Benefits

MusicPro Entertainment booking service:

Local 2-197 assists live music purchasers in the St Louis area to find the right artist or group for their party, wedding, festival, corporate function or any other event that requires live music. Visit MusicPro Entertainment for samples of our local groups.

Legal Contracts:

A signed International AFM contract offers you protection for individual engagements, steady engagements, and traveling work. The AFM has a standard form contract that all members are entitled to use for free. It contains the AFM seal and when properly filled out and filed with the Local, it allows the local officer to help collect payments in the case of a default. Forms are available for download on this website, from the AFM’s website, or at our office.

A.F.M. Mastercard:

The A.F.M. Mastercard offers special rates, travel insurance benefits, and a special payment provision. Contact the Local 2-197 office for details.

Musicians’ Liability Insurance:
The International AFM Business Liability Insurance Plan provides you with up to a $2,000,000 aggregate limit each year. Many states and venues now require you to carry this type of insurance. With the AFM Business Liability Insurance plan you’re covered for:

  • Suits arising out of covered bodily injury which occurs on or off premises as a result of your business activities.
  • Suits arising out of covered damage to property of others resulting from your musicians business activities.
  • Suits arising out of personal injury and advertising injury, including libel, slander, defamation of character, false arrest, detention and malicious prosecution.
  • Suits arising out of products liability resulting from the sale and/or serving of food and beverages or other products.
  • Suits arising out of host liquor liability when serving or giving alcoholic beverages at functions incidental to your business.
  • Suits arising out of real or alleged faults in work completed by or for your business resulting in bodily injury.
  • Suits arising from injury caused by the rendering of or failure to render health care services by non-professionals.
  • Suits arising from fire damage liability for up to $100,000 for which you are legally liable.
  • Defense against such suits even though the charges made may be groundless, false or fraudulent.

Equipment Insurance:

Your instruments and equipment are expensive! Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance won’t protect you from loss, theft, or damage while you are working. The International AFM provides access to an “All-Risk” Musical Instrument and Equipment Insurance Plan. Your instruments and music-related equipment are protected from vandalism, breakage, water, fire, lightning, and theft up to the full replacement value. If you are employed full-time, freelance, work out of your home, or are self-employed, this insurance protects the large investment you’ve made in your equipment.

Claims on Default:

In the event a purchaser defaults on payment to members for a contracted engagement, Local 2-197 or the AFM will work to resolve the dispute between the parties administratively. Should this prove unsuccessful, Local 2-197 will pay members the scale wages for the engagement and the Local or Federation will pursue the claim through a variety of legal methods.

Pension Fund:  Members can have the employer make contributions to the Pension fund of up to 15% of wages paid on their behalf. Please contact the office for more information.

Negotiated Agreements:

International, national and local agreements covering all types of musical work ensure fair and timely payments as well as benefits for the reuse and new use of music recorded under these agreements.

International Musician Free Subscription:

The International Musician is the official journal of the AFM. Published monthly and sent to all members, this informative newspaper delivers articles of current interest to professional musicians, such as educational resources, labor news, as well as audition notices and help wanted ads. The International Musician is also available online, beginning the first of each month, in the private members area of the AFM website. Members may also search online through past issues in the International Musician archives.

A Collective Voice:

It is only through the combined efforts of members that Local 2-197 and the International AFM are able to better the position of musicians in our society. As a group, we not only have a strong voice in collective bargaining and government lobbying, but anywhere that musicians work. As a member, you will always have a voice in deciding our collective future.