Let's Make Our Gigs Union - Membership Drive, Spread the Word

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I would like to begin this years discussions by speaking of the importance of growing our union. We see every day how Greater DFW has grown in population and continues to expand economically. I watch with pride the level musical artistry in our musical community rising on every level, and it is therefore a priority for us to also grow our voice in representing and improving the lives of our musicians. This is done by getting more musical employment under protective contracts with progressive wages and conditions. We have many employers that are important our employment market – orchestras, theaters and other venues which employ our members – that we have yet to organize.

The beginning and foundation of this process is to grow our membership. Some musicians operate under the misconception that there is no need to join our union UNTIL they find themselves playing under a union contract. But the first step to working under union contracts – that is, a contract in which the musicians collectively have a part in negotiating and enforcing – is to be a part of our union and combining our voices to make that happen. We make all this work by growing our power from the ground up, starting with each individual. Instead of waiting to get a call for a “union gig”, we proactively work together to make gigs Union .

So I have two asks of you as we begin this new year: (1) Spread the word to fellow musicians that we are holding a membership drive now (All initiation fees waived. Here is the online application). Let them know that we are here to provide strength to their individual voices, and that likewise we need them to join us to make our collective voice stronger, to make things better for all. (2) My other ask is that you let me know if you are playing a gig you would like to see organized under a union contract or improved in some way – whether you play in a theater or for an orchestra, or independent venue – please contact me (swilliams@musiciansdfw.org) and let’s talk about it. It all begins with that conversation. So let’s talk, and get to work. And have a great, productive year!