AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) is a labor union that represents opera/ classical concert singers, personnel, dancers in professional opera companies, production and dance companies around the U.S. When you become an AGMA member, you get a union negotiation agreement, to in turn pursue their workplace concerns. If you are AGMA, allot of the larger opera companies will respect you more and recognize you more as a professional. AGMA can fight for your wages, hours, terms in contract, and reassure that you’re not overworked. In other words, AGMA does the “dirty work.” The music world can be tough; AGMA allows you the opportunity to have assistance and defense if and when necessary. Lets not forget that performing artists support themselves with the talent and skills they were born with. Like people say “their bread and butter.” AGMA is a small union yet unique in comparison to other entertainment unions. To the contrary of most unions, AGMA feels that the performer needs to perform as much as possible; therefore, giving the performer the opportunity to perform anywhere they choose without strict guidelines. Now you may ask yourself, how can I get AGMA?
You can call AGMA’s membership department at 1(800) 543- 2462. They will guide you to the application or you can download it through the website, www.Musicalartists.org. With AGMA you have a one-time fee of $500 that is tax- deductible, in addition a yearly fee of $78. The performer must receive a minimum income of $2000 and maintain his/her membership with AGMA for at least three years.
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