About American federation of musicians
The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) is a professional organization that represents musicians across the United States and Canada. The AFM was founded in 1896 and has since grown to become one of the largest organizations of its kind, with over 80,000 members.
The AFM's mission is to promote and protect the interests of musicians, both individually and collectively. The organization provides a range of services to its members, including contract negotiation, legal representation, health insurance, pension plans, and more.
One local chapter of the AFM is Local 153 - Professional Musicians of the South Bay and Central Coast. This chapter represents musicians in cities such as Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura County, Santa Maria Valley and more.
Local 153 offers a variety of benefits to its members. These include access to job opportunities through their referral service; assistance with contract negotiations; access to health insurance plans; pension plans; educational resources for musicians looking to improve their skills or learn new ones; networking opportunities with other professionals in the industry; legal representation when needed.
In addition to these benefits for individual members, Local 153 also works on behalf of all musicians in their region by advocating for fair wages and working conditions. They work closely with employers such as orchestras or recording studios to ensure that musicians are paid fairly for their work.
The AFM as a whole has been instrumental in shaping the music industry over the years. They have fought for better pay and working conditions for musicians across all genres - from classical orchestras to rock bands - helping them earn a living doing what they love.
In recent years they have also been active in promoting diversity within the industry by advocating for more opportunities for women and people from underrepresented communities.
Overall if you are looking at becoming part of an organization that will help you grow your career as well as provide support throughout your journey then joining Local 153 would be an excellent choice. With access to a range of benefits and resources, you can be sure that you are getting the support you need to succeed as a musician.