Money for jam

In a new entry to the AFM’s blogiverse, Ed Shamgochian of Local 143 (Worcester MA) writes about the AFM’s increasing dependence on visa processing fees:

“We all know, from Folio's trumpeting, that the AFM is back in the black. "Savings and Efficiency Lead to a Positive Result," he says. (International Musician, May 2007, p.6.) A close look at the financial statements of the AFM reveal that "savings and efficiency" are not the reasons the AFM is in the black. Nor do we have the constant PC increases to thank. The reason is because in 2006, the AFM collected $653,226 from visa processing fees.

“Without this, Folio and the AFM would be in the red."

“Processing fees have validated the Munich Symphony Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony, the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, the Russian National Orchestra, the French Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony, and many others. Each foreign orchestra makes $40,000 to $70,000 for each date. Each foreign orchestra is guaranteed ten to twenty-five dates throughout the U.S.

“Foreign orchestras take this money back to their countries, which already subsidize them. Millions are earned on the backs of the unemployed American musician.”

For those of you as unfamiliar with this issue as was I, the American Symphony Orchestra and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, have put together a website called “Artists from Abroad.” (Full disclosure: the writer of this blog is a member of the board of directors of the ASOL.) The specific page on the labor union consultation requirements can be found here.

Ed goes on to write:

“With the "no-objection letter," the AFM encourages the displacement of its own members by overseas orchestras. The AFM profits handily—even with the conflicts discussed above, the yearly income is in the hundreds of thousands—while Local musicians go without work.”

While I think he’s got a point, the issue of displacement of US orchestras by foreign musicians is not nearly as simple as he makes it out to be. Touring is not usually a profit center for orchestras, and many of the ones he cites are artistically significant institutions with well-paid musicians who are not sleeping in tents and eating Purina Viola Chow while on the road. But there have been instances of poorly-paid and badly-treated foreign orchestras being used as backup bands for certain opera companies and choral groups. (And, of course, there was the famous instance of a US movie being scored by a Russian orchestra that happened to be on a US tour at the time. But that wasn’t in their visa application and the AFM didn’t know about it until afterwards.)

Having said all that, the whole business does seem like a bit of a racket; “money for jam,” as the Brits would say. The recent fall in the value of the dollar is not going to do foreign orchestras, or the AFM, any good in this regard. Nor is it likely to do American orchestras much good; putting together a season for an arts presenter is about a lot more than comparative labor costs.

However, it would be interesting to know how many of the AFM’s visa letters are about orchestras and how many are about individual guest artists. My guess would be that, while much of the money comes from applications on behalf of orchestras, the bulk of the letters are actually about soloists and conductors.

Comments

[Reformer]

Michael Troy Moore as Secretary-Treasurer of the AFM WILL OPEN THE BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE AFM TO THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP!

I disagree with:

"We have over time made the Secretary Treasurer another political job rather than the "Chief Financial Officer"

I have read about some who want to take the office of Secretary-Treasurer and make it a non elected position and a position of employment.

That employee would not be accountable to the membership and under the sole control of the President.

That employee could be fired for wrong doing, but that employee could be controlled and influenced by a officer of the AFM and the same political would come into play as President Lee STOPPED questions during the meeting to the controller.

It would change nothing and allow for a consolidation of power among 1 or 2 officers of the Federation and would take a some time at convention to covert the office if enough votes were pass for the change.

As a candidate for Secretary-Treasurer of the International at the 97th convention, I promise to "Open the books of the Federation" to the membership & delegates and create a full report and audit of the AFM's books for the last decade.

The AFM is not a "sole proprietorship" is its a Labor Union all of us have a vested interest in the TRUTH of our union, a truth that is now hidden is shadows to protect the wrong doings of officers who are not friends of labor.

Regardless of what is in the books of the AFM it is time to shine a light on the truth of how our union has been operated and deal with any crimes or misrepresentations that have been feed to the members.

We need to show what is real and clear the slate and start over with a honest set of officers who will not bullshit our membership for to save their own careers.

It is the officers jobs to save the careers and employment of our members.

Vote for me and I'll open the books to the entire membership in a full report.

Sincerely,

Michael Troy Moore for Secretary Treasurer
(916) 797-2205
www.michaeltroymoore.com