Winter 2016 Volume 70, Number 1
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AAOfficiGaGl PublicaMMtion of theAA AmericaZZn GuildI Iof MuNsNical ArtisE tE s A Branch of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America • Affiliated with the AFL-CIO Winter 2016 Volume 70, Number 1 Alan S. Gordon National Executive Director 1945 - 2016 Page 2 AGMAzine Winter 2016 In This Issue The American Guild of Musical Artists By Tim Smith, MMRC Chair, AGMA Governor and Chorister 1430 Broadway, 14th Floor New York, New York 10018-3308 (212) 265-3687 Life goes on. AGMA Orleans ten years after Hurricane Katrina, Fax: (212) 262-9088 has been forever as well as a novel approach to Christmas www.MusicalArtists.org changed by National caroling from the LA Master Chorale. Lawrence Tibbett, Founding President Executive Director You’ll find many photographs in this issue Jascha Heifetz, Founding Vice President Alan Gordon, and his from the various Areas. James Odom, President sudden passing on John Coleman, 1st Vice President New Year’s Day came The National Office is always willing to help Gregory Stapp, 2nd Vice President as quite a shock. In the 15 years that Alan any AGMA member and direct them to the George Scott, 3rd Vice President J Austin Bitner, 4th Vice President led us, we have experienced tremendous proper place for help, but if you ever feel Jane Shaulis, 5th Vice President improvement and growth and have all ben - uncomfortable contacting staff, please know Raymond Menard, Treasurer Louis Perry, Recording Secretary efitted from his keen and strong leadership. that your elected leaders are also there We were just about to go to press with this for you. In fact, MMRC has created Alan S. Gordon, National Executive Director* issue when the news of his passing came. sub-committees called caucuses, which are Deborah J. Allton-Maher Naturally, we held the issue to include a designed to make it easy for members to Interim National Executive Director tribute to Alan. Thank you to everyone who bring their concerns about the union forward Gerry Angel, Director of Operations shared pictures and memories. in a confidential way. This committee can then bring the concerns to AGMA’s Board of General Counsel Bruce Simon In this issue, we bring you stories from some Governors for action. After a hiatus, the Cohen, Weiss, & Simon (212) 563-4100 of the many members who live “On The Principal Singers Caucus will be re-activated Road.” Since a good portion of our member - as of January ‘16, so please don’t hesitate to Special Counsel Gail Lopez-Henriquez ship moves from city to city and job to job, we contact me if you are interested in joining. Freedman & Lorry (215) 925-8400 thought it would be helpful to share their sto - ries. What’s good? What’s not so good? How In addition to this issue of AGMAzine , do not Midwest Counsel John F. Ward [email protected] do you make a “home away from home” and forget to check out AGMA on the (312) 628-7830 keep a good work-life balance? As you will web ( www.musicalartists.org ), AGMA Western Counsel John C. Russum see, we had a very nice response. on Facebook and AGMA on Twitter [email protected] (@AGMusicalArtist ). Stay connected to your (310) 215-9554 We hear from a dancer who performed in the colleagues; get involved with your union; con - New York Area Griff Braun same opera on both coasts, a well-traveled sider serving as a delegate in your shop or Dance Executive [email protected] soloist with a charming canine companion, an joining your contract negotiating team. (800) 543-2462 actor/supernumerary who followed her singer AGMA grows stronger with your valuable Area Representation mother onto the stage, a director/choreograph - input. As always, we invite you to write an Mid-Atlantic Eleni Kallas er who gives excellent advice on how to adjust article for AGMAzine and include some National Director of to new time zones, perspectives from two photographs to go with your article. All sub - Organizing and Training soloists with tips on making the “road life” missions should be sent for consideration to [email protected] (301) 869-8266 more bearable, and a soloist who changed his [email protected] . That being said, priorities after his family had health issues. we would like to SEE YOU! We would like San Francisco Nora Heiber National Dance Executive We also feature an article about some differ - photos of AGMA members doing AGMA [email protected] ences between working for many years in work—please share with us rehearsal and (415) 552-2800 Equity and then an AGMA opera house. backstage photos. We start this issue with what turned out to be This issue would not have been possible the last report from Alan Gordon. He leaves us without all of the members who contributed with a reminder of how life goes on, with a articles and pictures; I