Long time reader, first time poster...

I freelanced for a while in a major American city with some real good success (played the inmajor orchestra there quite a bit, had a lot of students, etc..). While I understand everyone's point about the actual financial benefits we don't get consider this:

I got more than several gigs because my name was simply in the union book. When I joined that local they did a write up on my career (they do this for all new members) and that gave my some good credibility. Also, I always knew that the gigs I played would obey by the union rules. Yes this includes the rates they pay but it also includes the quality of rehearsals and venues that I performed in. I even got hired for a touring Xmas time gig that pulled out two weeks before the gig. ALL of the musicians still got paid because they were contractually obligated to and obeying the union regulations.

That being said, I now play in a foreign full time orchestra. We are the "#2" orchestra in the country. The number "#1" orchestra belongs to a union and we do not. Because of this we have to put up with all kinds of "workplace" issues that no one even considers when practicing their excerpts. We play in horribly hot and cold halls and rehearse 5-10 minutes over at least 3 times a week. There are a ton of etiquette issues I could get into as well but won't to protect bandwith. The worst thing is the rates that they hire subs and extras for. Ridiculously cheap! But there isn't anything to be done because everything is negotiated through the players commitee with management. This is frustrating when people on these comittees have other agendas. I have been here a year and already miss the benifits of the union.

I hear what your saying people but I can honestly say it could be a lot worse for you freelance union members. At least a union gig still has to hold itself to certain legal standards. Otherwise, be friends with management and peopl on your comittees.......

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arubamusic,

I'm curious about getting health insurance. The AFM info packet I got in the mail mentions health care/dental insurance for local members. Interestingly, this AFM brochure says "visit our website at www.afm.org", but on the AFM site, I can't find any info. So do I contact AFM directly, or the local office? If anyone recommends something else, that would be helpful too!

Generally you have to get a certain amount of union work per year to qualify for their benefits. Contact your local to find out the amount. I think that once you are on their plan you can not be taken off if you don't make the required amount, but not sure. My experience has been that for health it is an HMO which is very much less than ideal.

I would shop around to try and compare what you are getting from the AFM vs. what other places can do for you for about the same monthly fee that is a PPO not an HMO. Even if the deductible is much higher for the PPO it is worth it. I had a friend in an HMO that had a rare skin disorder and her primary care doctor refused to refer her.... a year and a half later she finally got to a specialist and is being treated. Plus with an HMO, if you need a specialist, you must go to the ones on their lists and many of them are full and not taking new patients. Oh I could go on, but my time would be better spend complaining to my congressman (yeah right!)

Good luck - really!