Moving Forward......

[thema...@gmail.com]

Be forewarned that all of the following is strictly an opinion.

Setting a scale for Union Professionals is a good idea. However it
would be wise to take into account some of today's realities. Any plan
that would hold water has to be "enforceable" Herein lays the problem.
The Union currently has no power. Standing on the club owners toes
means a lot when you're an elephant, but not much when you're a mouse.

The question of how much has little merit without figuring out how to
make it actually happen.

I have a fare amount of modern sales training, and have applied much
of it to real world situations. I found there to be some real truth in
the following idea. People will NOT buy anything (ideas included)
unless there is a motivator. The motivator is always pain. The term is
used loosely here so don't get stuck on it. Basically you must show
them there is a problem (pain), and then how you can fix it. If they
don't see the problem, or the solution, you cannot sell it to them.
Period. All of the time.

So if the union cannot stand on their toes (pain) then how will we
motivate the clubs to comply? We must make it to their advantage. The
tricky part is it must also be to the musicians' advantage as well. A
win win situation. We have to change the paradigm for the time being
to regain control. The union needs to re-present itself as helping
Music in general. Not just the professional musician. It doesn't need
to lose focus; it just needs to change its IMAGE into something that
is sell-able across the board. A new kinder more focused on helping
union. I am thinking promotional campaign and all.Until all of the
musicians in town are on board with the union it cannot leverage the
way it has historically.

Herein lays the next big problem.

There was a time when music was largely bandleaders and hired pros
playing out. Rock and Roll came along and changed that. Now we have
many more "Groups" playing their original music as "hobbyists" or
"trying to make it-ists'" than "Pro" bands. The union pro has become
the minority.

The union also needs to change this paradigm. The union needs to have
a plan that includes opportunities for the "Hobbyists" and the "make
its".

The new minimum scale must include a place for everybody and not be
exclusive for it to be of any value to anybody.

Hence the idea of a tiered club system. To be discussed in another
thread soon. If not that idea, then there must be a plan that moves
the union back to a position of power. If small concessions must be
made now, so be it. Not at the expense of our respect, but not
standing on tradition alone either.

So when discussing minimum wage, we must also think in terms of how to
make it fit all of the people involved. Arguments about bandleader pay
are not very productive. Both ideas can easily be included in a new
plan. Bands can have leaders, Groups can be collective. You can play
in which ever you like.

Disassociating from separatist ideas is imperative to any success in
moving forward.