How much for dues?

[bearphonium]

The New Horizons Community band charges $240 per year, which includes lessons, rehearsal space, uniforms (well, polo shirts) and pays the directors.

The Springfield Community Concert Band is donation supported; dues are $10, but waived if needed. They'll buy the shirt.

The One More TIme Marching Band is $30 per year, 5 month season. Tie dye tee shirt uniform included

The Oregon Tuba Association is $10 per year to be a voting member. Polo shirt provided

The Eugene Symphonic Band is donation supported, and I don't believe they charge their members dues. They buy their own concert wear.

[toobaa]

I've been in a few local community bands in the past couple or so years:
band "A" - $0
band "B" - $0
band "F" - $0
band "S" -$0 (but we make a small voluntary cash gift to the conductor)
None of them ask the band members to do any kind of fund raising.

Two community choruses,
chorus "B1" - $0
chorus "B2" - $0
but both choruses ask members to sell ads for the programs.

[bort]

Cool, thanks for the info everyone! Okay... well, yeah, this is definitely too high to be worth it for me, even by New York standards (I know the problem is that they have no "home" and no source of funds except for dues and ticket sales). Yikes, I'm glad I asked. I thought this was normal to pony up $$ to $$$ for community groups! Hey, that could be $240 towards that Miraphone I want so badly!

One upshot... found out tonight about another group I could join -- same night, better quality, and f-r-e-e. Longer commute, but I can handle that.

PS -- Ben, lucky for you that the screenname "Ben" (with a capital "B") wasn't taken! I'd better reserve "Bort" now!

[bort]

Come to think of it, I've been all over the board... per year in Baltimore, I think it was:
Band A -- $0 (funded by the county)
Band B -- $70
Band C -- $0 (funded by the county)
Band D -- around $300 (but again, it was a non-credit college course, and most of that money went to help fund the band's Europe trips... and it was a good band with a good conductor).

[sloan]

Band A - zero
Band B - zero (but there's a solicitation for a "gift" for conductors - entirely voluntary)

[AndyCat]

Over here in the UK, most "hobby" Brass Bands charge subs/dues, even some of the top 20 ones.
We pay £1 a week, but for that you get a high standard, use of an instrument, uniform provided etc.
Most Tuba players in Brass Bands (especially BBb) wouldn't dream of, nor have ever, owned their own instrument!

[b.williams]

Nada for five different community bands.

[tastuba]

Over here in the UK, most "hobby" Brass Bands charge subs/dues, even some of the top 20 ones.
We pay £1 a week, but for that you get a high standard, use of an instrument, uniform provided etc.
Most Tuba players in Brass Bands (especially BBb) wouldn't dream of, nor have ever, owned their own instrument!

Pretty much the same here in Aust. I pay $85 annually as membership, but I get a uniform (jacket and trousers) and my instrument supplied. No way I could afford to play tuba if I had to own it, plus I've been able to play most of the other instruments in the brass band at some stage or other (an upside or downside to being the conductor's son I guess). We receive a small grant annually from our local council, have a really good relationship with our local Lion's club (we provide manpower to assist in running a New Year's Eve event with them), run a super successful Christmas Stocking raffle, plus whatever we can generate through playing. We pay our conductor a small amount and rent on our bandrooms, insurance, utilities etc. That's been pretty standard for a couple of different bands I've played in.

Cheers
Andrew

[bearphonium]

I note that some areas of the country are able to either be supported by the city/county/other government organization and/or are able to pay their members. I have a bassoon playing friend that was surprised that not only do we pay to play, but there is no support from the city/county/parks department. Her take is that Orygun doesn't recognize the value of the arts to the community. I suspect that its devaluation has come with some interesting philosophies regarding public funds that have developed over the past 30 years or so.

[bort]

Another important factor: "Is the practice/performance space free?"

I think our group's rehearsal space is something like $200 or $250 per week, and that adds up real fast. Most other groups I've played in either rehearsed in a public school (free of charge, where a band member/director worked) or a church (cheaper?). Not sure why we don't use a church, but I heard (and believe to some extent...) that here in Manhattan, the school board will not allow these sorts of after-hours arrangements for usage of their facilities (because of liability, security, etc). Being an independent group, that's a big pill to swallow, and probably half of our dues alone go to giving us a weekly "home." I know the director/board has done their best, but I think it'll be time for me to move on.

[zoobie]

I pay $20 per year for a local community band that rehearses in a municipal meeting room for free, you buy your shirt for $25 , the band does all concerts for free in parks , nursing homes etc.
I also play in a Brass Band that does not charge dues, provides a shirt, but does charge for all concerts.

