One thing musicians around Los Angeles really need to hear more about is health care in our union. As a guitar player and having worked in the trenches myself, I can say straight up — what Local 47 offers is pretty rare in this business. In most freelance music situations, health care feels almost impossible unless you’re in a major orchestra or working full-time, which is a rarity these days. But here at Local 47, musicians can become eligible for insurance with roughly $700 in contributions. That’s actually attainable for real working players — whether you’re teaching music, gigging in clubs, working as a side musician, playing church gigs, doing studio sessions, or performing with one of the many community orchestras in our jurisdiction.

That matters because musicians don’t work normal 9-to-5 jobs. We piece it together however we can — rehearsals, recording sessions, weddings, teaching, podcasts, live gigs, whatever keeps the lights on. It’s a hustle. Having a union that understands that reality and still makes health coverage accessible is a major thing. Honestly, Local 47 may have one of the most accessible musician health plans anywhere in the AFM, and more musicians should know it exists.

What’s also encouraging is that the Local 47 Health & Welfare Trustees continue looking at ways to strengthen and expand coverage for the membership while keeping the plan attainable for working musicians. That’s important, because access to quality health care can make the difference between a musician staying in the profession or leaving it altogether.

At the end of the day, this is about building a union that works for everyday working musicians….. not just the top-tier players, but the people out there grinding every week trying to survive, create, and make music in Los Angeles and beyond.

Building Update

At the same time, the building itself has been moving in a positive direction financially. Through increased rehearsal room rentals, expanded parking income, studio activity, and new tenant agreements, building revenue has already increased by approximately $80,000 annually, with projections approaching roughly $200,000 a year through continued operational improvements and expanded rentals. The idea is simple: strengthen the union financially while also creating more opportunities, services, and resources for the membership.

At the end of the day, this is about building a union that works for everyday working musicians — not just the top-tier players, but the people out there grinding every week trying to survive and make music in Los Angeles and beyond.