Dallas Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association

10/04/2024

Stefan Karlsson kicking off another Denton Arts and Jazz Festival

10/03/2024

Our fellow entertainment union AGMA has four events coming up in support of the fired dancers of the Dallas Black Dance Theater. Please come out to one or more of them if you are able and support these artists, who have worked with many of our ensembles.

The first is this Saturday, Oct. 5th in Fort Worth. DBDT is one of the participants in the Fort Worth Dance Festival, at the I.M. Terrell Performing Arts Center, 1411 IM Terrell Circle S, Fort Worth, 76102. AGMA will be passing out informational leaflets, and if you can help, they are meeting at the public sidewalk beside the parking lot at 6PM.

The DBDT has two performances of Dance Africa in Dallas at Moody Performance Hall the evenings of Oct. 11th and 12th, which AGMA will be picketing. If you can attend either evening, they are meeting at One Arts Plaza 1722 Routh St. Dallas 75201 at 6:30PM.

AGMA is also marching and leafleting at the Dance Africa Festival and Marketplace in Klyde Warren Park the morning of Oct. 12th. This begins at 9:45AM at 2012 Woodall Rogers Freeway Dallas 75201.

Here are registration links to the events on the 11th and 12th - copy and paste into your browser window:

https://actionnetwork.org/events/october-11-picketing-dallas-black-dance-theatres-dance-africa-performance-at-moody-performance-hall?source=direct_link&

https://actionnetwork.org/events/october-12-picketing-dallas-black-dance-theatres-dance-africa-performance-at-moody-performance-hall?source=direct_link&

https://actionnetwork.org/events/october-12-leafletting-dallas-black-dance-theatre-at-danceafrica-festival-and-marketplace

On Friday, August 9, the leadership of Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) fired their entire company of dancers, just weeks after they unanimously voted to unionize. On August 17, hundreds of people from the labor, arts, and Black communities in Dallas marched outside the DBDT studios to let them kno...

08/17/2024

Had a great rally and picket today with American Guild of Musical Artists standing with the Dancers of Dallas Black Dance Theatre who were terminated last week after unionizing this summer. It was so great to be out with the community and ALL our fellow entertainment unions together! Check out our own Dana Sudborough and Frederick Nichelson playing in the picket line, which morphed into a street performance featuring these amazing dancers.

DANCERS OF DALLAS BLACK, WE GOT YOUR BACK!

08/15/2024

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!

** NEW MEETING LOCATION AND START TIME ALERT ** On August 17 we will stand with the terminated dancers of Dallas Black Dance Theatre and demand that DBDT cancel the auditions, reinstate their artists, and inform the public about this injustice!

When: Saturday, August 17, 1:00 p.m. CT (If you have already registered previously, you do not need to do so again!)

**NEW MEETING LOCATION AND START TIME: We will now meet in the shade at One Arts Plaza - 1722 Routh St, Dallas, TX 75201 - at 1:00 p.m. CT. This meeting location will be used to organize and prepare for the day.

Details: After meeting at 1:00 p.m., picketing will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT along Arts Plaza, alternating between shady and sunny sides, in front of Dallas Black Dance Theatre studios. As they conduct their auditions, we’ll make our voices heard through marching, picketing, and chanting, sending a clear message to the DBDT leadership that their actions will not be tolerated. Several speakers, including local and state elected leaders, labor leaders, artists, and others, will address the crowd.

