Anybody do much in the way of Trust Fund gigs in the US these days? Several years ago, I recall supplementing my schedule with about 6 or so of these type gigs per year. Lately, it seems to have vanished.

For those not familiar with TF gigs, these are gigs that the musicians union helps pay for out of a trust fund set up a long time ago to assist and finance the live performance of music. These typically work out to be cut-rate jobs, but sometimes as a filler, work out nicely. The fund doesn't bankroll the entire performance...usually closer to 50%. The venue...often nursing homes, senior centers, etc...cover the rest.

The artist(s) must be affiliated with their local union shop...There is some minimal paperwork to submit...payment comes after the show within 6 weeks...

Thoughts?

Bill in Dayton

Bill in Dayton

Around here they always seemed to go the "insiders" at the union. Another reason I dropped out years ago. I think they still have them though.
Our union here now has new leadership, so it's probably better now.
DonM

Bill,

I dropped out of the AFM about 15 years ago. At that time the trust fund jobs were starting to dry up. It sounds like it was more of the same here too, IE the insiders at the union office seemed to control and get most of the money and jobs.

Tom

Ditto. I actually joined the AFM mostly to get into some of those TF gigs, which was pretty much the only reason for joining the AFM. Those gigs dried up here around 1985 or so, which is about when I let my AFM membership dry up too.

I was performing in Savannah, Georgia for the TF lunchtime gigs in one of the beautiful downtown squares with my little solo rig (along with some small local trios etc.) and the surrounding businesses, mostly banks, complained about the noise. Also some preservationists complained that having bands near the monuments was disrespectful. The music is now gone but the fun was gone even longer.

Don is right...there are still trust fund jobs around here, but they all go to groups headed by union officers. They don't pay much.

It's not worth the effort, at least in Lexington.

russ

Russ,

If you haven't figured it out by now I'll let you in on a little secret, "Don is always right).

Tom

Only one person that ever lived was always right, and many people don't agree on that!
But thanks, Tom. I just try. Mostly now I am "speaking when spoken to".
DonM

Don..


Humble Grasshopper would NEVER question the word of the "exhaulted" one!

Russ