Freelancers musicians are usually expected to have their own Public Liability Insurance and the high premiums associated with this was raised as an issue of concern by many musicians in a recent Alliance survey. This week we have confirmed a new insurance policy and all freelance musician members will be contacted with this offer. 

The producers of Chicago have responded to a number of the concerns raised by musicians booked for the Sydney run. This result was possible because the musicians joined their union and acted together. We look forward to working with more members in the live theatre sector to see improvements on the contracts offered. If you expect to be working on any upcoming musicals in 2009 contact your union: 02 9333 0938 or martin.cubby@alliance.org.au

The commencement of the new liquor laws from the Iemma Government last week brought long overdue reform to the regulation of entertainment and live music in NSW. "These laws, alongside recent reform of the NSW planning system which entirely removes the Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE) regulations, will deliver a streamlined environment for live music in NSW that will slash fees and red tape." said musician and Alliance delegate John Wardle. Read our full press release here.

A report given by Paul Blackman at the SOMA National Conference, November 2005, Melbourne. When I joined the ASO 24 years ago, I took up the newly created position of Principal Contrabassoon. This brought the orchestra up to a full strength of 66 players, all nestled in the secure arms of Auntie ABC. Since that time, after increasing to 78 players around the first production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, 7 year ago, the ASO had reduced back to 72 musicians at the start of this year with a debt of well over $2 million. The two productions of the Ring Cycle, with glowing praise for our efforts, brought to the orchestra a level of international credibility, and standing in our local community, that money just couldn’t buy. However, for at least the last decade, due for the most part, to a lack of government funding, we have lived in fear of our future existence and with a feeling of guilt at the cost of running an orchestra in Adelaide.