Parking for Picket: There is some free street parking around One Arts Plaza. ALL-DAY pay parking around Arts Plaza is available at:

# 1. Platinum Parking - Intersection of Ross & Hawkins - Lot #110 and #113 - $9.00 (2430 San Jacinto St. Dallas, TX 75201)

#2. North Lot Public Parking - St. Paul United Methodist Church - $10.00 (1816 Routh St. Dallas, TX 75201)

Safety and Wellness Reminders:

It is going to be HOT in Dallas on Saturday. Please wear light clothing, sunscreen, and a hat, and bring water. If you have portable fans or personal cooling tools (like the personal AC neck cooler), please bring those too. Water will also be provided.
Beat the heat in any of the restaurants in One Arts Plaza (1722 Routh St, Dallas, TX 75201). Access to the lobby of One Arts Plaza may be available too.
The Playwright Irish Pub in One Arts Plaza has kindly offered water and soft drinks and use of their restrooms for us!
This is a PEACEFUL rally. Please follow all instructions from event leaders and police. PLEASE DO NOT BRING FI****MS.

08/14/2024

We would love a good AFM presence at this rally for our colleagues who were fired by the Dallas Black Dance Theater for unionizing. They have worked recently with the Fort Worth Symphony, and several years ago with the Dallas Opera. This egregious attack on them is an attack on us all.

On Friday, August 9, the leadership of Dallas Black Dance Theatre fired their entire company of dancers, just weeks after they unanimously voted to unionize. The Company simultaneously posted an audition notice to replace them, scheduled for Saturday, August 17. Let's come together in person with th...

08/13/2024

Even if you already sent a letter, please read this update and send another!

At the end of the day on Friday, Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) leadership terminated all of us, the entire company of dancers, and posted an audition notice to replace us. Just over 2 months ago, we unanimously voted to form our union with AGMA to have a voice in our working lives and to make DB...

08/07/2024

Please support our fellow local artists at the Dallas Black Dance Theatre: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/let-dbdt-leadership-know?source=direct_link&

04/19/2024

Beautiful Day Two at the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival! Our AFM bands sounded greater than ever on the Main Stage. Thanks to Music Performance Trust Fund for making these free community performances possible.

04/19/2024

Day one of the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival went great! Thank you to all the professional musicians who made it a success!

02/23/2024

As the AMPTP and American Federation of Musicians resume negotiations today, the sides are at odds over the union's demand for streaming residuals.

02/07/2024

The AFM musicians union's negotiations with film/TV studios have not resolved the "core issues," but more talks are scheduled.

01/23/2024

UPDATE your PROFILE PICTURE in support of AFM Fair Share For Musicians. 🎼📽️📺
Negotiations for the film and motion picture work are set to begin on January 22!
Canva Template Here: https://bit.ly/3vrgbil
** If you have issues with the Canva template, email your profile picture to [email protected] for help.

01/23/2024

On a rainy Monday morning, workers from multiple guilds turned up at the offices of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in a show of unity: "We're all together in this industry."

10/08/2023

The renowned UNT Jazz Faculty Ensemble today at The Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, now performing "Ray's Idea" dedicated to Ray Hair. We wouldn't be here without you, Ray!

10/08/2023

Day 3 of the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival is on. Another beautiful day for great music! Jose Aponte and Caribe Club, La Pompe, Eric Scortia with Scorched Earth Horns, Beyond the Pale and The Bobby Falk Group this morning, just to name a few.

10/08/2023

Day 2 - Amazing weather with perfect temperatures even though there was a whirlwind of music!!

Taste of Herb, Candy Williams, Mario Cruz, S-Ankh rasa and Mo’ Music, Lynn Seaton Group, American Bedouin, Patrick Overturf, EYCE, the Brehms band, the John Adams group, Randy Lee group, Joe Tucker, the Rhythmators, McLeod Nine, Phyrework, Impending Bloom, Texas Twisters, Eric Bailey, Jennifer Barnes Quintet, Mike Steinel group and Bubba Hernandez!!!!

10/07/2023

Absolutely beautiful day at Denton Arts & Jazz Festival. This morning Carlos Averhoff Jr , Outro-speccion, K Ellington Group, Brasuka... and things are just getting started. Come out to this premier arts and jazz festival!

10/07/2023

First day went smoothly with pleasant weather. Great to see and hear all the skilled professional musicians at work.

Shelley Carroll group and Memphis Brass big band