Come to the Fair Pay to Play Campaign Kickoff!

[Musicians Union]

Please RSVP to ro...@afm99.org with your name, phone and email.

Musicians Union, Local 99
Fair Pay to Play Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Derek Ewell
Telephone: 503-251-0566
Email: jdew...@yahoo.com
www.afm99.org

LOCAL MUSICIANS CAMPAIGN FOR AN EQUITABLE WAGE
Average Annual Income for Portland Musicians is Well Below Poverty
Level


The Fair Pay to Play campaign is a group of Portland musicians
organized by the Portland Musicians Union to establish a fair and
livable standard of pay for local club musicians. There will be a
campaign kickoff event featuring a presentation by local musicians
about the issue of equitable pay in the Portland club scene. All
musicians are encouraged to attend. Details are as follows:

Where: Musicians Union, Local 99
325 NE 20th. Ave
When: Sunday October 26th, 3PM

Musicians involved with the campaign will provide details about the
work that the Fair Pay to Play Campaign has been doing, its future
goals and information about how to get involved with the equitable pay
movement. The problem this campaign is addressing has been pervasive
in our community in the past and it is well past time to address it.

“My band…headlined at [a local venue] last year. 245 people paid 7
dollars at the door. This means the [venue] grossed $1715. We were
paid only $250.” Said local musician Levi Cecil.

Research indicates that many venues could and should offer equitable
pay to the musicians who enhance both their establishments and their
bottom line. Most professional musicians, however, struggle to earn a
living at their craft, most lack health insurance, and many have to
work second or third jobs to pay the bills.

According to data we collected:
· 73.46% of Portland musicians feel that what they're currently being
paid is unfair.
· On average, Portland musicians spend an additional 3.25 hours
preparing for their show per hour of performing.
· The average annual income for a Portland musician is $8721.44 - well
below the federal poverty level of $10,400.00.

The Fair Pay to Play campaign is asking venue owners to partner with
the campaign and agree to pay equitable wages to performers. There are
five levels of participation, so every venue -- from the large
nightclub to the corner coffeehouse -- can join at the level that
suits its size and budget. Participation will earn the venue a Fair
Pay to Play logo to proudly display in a visible location, promotional
listings on the Fair Pay to Play website directory, and the reputation
of hosting quality talent.

As the campaign builds, the public can support the right of working
musicians to receive equitable wages by supporting those venues that
have signed on and display the Fair Pay to Play logo.

“When a band performs for exposure,” according to local blues great
Norman Sylvester, “they expose themselves to poverty.”
# # #

About The Musicians Union

The Musicians Union, Local 99 serves and represents professional
musicians in Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas. We are affiliated
with the American Federation of Musicians of the US and Canada (AFM).
Visit the Union online at www.afm99.org