Featured post

Los Angeles Wildfire Relief Resources

The Officers and Board of AFM Local 47 are devastated by the effects of this terrible tragedy on the peoples of Los Angeles and on our musical community. We will continue to provide information on resources for assistance as we face the long-term effects of this catastrophe. 

As our community continues to come together in aid of one another, we are wanting to hear directly from you, our members, about what you need most right now, and how we can help. We invite all members to please take our Wildfire Response Survey by clicking the button below:

Resources for Musicians

  • AFM Local 47 Relief Fund – emergency financial assistance is available for AFM Local 47 members impacted by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires who have suffered total loss of residence, or whose residence is currently uninhabitable
  • AFM Emergency Relief Fund – available to AFM members who have suffered major losses as a result of natural disasters in impacted areas designated by FEMA as Federal Disaster Areas for Individual Assistance
  • Entertainment Community Fund (register/login here)
  • MusiCares – offering $1,500 in financial assistance and $500 grocery card to all impacted music professionals; email MusiCaresRelief@musicares.org or call 800.687.4227
  • Guitar Center Music Foundation – grants available for those who have lost musical instruments/equipment in the fires
  • Sweet Musicians Relief Fund – for musicians and music industry workers impacted by the fires for loss of music-related equipment, medical bills related to the event, and other vital-living expenses
  • California Jazz Foundation – grants available to CA musicians w/ at least 5 years of primary employment as a jazz artist
  • Property Reports assistance – Local 47 member Kirstin Fife, who is a licensed real estate agent (DRE license #01754620), is offering to provide free property reports to those whose homes have been damaged or lost due to the Altadena or Pacific Palisades fires. Click the link to submit your request form
  • Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) Wildfire Relief Loans – JFLA is offering zero-interest, zero-fee loans to people of all faiths and backgrounds, including: Individuals and families, small businesses, and non-profits

Continue reading

Featured post

General Membership Meeting/Musicians’ Club Annual Meeting: 1/27/2025

Monday, January 27, 2025 – 7:30 p.m.
This will be a hybrid meeting format, both online and in person.

In-Person:
Captain Greg Welch Gathering Place, 3220 Winona Ave. Burbank CA
Remote: If you will be attending via Zoom, registration is required. Please click here to register ASAP to ensure timely processing by our staff. Once your membership is verified, you will receive an email link with the virtual access code.

Musicians’ Club Annual Meeting to immediately follow GMM

Open to all AFM Local 47 members in good standing.
Light refreshments will be served.

On the Agenda (subject to change):
– Presentation of 50-Year Pins
– Voting on 2 Resolutions to Amend the Bylaws
– Officer Reports
– Old and New Business Continue reading

Join AFM & MPTF at NAMM 2025!

The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada and the Music Performance Trust Fund are excited to once again be co-hosting a booth at this year’s National Association of Music Merchants Show, the industry’s largest stage uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology communities.

Find us at Booth 7806 during the event’s three exhibit days, January 23-25 (view map).

Snag your 2025 NAMM badge here.

January 2025 Overture Online: Happy New Year – Let’s Get Organized!

Inside This Issue:

  • General Membership Meeting & Musicians’ Club Annual Meeting: Monday, January 27 – Voting on 2 Resolutions to Amend the Bylaws
  • New Rehearsal Room Rates for 2025
  • Member Spotlight: Bruce Springsteen
  • Don’t Get Penalized! File for Your L.A. Business Tax Exemption by Feb. 28
  • What is Organizing?
  • Why Young People Support Unions So Strongly
  • Do Not Work For Alert: Giorgio Lalov, dba Teatro Lirico D’Europa
  • AFM, NBCUniversal Settle Civil Action; Submit Your Incomplete Track Information
  • Do We Have an Unclaimed Check Waiting for You?
  • Audition Notices: Long Beach Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
  • and more!


Browse our full Overture pdf archives here.

New Rehearsal Room Rates for 2025

As of January 1, 2025, rehearsal room rental fees will be increased by $5. There is still no charge for backline (PA, microphones, amps, etc.). Life Members will continue to receive a $5 discount.

We understand the importance of our rehearsal spaces to members and are happy to continue to provide these spaces for a fraction of what is charged elsewhere.

To view the new rates and to book a room, log in to your member account by clicking the Booking button at afm47.org/rehearsals.

Overture Online front cover image

December 2024 Overture Online: Happy Holidays from AFM Local 47!

Inside This Issue:

  • Spread Joy With a Toy! Donate an Unwrapped Toy to Local 47 by December 18
  • October General Membership Meeting Recap/Resolution Adopted
  • Member Spotlight: Germaine Franco
  • AFM 47 Life Member Clint Eastwood Releases 40th Film, ‘Juror #2’
  • Election 2024: Celebrate the Wins, Organize for the Future 
  • Instrument Insurance is Back: Protect your Gear With AFM & HUB
  • Center Theatre Group Celebrates Extended Run of ‘American Idiot’ 
    With Deaf West Theatre at Mark Taper Forum
  • Celebration of Life: George Bohanon
  • Audition Notice: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
  • and more!

Read the Issue Here button


Browse our full Overture pdf archives here.

AFM Local 47 Bylaws update

At our General Membership Meeting on October 28, 2024, a Resolution to amend the Bylaws was presented concerning the scheduling of quarterly General Membership Meetings (Article VIII, Section 1).

Due to the lack of quorum, a Special Executive Board meeting was held so that the Board could act upon the Resolution, which was recommended for a YES vote by the Legislative Committee. Several members asked questions and offered various opinions, suggestions and recommendations. Of the seven Board members present, all unanimously voted in favor to pass the Resolution.

Local 47 members may read the Resolution by logging in to your online account at ensemble.afm47.org, selecting DOCUMENTS, and clicking the link under the “Resolution to Amend the Bylaws” ribbon. (If you have not yet logged in to our new system, please view the instructions here.) The revised set of Bylaws may also be accessed under the “Other Members-Only Documents” ribbon.

‘Tis the Season: Spread Joy With a Toy!

Donate an unwrapped toy to Local 47 by December 18, 2024

The holidays are approaching rapidly and thousands of families will have to decide whether to buy food, pay rent, or keep the heat on in their homes during the winter nights. Without our help, many of our union sisters, brothers and siblings will be unable to afford holiday presents for their children. Continue reading