
Issue No 1		19 February 1999

News

MEAA Goes Country!

By Megan Elliott

Performers at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival did not just get the chance to showcase their talents, they were also enticed to sign up to the union movement by a spirited organiser.

We survived it ... for some of us, it was our twentieth time, but for this avid cycler it was only the second, and I reckon surviving Tamworth puts you in the same league as surviving 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, and in Tamworth you get to keep your ears (you need 'em to keep your hat on).

We're talking more than 2000 gigs in 10 days, more than 37 degree heat, more than 40 000 punters, more than 200 performers and more than your fair share of flies. We're talking camping, we're talking boot scooters, we're talking TIARA's and Golden Guitars, we're talking: you gotta see it to believe it.

We're talking signing autographs, selling CDs, we're talking smiles stretched wide, ulcers on the back of our throats, some of us are talking 20 gigs in 10 days and then driving to whichever corner of Australia home is. We're saying we never want to see a steak sandwich or the food at Wests Leagues, well ... for a while at least.

CONGRATULATIONS to all of us that took Tamworth by storm. Congratulations to the country performers, the circus performers, the comics, the musicians, the actors and the buskers. We survived.

For those who don't know, Tamworth is not just gals and guys with guitars, it's a huge event which draws on the incredibly diverse membership base of our union from all over the country. (Hint: don't be surprised if next time your speaking with a voiceover artist, an actor or a sound technician if they tell you that they also play bass, slide or sing with a country band).

This year for the first time the Alliance held free workshops for performers on self management. It was part of the inaugural Musicians' Headquarters, which provided performers with a respite from the heat, a cuppa, and if you really needed it, a bit of a lie down.

Around 65 people attended these workshops over the 5 days they were on, and the feedback was incredibly positive. We discussed the legal landscape in which we work, contracts, what to do when we can only secure a verbal contract to make sure we have a leg to stand on, agents legislation and negotiation skills.

Performers at the festival are wanting to join their union, they understand the need to be organised if we are going to increase the fees and conditions for performers, if we are going to change in any way the stranglehold that some agents have over some venues.

The success of these workshops was due not just to the sexy image the Alliance used to advertise them (sex and guns this year), nor to yours truly talking them up all over town, but also to the recommendation that union members gave to their peers to attend.

The best way for people to understand the benefits of joining their union is to hear it from their colleagues mouth, and the only way we will increase our membership and strength is to get more people to join. That leaves it up to each of us to include speaking about the Alliance whenever we are speaking about the state of the industry or about our work as performers.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is a fantastic example of performers reaching out to other performers about the benefits of joining.

Members introduced me to other performers and on a number of occasions complete strangers introduced themselves to me, slyly showing a membership card and doing a bit of a victory dance when we realised that another MEAA member had entered the building. Fantastic stuff.

In the same way that we as independent performers are working towards being organised, it is becoming increasingly obvious to many of us that employers are also getting organised: making joint decisions to cap their entertainment budget and the maximum fee for acts.

Being better organised than employers is the only answer to this: there are more of us than them, and we need to see this as being to our advantage.

Performers from all over the country are interested in discussing ways in which we can increase fees in some Tamworth venues - if you're one of them, please contact me.

We're not saying that it's gonna happen by Tamworth 2000 (I get exhausted thinking about it), but it won't happen if we don't start speaking in ways in which we can make it - let's face it, no-one else will do it for us.

Thankyou to every member in Tamworth for your support and encouragement, to the members that gave me posters to stick up at our stall, to you all for your generosity. Thankyou to the community broadcasters who support what we are trying to achieve and for continually giving us airtime to talk about it.

I reckon next year we'll further build our presence in Tamworth - but yeah, one woman on a yellow bicycle can't do it alone, so if you're interested in getting involved in the ongoing MEAA GOES COUNTRY campaign, contact me now on tel: 02 9333 0946, email: [email protected] fax: 02 9333 0933

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 1 contents

Interview: Michael Costa
The new Labor Council secretary explains factions, frictions and how to save the union movement.

Unions: Getting Under The Skin
The cash-in-transit industry - known for it's vulnerability to violence and theft - comes under scrutiny as the industry moves to a new "soft skin" operation

History: Remembering the Labor Press
Workers Online is just the latest in a long tradition of publishing by working people and their organisations.

Review: Powderfinger's Political Power Pop
We look at a band who still reckon they can mix music with a bit social commentary.

Campaign Diary: Hartcher Chokes On His Own Uglies
No-one would have been more surprised by last week�s announcement of the Coalition industrial relations policy than its spokesman on the issue, Chris Hartcher.

» The Overworked - We're Sick, Anti-Social and Sexually Frustrated

» Geeks Blow Up

» The Greatest Act on Earth

» Museum of Contemporary Art calls time

» MEAA Goes Country!