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Bobby Gladd
Jerry Lopez of Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns.
Published Thursday, April 8, 2010 | 5:49 p.m.
Updated Friday, April 9, 2010 | 9:19 a.m.
Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns, a blaring good time at the Trop.
When Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns and assorted Las Vegas big-band musicians put on their rollicking music showcases at the Tropicana each week, everyone’s happy.
The assembled musicians, given the opportunity to play for scores of avid late-night fans, are happy.
Those who attend the free Monday night performances at Tiffany Theatre and Celebration Lounge -- many of them musicians themselves -- are happy.
Tropicana hotel executives, who pay scant wages to Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns to compensate the musicians and reap the benefits of a few hundred potential gamblers and drinkers each Monday, are happy, too.
But officials with the Las Vegas Musicians Union Local 369 … not so happy.
In a skirmish likely to unplug the late-night jams that follow the Santa Fe performances at Tiffany Theatre, the Las Vegas Musicians Union has sent letters to member musicians who participate in the post-show performances at Celebration Lounge to stop playing. Union President Frank Leone said the union began contacting musicians this week, asking them to cease playing in the hour-long showcases.
“We’re simply asking our members not to do this,” Leone said. “We understand the big-band musicians who want to have some place to play, but we can’t condone it happening in a Strip casino that is the beneficiary from liquor sales and ancillary playing -- people who stroll over to the machines in the casino -- and the musicians are not getting compensated.”
Leone says member musicians have told him they will no longer perform at the Trop in the Monday night big-band showcases. The scheduled band for Monday was to be led by percussionist Bruce Harper. That show is still on the schedule.
Santa Fe frontman Jerry Lopez, who organized the Monday night music doubleheader, says there will be a big band performing Monday night even if the orchestra is filled with non-union players. When asked what he thought of the union’s recent maneuver to ask its members to stand down on Mondays, he laughed.
“What do I think? I’ll tell you what I think -- I’ve had issues with the union ever since I first came into this city,” said Lopez, an ace guitarist and vocalist whose career in Las Vegas dates more than two decades. He’s had an off-and-on union membership throughout his tenure here.
“They’re just going to kill another cool thing,” he said. “All the guys in the union who are working (at the Trop) are in big shows, making money. These are the times to remember why we play … To play in front of an audience that really wants to hear the music. These are not for us to make money, but this is how guys get gigs with ‘Mamma Mia!’ or ‘Lion King,’ or with Bette Midler. It’s a chance to play and be seen.”
Formerly a mainstay at Palms Lounge, the highly acclaimed Santa Fe began performing a no-admission show at Tiffany Theatre in January in what was expected to be a two-week trial period that has instead blossomed into one of the more enjoyable entertainment experiences in the city.
What makes it so enjoyable, for fans, is that it costs nothing.
Lopez and Santa Fe’s musicians are paid a modest amount to perform at Tiffany Theatre. The problem, says Leone, is the players who show up for little more than gas money to play at Celebrity Lounge for the fans who just attended the Santa Fe show at Tiffany Theatre. The Celebration Lounge abuts the Tiffany Theatre entrance and the night, which begins when Santa Fe hits the stage at 10:30, turns into a no-cost, 2 ½-hour concert.
“Musicians like to play, and there is an irresistible desire to play but this is not a neighborhood bar, or a church basement or whatever,” said Leone, himself a high-caliber music director, conductor pianist and arranger. “To play for nothing, at a resort casino, which is a huge corporation, we take a dim view of that. At least the guys from Santa Fe are compensated. Everyone deserves the respect of fair compensation.”
This all becomes a moot point -- at least at the Trop -- when Tiffany Theatre shuts down for renovation early next month. Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns’ Monday shows will have ended then. But the issue, expect it to fester. Leone says the union is looking to establish a new scale in these instances where musicians perform what are essentially glorified jam sessions in lounges for free.
As for Lopez, he’s typically pointed in his view of what’s unfolding.
“We’re not going to let the union throw water on a very cool thing,” he said. “They’re the only ones to have a hair up their ass about this.”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
Because the union is all about power, politics, and leverage. Members come a distant 4th (or 5th, 6th, etc.). Why are they complaining about a group of guys that want to promote music in the city??? That showcase incredible artists? That gather together some of the greatest talent this city has ever seen? That constantly fill the seats with people (most of them pretty damn talented themselves in all areas of the entertainment industry) that genuinely appreciate their efforts? This is how the unions destroy the very thing they are supposed to be protecting. They lose sight of the true goal. And I beg to differ.... the adulation and respect of all those fans who come out every Monday night to listen is some pretty good compensation! Like we always say, the money is nice, but true artists would do this for free because we love what we do. If the union wants to help its members, find more places where they can play, and stop trying to stop them in the places where they CAN.
