Posted by EricH on May 16, 2002 at 21:02:39:
In Reply to: Is Union membership helpful? posted by union member on May 15, 2002 at 19:36:27:
Years ago, I had to join the Champaign-Urbana chapter of the musician's union because I was in a bar band, booked through Blytham Ltd. We all had to join the union because that's just the way it was. The band leader started writing us bad checks for our gigs. When I called the local's president to ask for help, he suggested that I take the leader to small claims court.
My response was, "$200 initiation fee, and $60 a year dues, and all you can give me is $$%%&(AT) Judge Wapner?" (this was in the mid 70's, I was broke, and it was a lot of money at the time)
So I had to settle for intimidating the bandleader myself. (snicker) Probably more fun that way anyway.
I've been totally disgusted with the Musician's Union ever since and refuse to join. It hasn't affected my quality of life or pay or gigs. But then I'm not a full-time professional, and don't live in a major urban area, either.