatre Jobs*
*Ensuring Safe & Harmonious Working Conditions*
*Advocating for Increased Scale, Rehearsal Rates, & Healthcare Contributions*
*Maintaining Solidarity & Connections with Your Fellow Musicians*

TMA’s electronic publications – “The Pit Bulletin” and “Pit Bulletin Blasts” – keep members current on issues affecting our livelihood:

the impact of technology on our work
healthcare and pension issues
local and national wage scales

In addition, only TMA members can access current and future itineraries for all AFM touring shows on our secure website: www.afm-tma.org In these critical times, solidarity is essential—a growing, active TMA membership means effective advocacy, stronger contracts, and a powerful voice in protecting live music in live theatre.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to working together toward our common goals as theatre musicians!

Fraternally,
Tom Mendel, President
Theatre Musicians Association