This has been something that's bugged me for YEARS. Someone is fortunate to have been born with a God given gift of music - or acting - or writing - and some damned union thinks those skills are like a typical "labor union." As if creative blessings should be unionized in the first place. I think when it comes to creative gifts from God, to try to stop that from happeninmg, is not only immoral but unconstitutional. Any talented person should be able to negotiate any contract they want. Like Sinatra or Streisand or The Blue Man Group.
To actually get in the face of people that want to perform for the love of performing deserves a swift kick in the butt. How DARE unions tell people with their creative gifts and strong desire to express those talents in any manner whatsoever that they can't.
You cannot regulate what God has given you and those that try it who are born with such gifts haven't the foggiest notion as to what their talent is supposed to be used for.
I never heard of Santa Fe until a friend of mine told me I had to come and see the band. I saw them about 5 weeks ago and haven't missed a show since. Their shows and the big band performances have changed the way I think about entertainment and music. The amazing thing is that everyone seems to be having such a great time. The musicians, the audience, and even the hotel employees seem to be enjoying themselves. Nothing is forced here. It's not like the crappy shows I see everywhere else in town. Every hotel should take note. There is something special here and it's a shame to see it get ruined by greed.
Once again the unions are stepping on and attempting to stamp out one small shimmer of light which has been an incredible experience for audiences and musicians alike, the opportunity to celebrate something for the love of it, and not some business transaction. This is what has stifled and ruined Las Vegas. TELL THE UNION TO GO TO BLAZES! LET THE MUSIC FLOW TO THE PEOPLE, AND THE JOY OF MAKING IT TO THE PLAYERS!!!!
I love it. Everyone who works at the Tropicana gets paid a decent wage so they can survive, pay rent, eat, put gas in their car, etc...but the musicians should work for free or close to it because they love to play. The maids all have health insurance but most of the musicians don't so when one of our own has a serious illness, we have to do a benefit that doesn't even begin to cover their medical expenses. Being a full time musician takes a serious commitment so why should we constantly be penalized financially for it. It's time musicians get paid at least enough to rise above the poverty level. Don't you think?
So what is it for these musicians? A job, or a release from their regular job? I have spoken to a few of these musicians and I have found that they do this because it helps them cope with their steady gig. Anytime you do something you don't want to, it's work. These folks are not working, they are playing. It's remarkable to see how much they enjoy it. If you don't want to play, then don't do it. The union is over reaching and should be promoting this because it looks like a great way to create more jobs for musicians.
Musicians playing in such a venue is a win-win. The public is exposed to these awesome professionals and the musician's themselves have an opportunity to expand their talent by performing at this venue. So why would the union try to quash that? Maybe it is because the union is not getting thier pound of flesh?
These musicians want to play for the simple joy of it and the union is trying to stop them. It's un-American and another example of why unions are useless and just exist to benefit the union officials and executives who steal money from their members.
Before you union bashers bad mouth the musicans union you should learn something.The union has a fund set up where talented professional musicians perform at nursing homes ,senior centers,public events and are paid low scale wages to make people happy.Ask a union act when they appear somewhere and the sleasy promoter or nightclub owner stiffs them who comes to get their money for them.When a big time act comes to your city and they need a few pieces to play and they need guys who can read music and not screw up who do they contact? Thats right the FAAM.
This just confirms my opinion that unions should be outlawed. What a bunch of stooges!
To my fellow Union members:
I am in two other unions in town. I grew up here. Musicians played in all the lounges in town for peanuts and eventually many ended up in big rooms.
Then the union decided to throw their weight around and at one stroke music in the big showrooms went to recordings.
We'll never see the likes of Lee Jolley and his contemporaries again because they were all hounded out of work by the Union trying to puff itself up.
You sure showed them nasty big rooms that they couldn't push you around...yes sir....you walked right out and then had to get jobs in construction and banks because you ALL LOST YOUR GIGS.
Geez, what maroons....
This is an issue between the AFM members and the union. You all will have your opinions but the union players have rules to go by. If a player doesn't like the rules, he gets to quit the union. If he gets asked to play a steady union gig he gets to rejoin the union. For some players this Tropicana situation is for playing to keep their chops up, networking for possible gigs and having a place to hang. The musicians will probably want to sit down with the union board to try and hammer out a special scale that will cover this controversy. This will have to be done in a way that will not let any of the hotels misuse a new scale for other situations. The musicians who were playing at the Trop won't sell the union short because most of them have already benefited greatly by being members. I can tell you right now that if given the chance to play for peanuts at the Trop or play for free at the old private union lounge, these players would rather play at the old union after hours club. No hotel interference, cheap drinks, union members and invited guests only, a place to experiment with cutting edge arranging and the best critical and music loving audience in the world. Those days are long gone but this issue is still between the members and their union. No one else.
