Local 72-147 Hosts Major Players Conferences
Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) Annual Conference, July 27-28
Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) Annual Conference, July 28-30
Local 72-147 hosted two of the AFM’s major player conferences last July at the Courtyard Hilton in Downtown Dallas. The Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) Conference took place July 27-28, and the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) Conference took place July 28-30.
Fighting the heat — both AFM theater musicians representing TMA Chapters across the AFM and delegates from nearly 100 regional orchestras met in Dallas to conduct conference business, educate members, provide networking opportunities, share vital industry information and build solidarity across our international union.
The TMA Conference included reports from TMA Chapters, including the DFW Chapter, Remarks from International AFM Officers and Theater/Touring staff and a contractor roundtable discussion. Also featured were reports on a New York Broadway & Theatre, Electronic Media and the Musical Theatre Workplace and Organizing for Regional Theatres.
The agenda for the ROPA Conference included a Negotiating Orchestra Workshop, reports and presentations of the staff of the AFM’s Symphonic Services Division (SSD), Breakout meetings for groups of delegates and a panel discussion on community “Connections that Count”. In addition there was an AFM legislative/political report, a presentation on the legal landscape of orchestra organizing, a presentation on understanding orchestra finances for strategic bargaining, and more.
Special thanks to members of the DFW TMA Chapter and members of local ROPA orchestras — the Dallas Opera Orchestra and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra — for volunteering time and work to welcome colleagues from across the United States and Canada and making these conferences productive and enjoyable experience for all the participants.
About ROPA
The Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA) promotes the interests of its member orchestras and their musicians. As an official Conference of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), it acts to enhance communications among orchestras, with the AFM and its Locals, and with other conferences.
As a representative organization, ROPA pursues other activities to benefit to the general welfare and artistic well being of its members.
Membership in ROPA gives access to valuable communication resources and effective organizing tools that enable musicians to deal successfully with their managements and boards.
Membership in ROPA builds solidarity on both a local and national level with strong programs and support to protect jobs and sustain fair working conditions among union musicians.
Above all, membership in ROPA means working with colleagues who share the same goals and aspirations for the welfare of our art and our profession.
Benefits of ROPA membership:
Support from the National ROPA organization. Delegates from member orchestras help keep all ROPA orchestras up-to-date
Networking: Share information, ask questions and seek resources with musicians from other orchestras via E-mail lists and Facebook (read more)
The ROPA Annual Conference (read more)
Associate membership does not include access to the Emergency Relief Fund or voting privileges.
Associate members receive all bulletins, are listed in the AFM Wage Scale Chart, and receive a limited number of ROPA’S publication, The Leading Tone.
About TMA
The Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) is a community of theatre musicians and an official Player Conference of the
American Federation of Musicians.
TMA connects and unites professional theatre musicians from throughout the United States and Canada through advocacy,information sharing, and community. We focus on issues specific to an important segment of the musician community: musicians who play for theatrical productions.
TMA members are freelancers, Broadway musicians, regional or local musicians, touring musicians, chairholders, and substitutes / alternates.
As theatre musicians, we are a recognized caucus of professionals whose experience uniquely qualifies us to guide our Union in matters that range from health and safety, wages, working conditions, job security, and displacement by recordings. TMA serves as an information network between theatre musicians and our Union, and among theatre musicians themselves.
The TMA has hosted 31 Annual International Conferences. Our members hail from more than 30 cities, and we continue to grow. We have chapters established in 11 cities and regions: Boston, Chicago, Northern California, Southern California, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington DC. Directors for Broadway, Traveling Musicians, and Members-At-Large serve on our Executive Board.
The TMA newsletter: The Pit Bulletin, features contract information, news, and articles of interest to theatre musicians everywhere. We look forward to having you join us and add your voice to those already working toward a better future for theatre musicians.