Denver Musicians Association - All Discussions

Employee Free Choice Act

2009-05-06T16:28:34-05:00

OPEN LETTER TO SENATORS BENNET AND UDALL

May 6, 2009

Dear Senator Bennet and Udall,

Never in my lifetime has there been such an urgent need to stop the decline of the middle class. The American Dream has been eroded by increasing, needless poverty as millions who only ask for a fair paycheck are relegated to the ranks of the working poor. Our belief in an honest wage for an honest days work has been quashed as bankers and CEO’s are rewarded for failure.

Labor unions are the only democratic forums that provide checks and balances against this injustice, but they have been weakened by decades of anti-union legislation. The Employee Free Choice Act will be the first piece of legislation to turn this downward trend by ensuring that employees have the democratic right to choose union representation.

You elect to represent our interests in the United States Senate, but fail to see the importance of this issue among your own constituents. The Colorado Democratic Party unanimously adopted a resolution encouraging the support and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. They are the citizens whom you represent – not corporate lobbyists.who are presently winning your support.

Sincerely,

Pete Vriesenga,
President, Denver Musicians Association

Anything Goes

2006-12-11T23:41:22-06:00

Upset by something that is happening in your community? Happy about a recent success? This public discussion is for anything and everything you would like to talk about... sign up for an account or post as a guest.

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2010-06-28T02:38:23-05:00

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Call for Entries – Music/Sound Sculpture

2010-05-27T11:20:33-05:00

The I-Park Foundation is pleased to announce its first Thanatopolis Prizes in music composition.

The I-Park Foundation, a not-for-profit international arts community sited within an expansive nature preserve in East Haddam, Connecticut, is seeking three separate music compositions for the Thanatopolis Project, an alternative memorial park/space in the advanced conceptual phase of its development. I-Park is looking for works that harmonize with the long-term goal of Thanatopolis, which is to re-imagine our cultural and personal relationship to death, memory and memorialization – and to engage the fields of music composition/sound sculpture and other artistic and creative disciplines to bring about a new and powerfully sacred and evocative landscape/sound-space.

Judging will be by a distinguished panel and all works will be performed/presented at the Thanatopolis Exhibition on October 2, 2010. See links below for details on the submission process and elaboration on the inter-disciplinary and collaborative nature of the Thanatopolis Project.

A $2,000.00 cash award will be granted in each of the following three categories:

Memorial Composition
This piece should be between 4 and 12 minutes in length and be thematically appropriate for a (at this point, non-denominational or virtual) memorial ‘service’ within the Thanatopolis Space. I-Park is soliciting existing compositions that lend themselves to a live performance by a chamber ensemble or as a pre-recorded presentation with at least some live elements. The submitted piece ought not to have been previously awarded a major prize in the field.

Tone Sequence/Annunciation
For the Tone Sequence/Annunciation, I-Park is looking for an iconic new composition. The piece will likely mark the commencement and/or conclusion of the official memorial ceremony or serve as an ‘effect’ within the memorial ritual. The piece is intended to be a cry, an alert, a pleading or invocation. The selection should be in the range of 20 – 60 seconds in length and be, to some considerable degree, site responsive – referring to the Thanatopolis Space.

Processional
Unlike the Tone Sequence/Annunciation, which is a relatively short audio phrase, the Processional is an extended new composition that should range in length from 5 – 15 minutes, though it could incorporate major elements of repetition or cadence. The Processional will accompany the physical movement of participants during a transitional phase within the memorial ritual. It is intended to enhance the experience of the physical transition.

Entry Fee: waived for this project
Application Format: online submission through the I-Park website
Deadline: all submissions must be received by July 5, 2010
Jury Format: blind competition
Restrictions: no restrictions as to nationality, age or gender
Musical Style: no restrictions
Acoustic vs Digital Instrumentation: open
Orchestration, Vocal Elements: see http://www.i-park.org/Thanatopolis2010_FAQ.pdf
Thanatopolis Overview: http://www.i-park.org/Thanos.html
I-Park Website: www.i-park.org
Questions: contact Claire Jeffreys at Thanatopolis@gmail.com

Does anyone know some good reheasal spaces in south metro?

