NO BUNS BY REQUEST

Radio Record, 8 April 1938, Page 9

NO BUNS BY REQUEST

By

WIRIHANA

‘Special to the Record" , y_ OOK left and meet three Auckland musicians. The lady with the violin has put her foot down. She is Miss Isobel Langlands, organiser of the Aucklend Entertainers’ Association whe says: "Too long performing musicians in this city have given their services like performing seals for @ fish sandwich !"’

a O more will Auckland’s _ professional’ musicians and entertainers perform for any organisation without payment. Too long, they say, have they given their services like .

performing seals for a fish sandwich. To protect themselves have they formed "The Auckland Wntertainers’ Association." This important stand was taken largely as a result of the enterprise and organising ability of Isobel Langlands, Australian violinist, who las for some years been prominent in Auckland musical circles and who, assisted by Colin Muston, L,R.A.M., convened the first meeting held on Sunday, March 13. Last week a largely attended meeting ratified the constitution and rules, Officers of the thumbs-down-ou-bun-payment society are: President, Colin Muston; vice-president, Dennis Johns; secretary and treasurer (pro tem), Isobel Langlands; committee, Phyllis Bloy, Marjorie Tiarks, Dan. Flood, Alan McElwain, Robert Harris and Frank Poore-all well-known professional ‘"itertainers. ‘yNE member of the new association puts the ease succinctly. He says, "It is just as bad form to ask a professional artist to entertain without a fee as it would be to ask one’s doctor to dine, and to suggest, after dinner, that he might give one his professional advice about some ailment in payment for a good dinner. It seems that musicians and entertainers are the only people who are expected to gmilingly give their best without a fee-to give some- thing which they have spent years of their time trying to perfect. Various forms of inducement held out } to us by different societies, clubs and wealthy hos- " tesses-who, by the way, should know better-are not always subtle. In facet they suggest 2 complete lack of intelligence! "Who of us has not been asked, at some time or other, to come and sing or play, or do an entire evening’s accompanying because we will enjoy ourselves?-have a good night-or ‘because there will be a good Supper’-or ‘because it will be a good advertisement’? Sone even say it will be an ‘honour’ to perform at their clubs. AL this has gone. on long enough, It must be stopped." Sing An Aria For a Bun | {t was pointed out that many artists were often out of: ‘ pocket after having performed at such a’ function, They had many expenses which are never thought of. They must keep up appearances, and buy new musie, and instrumnentdlists have always to keep an expensive stuck of strings, Songs could not be bought for less than b/-, & sonata cost 5/6, ‘Another point stressed was the nervous energy that musicians expended at each performance, not to mention the valuable time and hard work put into rehear-

sals to bring the performs ances near perfection; for what? "The principle is all wrong, for we have come under the heading of begging," said a member. "Our sense of values has become

80 blurred that we have beem content to sing an aria or play a sonata for a cake or a bun and a-cup of tea." "Yes, and remember that our efforts are not appreciated when we can be heard any or every day or night any week for nothing," was another remark made during the meeting. "If we continue to hold ourselves and our work cheaply we deserve to be held cheaply-and we have held ourselves cheaply. It is tiring to be taken for granted aa a performer." In au interview with "Wirihana," Miss Langlands explained that the Association was not formed by reason of any mercenary motives. Similar associations were successful in other countries. By paying artists for their work a standard would be set. Miss Langlands quoted the case of a trio which carried out two rehearsals before the members played without payment. It cost them 1/- an hour for hire of a practice room, plus a charge for borrowing the musie used. Then they all had to pay their fares to and from the place of entertainment. . "You see there are countless other things also to b fuken into consideration," Miss Langlands: said, "especially where the performers are women. We cannot be seen more than twice in the same dress. Frocks are really an-expen-sive item." . wo No Mercenary Motive JWISS LANGLANDS pointed out that while the AssodidA s : ° . : was out to a wrong and to protect its members, there was no feeling of antagonism toward any club or society. Be ot "We are all anxious to clear away any misunderstanding," she said, "and to create a feeling of friendly helpfulness and co-operation. We will give once each year‘a big charity performance, when the. entire proceeds ‘will " be devoted to deserving organisations. This should prové to, the public of Auckland that’ we are not mercenary. Heaveu knows, our past efforts should be proof énough that we are not." : to Se The objects of the Association include acting as an intermediary to assist artists to obtain professional engage-. ments and to assist those organising entertainments: of every description to obtain suitable artists, and to protect. artists against exploitation for so-called charity functions.. by insisting.that members should be paid a fee according to an arranged schedule. Membership is open to all musicians, vocalists and entertainers generally -and the membership ‘ fees are purely nominal-7/6 per year: The Association will uot deal. with orchestral or any engagements at pre: sent protected by the Musicians’ Union, ‘but would ‘concen-' trate on concerts and other ‘entertainments in the interests of soloists.