Robin Newton wrote:

>Most importantly, it is one major factor crippling the salary levels
>of rank-and-file orchestral musicians.

Now we are getting close to the heart of the matter, and it's very
subjective.  I'm asked to take a pay cut, a guy who looks like Bozo is
taking in $25,000, and he hardly acknowledges me or my skills.  It's a
hard pill to swallow.

As I said before, an orchestral musician does not pull in audiences, but
as another list member stated, orchestras do pull them in.

Musicians need to unite - call it a union or whatever you like.  They need
to develop a system which limits eligibility to professional orchestras.
Physicians would be a good group to look at for "pointers." It's a sure
thing that if musicians, as one group, do not effectively eliminate its
excessive ranks, management types will continue to walk all over them.

Don Satz
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