United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1911-03-16
IMPORTED MUSICIANS.
Some Facts Furnished by the Musicians
Union of Denver.

| from importing foreign musicians, and
| especially non-union musicians, to play
| at City park; and this year is no ex-
ception to the rule The organization
through the Trades and Labor assembly,
has succeeded in getting the park board
to include in their contract with the
Banda Rosa the provision for union
musicians, but it is believed that mon
union musicians will be brought to Den
yer, as in other years, before the sea-
| son is closed The Musicians Union
has issued the following statement of
facts regarding the supplying of musi-
clans for City park and the influence
brought to bear to accomplish the i'm
porting of alleged famous bands which
are organized in the slums of New York
and are the poorest of underpaid
artists:
| The musicians of Denver do not be-
lieve that the public generally under
stands why it is that bands are brought
| here from elsewhere every summer TO
play park concerts given at the ex-
pense of the city while resident must
clans. who make their homes here, who
are tax payers-directly or indirectly
and spend their earnings in Denver
| thereby contributing to the maintenance
of the city are laid aside to make room
for outsiders. The general impression
is that the park concerts are gwen solely
to entertain the people during the sum
mer months; that outside bands are
brought here because they are better
than those located here, and that the
Tramway, out of sheer philosophical
| ness generously contributes one-third or
| the expenses thereof This is not quite
the case, however.
| AS for the Tramway Co., we can rest
assured that it rarely pays out money ex-
| cept with the expectation of getting It
10. with tbn n
terest In contributing money for the
park concerts it evidently does so to-
put itself in a position to control these
entertainments and see that they are
managed so as to bring the largest pos
sible revenue to the Tramway.
| Last year the Park board appropri-
ated 5000 for the park concerts, be-
sides $4,000 collected from the different
concessions in the park rented to a pri-
vate individual, such as the pavilion,
| the boating privileges, etc. The con-
cert season was of thirteen weeks. For
| the first four weeks a local band was
employed of 80 men at $500 per week.
For the second four weeks an outside
band was brought here of 40 men at
81 900 per week; and for the last five
weeks a local band was employed at
| 81, 300 per week. 1t will be seen that
the outside band was paid $500 per week
more than the local band of the same
number of men, and for the same SER
vice. And for this coming summer the
outside band to be brought here for the
month of July is contracted at the rate
| of $4,000 per week.
| The salaries for musicians in travel
ing bands is $50 per week; 40 men
$1,000 per week, leaving margin of
| $500 a week for incidental expenses and
to be divided between the leader and the
promoters of the scheme.
| If the band had been hired here, at
the prevailing salaries for such services
it would cost per man, $3.50 per week,
or $500 for 40 men, plus 800 for the
leader, plus about $50 for incidental ex-
penses, a total of $1.050 per week, or a
4 little over one-half the cost of the out
side band to be brought here this sum-
mer, at the rate such contracts are
being made
| At the rate just stated for local bands,
40 men for a season of thirteen weeks
would cost $13,650 as against $4,000
! paid last summer of which the first
four weeks only so men were employed.
As the $4,000 for concessions is collected
on account of the concerts, naturally
that revenue belongs to the concert
fund. adding to that an appropriation of
| $7,660 it would make up the full amount
necessary to defray the entire expense
for music for season of thirteen weeks
Tramway; while with the partnership OIL
that company the park board finds II |
necessary to appropriate $4,000. And
yet we are often told that this CITY |
has a very business like administration
Recently a very careful canvass was !
made of all the cities in the United
States and Canada where concerts are
given in public parks (this has no ref
erence to private parks where admis-
sion is charged) to obtain data as to
under what conditions these entertain
ments are given in other cities. and it |
was found that out of all of such cities
sixty in all-Denver is the only city
that does not employ its home talents
exclusively: and the only city that gives
park concerts in partnership with pri-
vate corporation for the benefit of that
corporation. In every city except Den
yer. it seems, local bands are employed
exclusively. not alone because being resi-
dents. taxpayers, the local musicians
have a claim on such employment, but
because also of the pride every city
takes in encouraging home talent, to the
end that the best possible musical or
ganization may be maintained in their
community policy which Denver
should be foremost in pursuing, if it is
sincere in it's advocacy of patronizing
home industry.
The musicians of Denver have on
many occasions protested TO Mayor
Speer against bringing outsiders to Den
yer to displace resident citizens who
could render the services required fully
as well. and at much less cost to the
city; but all to no avail The Mayor
always meets such protest with his most
affable smiles and proceeds to tell his
petitioners that he is now out of politics,
that he is never going to run for office
again, and that at any rate the matter
ic ral in
board. and he doesn't want to interfere. |
When the protest is taken to the park
board the answer is that: THE Tram |
, way pays one-thrd of the expenses and
must therefore be consulted in the mat
ter" And il the matter is taken to the