Local Musicians Campaign for an Equitable Wage

Group says the average annual income for Portland musicians is well below poverty level.

blogs.knoxnews.com Courtesy: blogs.knoxnews.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Portland musicians will hold a special event Sunday, October 26th to bring awareness to the challenging economic situations of musicians in this city. It happens at 3:00 PM at Musicians Union, Local 99, 325 NE 20th Avenue in Portland.

The event is organized by the Portland Musicians Union to establish a fair and livable standard of pay for local club musicians.

There will be a campaign kickoff event featuring a presentation by local musicians about the issue of equitable pay in the Portland club scene. All musicians are encouraged to attend.

Musicians involved with the campaign will provide details about the work that the Fair Pay to Play Campaign has been doing, its future goals and information about how to get involved with the equitable pay movement. A spokesperson from the group said, "The problem this campaign is addressing has been pervasive in our community in the past and it is well past time to address it."

"My band…headlined at [a local venue] last year. 245 people paid 7 dollars at the door. This means the [venue] grossed $1715. We were paid only $250," local musician Levi Cecil said.

Organizers say that according to research they haqve conducted, many venues could and should offer equitable pay to the musicians who enhance both their establishments and their bottom line. Most professional musicians, however, struggle to earn a living at their craft, most lack health insurance, and many have to work second or third jobs to pay the bills.

According to data the group collected:

* 73.46% of Portland musicians feel that what they're currently being paid is unfair.

* On average, Portland musicians spend an additional 3.25 hours preparing for their show per hour of performing.

* The average annual income for a Portland musician is $8721.44 - well below the federal poverty level of $10,400.00.

The Fair Pay to Play campaign is asking venue owners to partner with the campaign and agree to pay equitable wages to performers. There are five levels of participation, so every venue -- from the large nightclub to the corner coffeehouse -- can join at the level that suits its size and budget under the plan.

Participation will earn the venue a Fair Pay to Play logo to proudly display in a visible location, promotional listings on the Fair Pay to Play website directory, and the reputation of hosting quality talent.

As the campaign builds, the public can support the right of working musicians to receive equitable wages by supporting those venues that have signed on and display the Fair Pay to Play logo.

"When a band performs for exposure," according to local blues great Norman Sylvester, "they expose themselves to poverty."