Disney on Broadway Concert Canceled — Page 2

Luminaire2 said: “But I would, as someone in the industry, say I am pro-worker always. I believe the unions provide incredibly important protection and value to the members, but I also bring they cross into dictator territory at times.

I want performers and members to have more control over their careers, and not be hindered by the unions (which is certainly an issue in communities with far less professional gigs)."

This has been my exact experience as a non-union actor trying to break into the industry. I have found AEA to be extremely unwelcoming to those of us who actively want to join, and I feel almost completely powerless as a nonmember. I think now would be a great time for all of these unions to reevaluate their membership processes and general structure so that we come out of this with stronger and more member-representative unions.

Read the freaking room, AFM. Disney is doing charity (for your members) but you can't?

^^ thank you for that! That is the general sense I’m getting from most members of the union. This seems like a power play from a leader who I assume will not be leading for much longer.

Here is Ryan McCartan’s statement:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-2-3k0AHIf/?igshid=12z7wpgy7b115

Updated On: 4/11/20 at 10:15 PM

Just to drive the point home even more, here's an open letter penned by the musicians who played the benefit:

"An open letter from the members of the orchestra regarding the streaming of our performance for “Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney On Broadway” as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund:

We find ourselves in a world that has been changed radically in just a few weeks by a terrible disease that isolates us and has changed everyone’s lives. In such a time, we must all come together for the common good. As musicians we have lost the opportunity to perform publicly, but this use of our recorded performance could have been a great tool to raise funds for people in our community that are in need.
It would serve to show the world the value of live music and could also serve as an inspiration to young musicians everywhere, in addition to being both entertaining and uplifting to audiences around the world in this troubled time.

Ray Hair, the President of the American Federation of Musicians, made this decision for us without our knowledge. We acknowledge that he is working hard to protect the rights of the membership, but we as an orchestra are happy to forgo any payment for the streaming of this charitable event, especially in light of the additional $25,000 of support BCEFA offered to donate on our behalf to the Local 802 Emergency Relief Fund. This generous donation would directly support the members of Local 802 who are most in need during this crisis. Now more than ever it is essential to join with the other members of the arts community to help those in need. We implore President Hair to allow the waiver of payment so this broadcast can raise desperately needed funds for BCEFA and provide a sense of joy and community that we can all share.

In unity and support of our community
The members of the orchestra

Jim Abbott (Piano and Musical Director)
Ann Gerschefski (Keyboard)
David Kuhn (Bass)
Gary Seligson (Drums)
Daniel Weiss (Guitar)
Steve Kenyon (Woodwinds)
Greg Riley (Woodwinds)
Tony Kadleck (Trumpet)
Shelagh Abate (French Horn)
Jason Jackson (Trombone)
Lori Abbott (Violin)
Laura Bontrager (Cello)
Rolando Morales-Matos (Percussion)
Horace “Junior” Wedderburn (Percussion)
Howard Joines (Contractor)
Adam Krauthamer (President Local 802)"

BwayMusician said: "Just to drive the point home even more, here's an open letter penned by the musicians who played the benefit:

"An open letter from the members of the orchestra regarding the streaming of our performance for “Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney On Broadway” as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund:

We find ourselves in a world that has been changed radically in just a few weeks by a terrible disease that isolates us and has changed everyone’s lives. In such a time, we must all come together for the common good. As musicians we have lostthe opportunity to perform publicly, but this use of our recorded performance could have been a great tool to raise funds for people in our community that are in need.
It would serve to show the world the value of live music and could also serve as an inspiration to young musicians everywhere, in addition to being both entertaining and uplifting to audiences around the world in this troubled time.

Ray Hair, the President of the American Federation of Musicians, made this decision for us without our knowledge. We acknowledge that he is working hard to protect the rights of the membership, but we as an orchestra are happy to forgo any payment for the streaming of this charitable event, especially in light of the additional $25,000 of support BCEFA offered to donate on our behalf to the Local 802 Emergency Relief Fund. This generous donation would directly support the members of Local 802 who are most in need during this crisis. Now more than ever it is essential to join with the other members of the arts community to help those in need. We implore President Hair to allow the waiver of payment so this broadcast can raise desperately needed funds for BCEFA and provide a sense of joy and community that we can all share.

In unity and support of our community
The members of the orchestra

Jim Abbott (Piano and Musical Director)
Ann Gerschefski (Keyboard)
David Kuhn (Bass)
Gary Seligson (Drums)
Daniel Weiss (Guitar)
Steve Kenyon (Woodwinds)
Greg Riley (Woodwinds)
Tony Kadleck (Trumpet)
Shelagh Abate (French Horn)
Jason Jackson (Trombone)
Lori Abbott (Violin)
Laura Bontrager (Cello)
Rolando Morales-Matos (Percussion)
Horace “Junior” Wedderburn (Percussion)
Howard Joines (Contractor)
Adam Krauthamer (President Local 802)""

Is there a link to where this was posted?

I was the Music Director for this Concert..what you're hearing is correct..we had no knowledge the AFM was going to demand payment and were never asked in any way about this...we have started a change page to put pressure on the AFM to waive our payment and allow the broadcast to happen

Please feel free to sign and share

http://chng.it/mt56Qjtw

Thanks Jim Abbott

PatrickDC said: "I’ve never belonged to a union and have no deep understanding of how they work. Does one person in charge of a national union really get to make a decision like this on his own? Aren’t there checks and balances in place to assess and consult on decisions which could lead to a PR nightmare? Is it possible the board agreed and it’s just the union head being (understandably) publicly run through the wringer for this unbelievable decision? "


I can only speak on the government structure of AEA, which is different as it’s a national union (no local chapters). For AEA, the answer is no, nobody has the ability to make a unilateral decision like that. There are dozens of committees made up of members to consider specific issues and concessions, and depending on the situation, their decisions then need to be reviewed by the regional board or the national governing council, all comprised of union members who have been elected. The president can’t just cut through all of that and make a call for herself and grant or deny a concession.


National labor law is restrictive and specific on how unions can be governed. I would assume some sort of executive committee had to make this call, with Ray Hair then taking a spokesperson role, poorly.

I support the efforts our performing arts unions make on behalf of the members. However, in this case, there was no extra work involved, no going out to play a free gig, etc. Merely the streaming of an existing performance for a charity at a difficult time. It almost makes one want to go back to the idea that all work should be work-for-hire, and not have endless rights to the product. But I'm not there yet.

Tag said: "Unfortunately change.org petitions don't really do anything.

Visible AFM members like Marc Shaiman and Hans Zimmer speaking out is what matters here."

And now Michael Giacchino.



https://twitter.com/m_giacchino/status/1249409892214964224?s=21

No word yet on when, but it seems it will be un-canceled!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Just-In-Musicians-Union-Reverses-Decision-Waiving-Disney-on-Broadway-Concert-Payments-20200413

They relented!!!