[tclements]

Our bands are offered as courses at Ohlone College. For the 'tuition' that is paid, we get a staff person to do all of the PR, flyers, mailings and library work. We have access to a GREAT performing arts center, hall staff (including box office personnel and stage hands), program printing, a budget for music, guest artists and guest conductors. Of course, as an instructor at the college, I am paid a salary. Also, I have a budget for equipment purchases, and maintainence & repairs. In addition, the 'students' have access to the health center and get discounts at functions that recognize the student ID card, and substantial discounts at our bookstore for Apple Computer gear. The $53 per musician per semester doesn't even begin to cover these costs. Groups that go the non-profit route have a multitude of financial hurdles that can be overcome only by a dedicated and hard working group of directors. My hat's off to these groups.

[Rick Denney]

The Loudoun Symphonic Winds charges $50 per year, but we've never ejected anyone who couldn't pay. We pay our conductor a nominal fee ($2400/year) and we hire guest pros to fill in some gaps from time to time. Both make it possible for the rest of us to play music that might not otherwise be possible. We've grown to the point where outside guests are a rare need.

Dues cover a pretty small fraction of our expenses, and we get the rest from gifts from the more well-heeled members, donations, admissions, and a couple of gigs for the county parks department.

Wade, that's why it's so hard to make a living as a tuba player. Many are willing to pay to do it.

Rick "who calls the dues 'organized giving'" Denney

[rocksanddirt]

The closest one to me is through the school district's adult ed program (conductor is one of the HS music teachers) and costs something like $35 a semester. Includes the director, use of school music room, and a couple concerts.

[dershem]

None. Ever. Anywhere. How odd. You guys PAY to play?

You got it.
I am occasionally willing to buy a band shirt or something, but if you want me to play, you pay me, not the other way around.

[Donn]

Same here, it has been a long time since that happened. But I can see how it would be hard to avoid for larger ensembles, and all things considered it probably is dwarfed by the other expenditures we make on our music habit.

[tbn.al]

I gave up the idea that I had to get paid to play a long, long time ago. I came to the realization that I am an amatuer in both skill and philosphy. I full subscribe to Mr. Shaw's attitude that music, like sex is too important to be left to the professionals. I absolutely love to play and will do most anything to get to do so under the right circumstances, even pay. I will not tolerate a group that doesn't strive to make the most beautiful music it can no matter the cost in time or currency. You couldn't pay me to play in some of the groups around here.

My orchestra is really very good and we don't pay anyone except the conductor. We are constantly having money issues and the board of directors refuses to institute a dues policy. I submitted a plan which would have gotten us out of the hole and it was shot down. I proposed that we each be required to purchase a certain number of ticekts at half face value to be allowed to participate. We could then do what we wanted with them, sell, give away or throw in the trash. If someone wanted to get paid to play all he would have to do is sell all his tickets at face value. This would have both built our cash reserves and our audience. Shot down.

I have built a very good insurance business over the years which feeds my family well, but my music feeds my soul. Got to play, paid or not.

[TUBAD83]

I gave up the idea that I had to get paid to play a long, long time ago. I came to the realization that I am an amateur in both skill and philosophy. I full subscribe to Mr. Shaw's attitude that music, like sex is too important to be left to the professionals. I absolutely love to play and will do most anything to get to do so under the right circumstances, even pay. I will not tolerate a group that doesn't strive to make the most beautiful music it can no matter the cost in time or currency. You couldn't pay me to play in some of the groups around here.

Totally agree with tbn. I used to "play for pay" (via US Army and had a "gig band" as well)--dealing with a** h*** Toscanini stick waving wannabes, dealing with people who will try VERY hard to pay you as little as possible, dealing with people who try to tell you how to play YOUR instrument even though they have never picked up a tuba and are totally ignorant about it, constantly hustling for the next gig, etc. was taking all the fun out of making music, which is really all I wanted to do. I'm VERY happy being an amateur and playing just for the love of playing not worry about all the stuff the pros have to deal with. In my view, paying to play is worth it big time!

JJ

[Michael Bush]

None. Ever. Anywhere. How odd. You guys PAY to play?

You got it.
I am occasionally willing to buy a band shirt or something, but if you want me to play, you pay me, not the other way around.

I play for free, and couldn't be happier for the chance. I pay (make donations) so we'll have music, a room, a web site, and a few other things.

[Mark Horne]

I have to agree with the folks willing to pay something to play in a good ensemble. Not only do you get to play some good music in a non-pressure situation (nobody is asking you to sight read a concert program), but the contacts you make can lead to other good opportunities. I've been able to secure several paid services per year (french horn, not tuba) through people I've met in my community bands. But for me, music itself is the reward.