Following up with the press

[Alison Dennis]

Hello. 

I submitted a press release regarding our meeting on Sunday the 26th to various members of the press.

I haven't yet been able to directly follow up with The Willamette Week or The Mercury, to make sure they have received the release.  Would anyone be willing to try and do this?

Here is the contact information for each:

Willamette Week:
Phone: 503-243-2122

Editor: Mark Zusman  mzu...@wweek.com
Music Editor: Casey Jarman (best contacted via email) cja...@wweek.com

Mercury:
Phone: 503-294-0840
Editor: Steve Humphrey  st...@portlandmercury.com
Music Editor: Ezra Caraeff  ez...@portlandmercury.com

[Michael Manning]

Hello
To what event is this pertaining

michael

--- On Sat, 10/18/08, Alison Dennis <dennis...@gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Alison Dennis <dennis...@gmail.com>
> Subject: Following up with the press
> To: clubmu...@googlegroups.com
> Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008, 2:14 PM
> Hello.
>
> I submitted a press release regarding our meeting on Sunday
> the 26th to
> various members of the press.
>
> I haven't yet been able to directly follow up with The
> Willamette Week or
> The Mercury, to make sure they have received the release.
> Would anyone be
> willing to try and do this?
>
> Here is the contact information for each:

> *
> Willamette Week:*

> Phone: 503-243-2122
>
> Editor: Mark Zusman mzu...@wweek.com
> Music Editor: Casey Jarman (best contacted via email)
> cja...@wweek.com
>

> *Mercury:
> *Phone: 503-294-0840

> Editor: Steve Humphrey st...@portlandmercury.com
> Music Editor: Ezra Caraeff ez...@portlandmercury.com
>
>

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[Alison Dennis]

Hi Michael,

This is concerning a public meeting where we'll be presenting our plan (The pay scale, approaching venues) and reaching out to a wider pool of musicians.   It will be at the Musician's Union Hall on Sunday Oct. 26th at 3 PM) Here's the release about the meeting:

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 20^th. Ave

When: Sunday October 26^th, 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).

[Jake]

Alison,

Do you know if anyone did this yet?

Thanks,

Jake

---

[Alison Dennis]

Hi Jake,

I haven't received any responses from anyone saying they'd be willing to do it, so if you'd like to make contact, that would be great! 

Thanks,

Alison