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American Federation of Musicians
The musicians' union for the US and Canada, organized through city Locals (e.g. Local 802 NYC, Local 47 LA); provides union contracts, emergency assistance, pension contributions and P-2 touring visas for Canada, with dues and services varying by Local.
- Best for
- Working US/Canadian players, especially session and theater work. Session, scoring, theater, orchestral and touring musicians who regularly encounter union-covered work or live within an active local. Also useful for freelancers seeking enforceable contracts and collective leverage.
- Skip if
- Your income is all releases, no gigs or sessions. You primarily play informal or nonunion gigs, your local offers little activity in your genre, or you expect membership alone to provide bookings, health insurance or retirement benefits.
- First move
- Check your city Local's rates and what its contracts cover. Find your local and ask for the complete dues schedule, common union employers, contract support, health-plan eligibility and how musicians earn pension credits. Compare those opportunities with the annual cost before joining.
- Watch out
- Dues and benefits differ by Local — compare your Local specifically, not the national pitch. Membership does not automatically provide work, health coverage, pension eligibility or residuals; these generally depend on employment under qualifying union agreements. Dues, services and local responsiveness vary considerably, so review the local bylaws and benefit requirements.
- Reach
- Established
- When
- Worth it once you have releases out.
- Based in
- United States