am appreciative that Editor Denise Baker recap of 2015 and a look to the future. An you took the time to share your stories with additional article advises us of the rules us. I must also express my extreme gratitude *In Memoriam regarding “Pay or Play.” It pays to be aware of to the MMRC and AGMA’s Denise Baker what that phrase means, so be sure to check it for their tireless work on this issue. All out on page 9. involved are hoping that YOU, the member - ship, enjoys what you see. Thank you so Highlighting the Area News section is much, everyone, for your part in making this Governor Julie Condy’s report on New issue a reality. ♦ AGMAzine Winter 2016 Page 3 CONTENTS © T o d NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ’S REPORT d R o “Desmond has a Barrow in the Market Place” ...............4 s e n b e r g PRESIDENT ’S MESSAGE Wherever You Go, There You Are ..................................5 p. 6 p. 7 FEATURED ARTICLES All Roads Led to the San Francisco Opera ....................6 What It’s Like Working on Broadway versus an AGMA Opera House .........................................................7 Operatic Doggie Diary Blog ................................................8 You’re Entitled to be Paid ...............................................9 Tribute to Alan S. Gordon ...............................................12 PAAC Visits Manhattan School of Music ...........................29 DEPARTMENTS p. 9 p. 10 In This Issue ............................................................................2 In Memoriam ..................................................................26 AREA NEWS New York ...............................................................................20 New Orleans .........................................................................21 Southern California .......................................................22 Pittsburgh ................................................................................23 San Francisco .........................................................................23 Washington/Baltimore .....................................................24 p. 11 p. 26 Northwest .......................................................................25 LIFE ON THE ROAD Finding a Balance ......................................................................9 AGMA On the Road .............................................................10 Some Secrets to Traveling ....................................................11 Same Show, Different Coast ..................................................26 Necessary Ingredients to Make Traveling Engagements Feel Like You Were Home ......................27 The Little Things .....................................................................29 p. 27 p. 29 Page 4 AGMAzine Winter 2016 “Desmond has a Barrow in the Market Place” By Alan S. Gordon, National Executive Director The start of each cal - or dancers everywhere; and 3) We believe Because it’s our continuing responsibility to endar year is tradition - that members should have as much work as protect the union, I have been working with ally a time to take is possible and, thus, we do not prohibit non- our outside counsel on a broad-based series of stock and review union work, as does Equity, SAG/AFTRA recommendations for strategic changes in where things are and and the orchestra locals. AGMA’s long range administrative opera - where they’re going. tions. Our recommendations should be ready That philosophy lets us help not only mem - for presentation by mid-2016. Where we are: bers working for AGMA signatories but also (to the extent legally possible) members work - Although there remains much work to do, with As we begin 2016, I can unequivocally say ing for non-union employers, and future new possibilities and opportunities to explore, that AGMA is a vibrant, relevant, fiscally AGMA members early in their careers. and a continuing number of collective bar - secure, fully professionally run, excellent gaining agreements to renegotiate, your union union. Our legal and negotiating staff is sec - In dance, we have truly become the home of is already great. Our job is to make it better. ond to none and our long-term administrative the ballet dancer in America. The tipping and clerical staff, under the management of points came with the successful and bitter bat - The paragraph that concluded my initial report Director of Operations Gerry Angel, is dedi - tle of the Washington Ballet dancers for to the Board of Governors at the end of my cated to their jobs and understands how what unionization and the return of the ABT first year here remains all the more true today: each of them does helps our members. dancers to AGMA. Nothing that I and the staff have accom - Our protection of members’ assets is absolute, In opera,