Re: [Harp-L] Fair Trade Music

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

Portland is by now means the "norm" in the country for this kind of attitude. It's a great place for musicians and young culture. (Portlandia)


Hope it catches on in other places.


As I mentioned, they have had a deal of success in Portland including support 
from the local AFM. 





-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Power <stevepower@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sat, Mar 2, 2013 3:22 pm
Subject: [Harp-L] Fair Trade Music


There has been some discussion on this forum regarding crap pay and conditions 
for in the trenches players. I came across an organization in Portland, Oregon 
which has had some success in correcting the situation. They are called Fair 
Trade Music.  The idea is similar to Fair Trade Coffee and the like.  They get 
venues to sign on to a minimum set of standards for pay for which the venue gets 
promoted as a Fair Trade Music venue.  They theory is musicians and the public 
at large become aware of the situation and a program to do something about it 
they will support the participating venues over the non-participating.

As I mentioned, they have had a deal of success in Portland including support 
from the local AFM. They are now attempting to get the message nationwide with 
other towns getting on board. The pay scale must be adjusted for each local but 
the principal is proven.

For further information please go to www.fairtrademusicpdx.org . 
----------
LSC