2008-10-14T15:26:42-05:00

Thank you!
Aaron

Gas reimbursement

2008-06-02T19:18:05-05:00

Hi there. I have let my membership laps so I no longer get the information on pay scale, but would like to pay the musicians in my band for their travel expenses for going to places like Aspen and Steamboat. What is the current rate of reimbursement? I remember there being a scale per mile. With the rate of Gas the way it is I want to be sure to pay people...even if none of us are in the union.
thanks

airline service

2008-02-27T14:43:30-06:00

Does anyone have recommendations for the best airline to travel these days, in terms of accommodating carry-on instruments? I've heard lots of horror stories regarding Delta, and even more detailing carelessness and incompetence in security checks. Hoping someone has some positive experience in this area.

SCFD and Fair Labor Standards

2007-10-20T12:58:06-05:00

The accompanying homepage story, "SCFD and the Fair Labor Standards Act," (http://www.dmamusic.org/news/001498.php) points to the minimum wage obligation and responsibilities of more than 300 metro-Denver nonprofit organizations that collectively received $38 million in local tax dollars last year. The story makes no mention of the 800 lb. gorilla in the room; the reality that wage abuse continues unnoticed or disregarded by hundreds (thousands?) of area performers. So many of these artists, dancers, actors and musicians are highly-trained and hold advanced degrees in the arts. They provide the talent and the product that generates box office sales. Sadly, most work for free.

The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District tax is quite unique with metro-Denver being one of three cities (also Salt Lake City & St. Louis) in the nation with such a program. At $38 million, SCFD's substantial annual budget equates to nearly one-third of the total allocation for the National Endowment for the Arts. Despite its minimal budget, the NEA has a strong and positive wage impact because founding legislation mandates that all performers must receive "prevailing wage" before an organization can qualify for funding. In contrast, SCFD's legislation requires a much lower standard of "Federal Minimum Wage," and that is rarely followed and never enforced.

As we approach SCFD's 20th anniversary, we recognize this mixed blessing. On the one hand SCFD provides necessary funding to arts and science organizations that have proven to be invaluable and essential components of our community. On the other hand, the creation of 300+ new organizations - most with no performer wage standards whatsoever - pulls prevailing wages down and reduces employment opportunities for students and aspiring performers who are just entering the profession.

Deeply Concerned,
Pete Vriesenga
pvriesenga@aol.com

EXPLOITING YOUTH THROUGH "EXPOSURE"

2007-01-16T23:02:22-06:00

"Education" is one of the most influential words in our society. As it should, respect for education crosses all political, religious and ethnic lines because a civilized society first relies on knowledge and learning. The arts are firmly at the forefront of education; an inspirational force that can probe the future or manipulate the present.

But, at what point is "education" nothing more than a buzzword that must appear in every mission statement and opening paragraph of every grant application? When do we admit as a society that we have been taken for a ride by those who will milk the term for every shameless dollar they can squeeze out of it?

The accompanying homepage story "Exploiting Youth through Exposure" offers a perfect example of the latter. The Spokane Youth Symphony found a comfortable, educational niche that will fund their administration overhead for many years to come. Unfortunately, they will accomplish this by exploiting youth orchestra students while simultaneously undermining their hopes for a professional career.

We can only hope their complimentary event jackets will insulate them from exposure?

Pete Vriesenga

rPR & Fractal Tribe: We Want Your Music!

2007-01-08T17:28:09-06:00

Fractal Tribe & Red Penguin Records bring you a local music radio system for Colorado:

* Imagine Muzak and Pandora mixed together and designed as a promotional tool for local artists and you have rPlay.
WE WANT YOUR MUSIC!This is not a contest or a selection process. We are building our music library and need as much local music as possible, so now is the time to get into the rPlay system.

If you're interested in learning more, just go to the rPlay website (http://redpenguinrecords.com/rplay.htm).
Look it over, download the contract and become part of rPlay!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Music, it's all about the music...
Mandaline

miss.egodown@gmail.com
rPR & Fractal Tribe's Gal Friday
More Music / Less Label