I've been allowed to sing a song or 2 with a couple of bands in L.V. Strip casinos over the past few years. Never got paid (never asked or expected to be paid). Just had a good time and appreciated the honor of being allowed the priveledge. I imagine the unions would frown on that. But at the end of the night, as long as the players, the audience and the house are happy, who cares what the union thinks? I'd never join a union, If you want to be in a union, fine, it's just not my thing.
I have a great idea. No more getting paid to play music. Since it is art and all musicians have so much fun playing and the audience enjoys free entertainment, let's all stop charging for our services. I haven't charged anyone in many years to play my guitar. It's schlepping my gear, putting up with club owners or promoters BS and things like that where I make the big bucks. Before anyone is offended by this comment...I'M JUST KIDDING!
BobbyG , I guess my point here is that I get po'd at people who automatically hear union they condemm all unions right to exist. Believe me,I yelled from both the front desk at the membership and from the floor at the leaders.I saw things go down that were shady,but I also saw peoples rights defended against unjustices so its overall to me a good thing. I f you were an older union musician ,you had to pass an audition just to get in so you had to be the real deal.We are in America so everybody has the right to speak up,My pursuit of happiness comes the first of each month,thanks in large part to my union.
Unions suck. Plain and simple. There was a time, sure, but that was eons ago. They leave a trail of wreckage.
By making this such a big deal the Union only advertises for the very Casino they claim to be fighting. There are many, non union talented musicians, that are much better than the unionized folks in this town I would just as soon listen to.
The music scene in Vegas has fallen to a historic low only to get beat up by the very organisation that is supposed to support it.
Again, as many times before, the coolest show in town will be a thing of the past.
I still say trying to tell someone to stop using their God given talents whether or not the joint is making any money is unconstitutional.
Unions serve a purpose in labor markets. There is a good reason professional musicians work under contract with legal riders and hire and work with union workers on the road.
But, when it comes to playing on free time, I don't believe this would be a big problem in Nashville, though granted there are no big destination resorts with gaming in Nashville. The Opryland Hotel Complex is the one big exception.
The Music Mafia with John Rich, Big Kenny, Gretchen Wilson, James Otto, Cowboy Troy, Two Foot Fred and John Nicholson, among other notable drop ins, never had a problem playing Tuesday nights informally upstairs at the Love Lounge to practice their chops, songwriting and support one another.
It is stated that Vegas is without local culture. If you zero tolerance musicians from getting together to create and explore, you will discourage local culture.
I met KRS-One a couple of months ago. For those of you that don't know he is one of the pioneers of Hip Hop. He told me if you want to make it in music, play every gig you can and play for free if you have to. If you're good the money will come. If you're a musician living below the poverty line, maybe you're in the wrong profession. None of the members of my band are in the Union, and even if we were, they wouldn't be getting us any gigs in this city. Our success is based off of our grind and not union dues.
If Musicians Local of Las Vegas #369 had any, any negotiating skills, any, any entrepreneurial spirit there might, might be some reason to jump in line, however, they have none. This union local's inability to have the remotest clue of working with the hotel association, of seeing where entertainment was headed, and their failure to take any positive leadership role is why Las Vegas went from the incredible center of live music with union musicians in every showroom to turning Las Vegas into just another gigging town. I applaud musician and non-musician alike who have voiced their opinions here as it is an open forum, bully for you, speak your mind. Being in the union has little to do with getting work. During my 34+ years as a member I never once got a call from the hall, every union job I ever worked came from other players who know what I do. I stood up for the Union in the 1980's, I walked the picket line at the Tropicana when the Follies went to tape not knowing the union was running us into the ground. How many union jobs are left? Who gets them? The very best gigs on the strip are non-union! The late Danny Gans, sweet gig, Terry Fator, sweet gig, even the much maligned Wayne Newton and all of the Cirque Shows that use live music are non-union. Jerry Lopez is a good man he is out making things happen; Jerry has the spirit. There are a lot of players in this town who have resigned from the union to continue working without being harassed and threatened by local 369. As long as there is a scene happening at the Tropicana or anywhere else players will be there, those who wish to follow the ways of the past can go hangout at the union crib, in their little house (because they gave away our hall) and pine away for the good old days.
I'm STILL so sick and tired of being told what I do isn't a "real job", that I'm "playing". Most of the attitudes exhibited on this blog speak volumes about the abundance of ignorance in this world and it's frightening influence.
This is our second trip, from Kansas City, just to hear Santa Fe. Why? It's not because it's in Vegas, that's for sure. Because they inspire me, and other musicians that I have brought along from KC. I'm a former Union cardholder and it pisses me off to learn what the union is doing to this band. My only hope is that through this publicity, more people will know who Santa Fe is, and once they land a new gig spot, will support them in droves. They deserve it, and we as fans deserve it. Hey guys - you're welcome in Kansas City ANYTIME.