[eFDMBwKH]

Gregg -

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Lord knows, there are many ways this 'union thing' gets in the way and fucks things up....



....on the other hand - I'm headed to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival this weekend, in the good old U.S of A. Travelling with me will be 4 Canadians, 1 Mexican, and 1 rather hard-to-conceal Ampeg Baby Bass. How the hell is this possible, when there's a fucking war going on? One Class P2 US Immigration Work Visa - secured through the hard work and advice of the Corrina at the AFM!

Bless 'em all...when it works, it works.

[Figelac]

Al,
Glad to hear everything came through okay. Are you hooking up with Kill Blark in Florida? Knock him a greet from me.

Gregg,

It doesn't sound like the union is PREVENTING you from performing. More like impeding. If paying the whole initiation fee is financially prohibitive they'd probably cut some kind of 30$ a month time payment deal. Or are you intending to make a statement by refusing to pay?

Frankly, if I was in your situation I'd rather focus my energy on playing the gig. Being pissed off about stuff just gives me heartburn.

[eFDMBwKH]

Originally posted by John Doheny
Quote:

[r7rGOhvd]

So, once again the gangsters and cultural commissars in this country are going to prevent me from contributing to it. I am apparently banned from playing the CBUF Radio concert that I was invited to be in, as I am no longer a AFofM member.

No special payments or dispensations can be made, nothing, just join and give us your money again. That's why I quit after 40 years as it just seems like graft to me. Rather than pay them another dime, I will simply go on not performing anywhere, which will probably go unnoticed anyway by Vancouver audiences(except maybe a couple of old friends like Brian and Nu).

Oh well, I'll be licking my wounds on the Riviera again this summer having more exhibitions, occasionaly stopping to curse the corrupt morons who run things here.

[r7rGOhvd]

I am sure I am wrong by not paying to play, but I feel it's protection money. This "union" was started by a bunch of gangsters in the 30s to protect us from another group of gangsters, the ones who ran the clubs. I'll pass.

[r7rGOhvd]

Sorry if I offended anyone. I am sure the union works well for those with work.

I was in this local for 40 years. But when you do 1-2 union gigs every five years, all you are doing is paying dues for nothing.

The expression "protection money" and the fact that this local is not a union but a Protective Association concerns me.

I will probably just pay it and shut up, but it's more fun if you rant about it for a while!