IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FILLING OUT A TIME CARD

You can download a time card from our website at www.nashvillemusicians.org. Once you’ve got it filled out you can then email it to contracts@afm257.org for processing.

Please be sure to fill out each time card as follows:

• At the top of the card are boxes for the type of scale and session. The time card can be applied to recording, television/videotape, radio and jingles.

• Make sure to get the correct company name and address when filling out a time card.

Often when we receive a card, we have to follow up to verify the billing, and that can slow up the payment process. Having the correct address, contact person, phone number and email helps speed it along so everyone gets paid quicker.

• For demos, the time card is the signatory agreement. Please make sure the employer or employer representative signs the card. For all other scales, we need current signatory agreements in place for the pension to be properly allocated. Bandleaders will be contacted to help get the proper documents if our attempts repeatedly fail.

• Next comes the session date and number of sessions, along with start and end time for each session. After signing your name and social security number, please mark for any doubles, cartage, overtime and how many sessions you were on.

• The final area is for correct song titles and length in minutes for each song. This is very important for potential upgrades and new use.

• You can bring the completed time card to the Local and put it in the dropbox outside the back door, or take a picture of the time card and email it to contracts@afm257.org.

As you know, recording "on the card" protects the musician and the employer in a variety of ways:

1. It establishes a fair pay scale and a pension payment for all musicians on the session. 2. If the recording is used in another medium such as film, television, or a commercial it will ensure that musicians receive a New Use payment. 3. If there is ever a dispute about payment, Local 257 will have your back and work to ensure that you will be paid.

If the paperwork is not handled properly at the time of the session, it will become more difficult to do this, so do yourself a big favor and take care of business on the front end — you won't regret it.