Opinion ID: 781191
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Prior Musician Case Law.

Text: 15 There are surprisingly few cases addressing whether musicians who played in a band or orchestra were employees of either the entity that engaged the performance, or the musicians' band leader or orchestra conductor. Hilton Int'l Co. v. NLRB, 690 F.2d 318 (2d Cir.1982), a National Labor Relations Act case, held that the members of steady engagement bands were not employees of the casino hotels that engaged them. The decision confirms that the question is thorny, but it is not particularly relevant because the musicians were admittedly employees of someone (their independent band leaders), as were the musicians in Associated Musicians of Greater Newark, Local 16, 1973 WL 4523, 206 NLRB 581 (1973), aff'd per curiam, 512 F.2d 991 (D.C.Cir.1975). Here, on the other hand, the issue is whether the musicians were free-lance independent contractors, or were employees of either Fishman, the orchestra conductor, or his employer, the Sinfonia. 16 A more relevant labor law case is Seattle Opera v. NLRB, 292 F.3d 757 (D.C.Cir. 2002), where a divided panel upheld the NLRB's determination that the Seattle Opera's auxiliary choristers were employees of the Opera. But the majority relied heavily on the deference due the NLRB's decision, consistent with NLRB v. Town & Country Elec., Inc. 516 U.S. 85, 94, 116 S.Ct. 450, 133 L.Ed.2d 371 (1995). On the control theory urged by Lerohl, Hanson, and the EEOC, we find Judge Randolph's dissent more persuasive: 17 The Board and the majority find it significant in determining whether the auxiliary choristers are employees rather than volunteers that the Opera has the power or right to control and direct the person in the material details of how such work is to be performed. Maj. op. at 762. This is outright silly. Are we to suppose that volunteer firefighters or volunteer rescue workers become employees because the fire chief or the head of the rescue squad directs them?... Auxiliary choristers join other singers to perform musical works.... Rehearsal cannot be done independently. Choir members need to know not only the notes and the words, but they must also blend their voices together into a single sound. 18 292 F.3d at 776-77. Judge Randolph's reasoning is consistent with the only reported case we have found that applied the common-law test to determine whether musicians were employees of their orchestra. In Florida Gulf Coast Symphony v. Dep't of Labor & Employment Sec., 386 So.2d 259 (Fla.App.1980), the symphony and its musicians, who were members of the American Federation of Musicians, entered into contracts providing that the musicians were independent contractors. The Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security nonetheless assessed the symphony for contributions to the state employee compensation fund. The court reversed the agency's order, disregarding the symphony's control over musician performances and concluding the musicians were independent contractors because they — 19 are engaged in a distinct occupation; are considered by petitioner to be independent contractors; spend more than two-thirds of their time in activities over which petitioner has no control whatsoever; are responsible for the manner in which the musical effects are achieved; supply their own instruments; receive the bulk of their income from sources other than petitioner; are paid on a per job basis, and are free to pursue other job opportunities in the music field at their discretion. 20 386 So.2d at 264. These same facts are present in this case, except there were no written contracts between the Sinfonia and its musicians, and the record is silent as to how much of the musicians' time was spent playing elsewhere and how much of their total income was derived from sources other than the Sinfonia. 21