State of the Local - Dave Pomeroy

As things begin to stabilize in some of the areas of our business that were hardest hit by the pandemic — especially live music and touring — it is more important than ever for musicians to communicate and work together for the greater good. To some that may sound like a cliché, but to take the lessons we learn from the past, and apply them going forward is at the core of what Local 257 does. Our goal is to make things better for all of us. Music has that power, and our mission is to give Local 257 members what they need to not only survive, but to thrive in a very competitive and constantly evolving music business. We are seeing a healthy shift in our membership towards youth and diversity, both in demographics and musical genres. This is because the word is getting around that we are a valuable resource for any musician who wants to protect themself and their work. It’s a two-way street — the more you get involved, the more we can do for you.

Pandemic survey: I was one of the panelists for a music industry informational event presented May 24 by Whippoorwill Arts, who conducted a nationwide survey about the challenges the pandemic has placed on musicians. It was a good chance to open up a dialogue between different areas of the industry, and demonstrate to others all of the things that the AFM and Local 257 have done to help musicians through this unprecedented crisis. It is always good to let others know what we are doing, and vice versa.

Pat VarialIe passes: I must take a moment and acknowledge the passing of AFM Electronic Media Director Pat Varialle. Pat had 48 years of experience in electronic media as an AFM employee, and taught me so much about all types of recording contracts and agreements over the past 20 years. He helped untold numbers of musicians get paid for their work in an unselfish, evenhanded way. During times when the AFM was in turmoil, somehow Pat managed to stay above the fray and treated everyone with respect. On May 13, Pat was struck and killed by a bus in the early morning hours as he was making his usual commute from his home in Staten Island to work at AFM headquarters in Times Square. We spoke on the phone the night before he passed. He was one of the best people I have ever known. I will never forget his dedication and countless contributions to AFM musicians, and I send much love to his wife Patricia and son Nicholas. His successor John Painting, who had been preparing to take Pat’s place upon his retirement, which was only a year away, is already doing a great job. John would be the first to agree that Pat was an incredible worker for musicians and a great human being as well. He was truly a gift to musicians, and we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Congrats, Eddie Bayers! On a happier note, it has been a true blessing to know and work with Eddie Bayers, and his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is well deserved. I have been fortunate to work with Eddie on records with Keith Whitley, Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson, and others, and know firsthand he deserves this honor. He is a shining example of how the positive, flexible and professional attitude Nashville players bring into the studio can make the difference between a record and a hit record. He has that magic touch, and I am glad a little of that magic rubbed off on me.

Eddie is the first drummer to be inducted into the CMHOF, and Pete Drake’s posthumous induction was also very well deserved, and long overdue. It is good to see the CM- HOF catching up on musicians who should be in the Hall, and there are many more deserving folks we hope to see honored in that way in the future.

Thank you, Vince: As you will read in his column, Vince Santoro is stepping down at the end of August. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Vince for his time, dedication, and hard work on behalf of all AFM Local 257 musicians. He has been a big help to us all in many ways, and I am proud of how we were able to get through some very challenging times together. Based on my recommendation, Will Barrow has been elected by the Local 257 Executive Board to take Vince’s place until the next election in late 2023. I have known Will for a long time and I believe he has the right skill set for the job. I am confident that he will step in, step up, and do a great job in the secretary-treasurer position.

Aug. 9 Benefit Concert for FBF: I will be hosting a fundraising concert at 3rd & Lindsley Aug. 9 for our Funeral Benefit Fund, which has taken a big hit during the pandemic. Lots of 257 members will be performing and all funds raised will go towards keeping next year’s dues from going up.

Still rocking after all these years: As we continue to approach our 120th anniversary this coming December, it is interesting to look back and imagine what those founders anticipated the future path of AFM Local 257 to be. Those seven people who signed the charter were willing to dedicate their time and energy to uniting musicians, and were the 257th local to join the Federation, which was founded just six years previously in 1896. I think they would proud of what they did, and what we have done to move things forward. As the third largest U.S. local in the Federation and a place where in spite of right-to-work (for less) laws, we get musicians paid fairly and make sure their intellectual property is respected. We can always do more, and we will, but I am proud of what we have done over the past 14 years, and look forward to doing even better – by working together. That’s how we make a difference, both now and in the future. The power is in our hands.