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MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Through collective action, the Association offers its members support, respect and specific services to maximize their ability to succeed in the music business.
Contracts - Members are provided with free contracts which provide binding protection on all engagements. Contract Guarantee - if members have a signed filed contract, the Association will advance them fees for the engagement should they be cancelled, fired, replaced or given a NSF cheque. The Association will then handle the claim. US Employment - through a reciprocal agreement within the A.F. of M., Canadian Members have access to temporary US Work Permits. Insurance - $2,000 AD & D coverage free with membership; low group rate for instrument and liability insurance; group rates for medical, dental and income replacement insurance. Discounts - a number of businesses offer discounts to members. Collective Bargaining Agreements - a number of local, national, and international agreements with major employers of musicians offer access to all types of employment at industry standard wages and working conditions. Pension - automatic pension contributions on most employment covered by a collective agreement and the option of including pension contributions on other contracted employment. Health & Welfare Fund - emergency interest-free loans to members in need. Music Performance Fund - funded by the recording companies as part of their agreement with AFM, this program pays scale wages to musicians for free-to-the-public performances. Currently this provides $50,000 per year income to members of the Association. Referral Service - we actively encourage the public to use our referral service for all their music needs. Help and advice for them and more gigs for our members! Finding Musicians - between our roster of members, at liberty bulletin board and knowledgeable staff, we help match musicians with other musicians. Useful Information - we maintain a database of information useful to our members - clubs, contacts, funding agencies, services, discounts, legal advice, tax advice, etc. The AFM also has its own computer bulletin board service which includes many industry-related Internet discussion groups. Members receive the Local newsletter five times per year and a monthly international publication. Business Seminars - free, regular, informal and useful seminars presented by experts in their field. Lobbying - the Association lobbies civic, provincial and national governments for improvements in legislation affecting professional musicians. MEMBERSHIP FEES
Musicians joining for the first time pay a one-time initiation fee of $115. Students in an accredited school, college or university and those under the age of 21 are exempt from the Initiation Fees. Self-contained groups are also exempt from Initiation Fees if the entire group joins at one time.
Current Annual Dues are $160.00. When applicable, Work Dues amount to a very small percentage of MINIMUM fee wage (as opposed to gross contracted price.) All Fees are tax deductible and flexible time payment arrangements are possible. We also accept Visa and MasterCard payments through the office.
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