As a professional musician, your true strength comes from standing together with other musicians. If you’re thinking about joining the musicians union, take a moment to ask yourself:
- Do I want to be paid fairly for my talent and hard work?
- Do I want access to a solid pension?
- Do I want to feel safe and supported at work?
- Do I want expert help if something goes wrong?
If you answered yes, then you’re ready to join the union!
The American Federation of Musicians Local 427-721 proudly supports hundreds of musicians across Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, and Naples, Florida, helping protect and uplift professionals like you. When musicians are on their own, they’re more vulnerable to unfair treatment and miss out on the benefits union members enjoy — meaningful contracts, affordable web hosting, pension, fair wages, and so much more.
To Join
Step 1: Are you eligible for membership in Local 427-721? See Membership Dues below to see if you qualify.
Step 2: If eligible for membership, download this fillable Application Form and please fill out each tab — contact information, instrument(s), and AFM membership history.
Step 3: Sign the document under “Membership Obligation” and “Work Dues Check-Off Authorization”.
Step 4: Mail or E-mail the completed form to the following address:
Mail: AFM Local 427-721
P.O. Box 12333
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
or E-mail: GulfCoastMusicians [at] gmail [dot] com
Step 5: Once your application is reviewed, the office will send you a payment link (PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Check).
Membership Dues
Regular Member:
Annual Dues: $130.00
Semi-Annual Dues: $65.00
Pro-Rated First Time Dues: $32.50 per quarter
Initiation Fees: one-time Local Initiation Fee (LIF) of $10.00 and one-time Federation Initiation Fee (FIF) of $65.00 if not currently a member of another AFM Local
A person eligible to apply as a Regular Member is classified as the following: performers on musical instruments of any kind and vocalists, arrangers, copyists, music librarians, dancers, support crew, and any other individuals who render musical services and/or reside in the territorial jurisdiction of the Local, subject to the laws and jurisdiction of the American Federation of Musicians. The Applicant may have previously been an AFM member in another Local or is currently a member in another Local; however, former members must have resigned in good standing. The Applicant must be sixteen (16) years of age or older. The membership application of a person younger than sixteen (16) must be attested to by the parent or guardian of the applicant and approved by the American Federation of Musicians.
Life Member:
Annual Dues: $78.00
Semi-Annual Dues: $39.00
A Life Membership in this Local shall be awarded to a current Regular Member who is at least sixty-five (65) years old, can prove a cumulative thirty-five (35) years of AFM membership, and has been a member of this Local for at least five (5) consecutive years. Such members will be subject only to Life Member dues rather than Regular Member dues. The Life Member dues are calculated by taking fifty percent (50.00%) of the amount of the Regular Member dues and all assessments in excess of said Federation per capita dues required to be paid by Life Members. A Life Member shall be entitled to all rights, privileges, and benefits of a Regular Member.
Youth Member:
Annual Dues: $130.00
Semi-Annual Dues: $65.00
Pro-Rated First Time Dues: $32.50 per quarter
Initiation Fees: Waived
A person twenty (20) years of age or younger may apply to join The Local as a Youth Member without paying either a Federation Initiation Fee (FIF) or Local Initiation Fee (LIF). The Member may remain as a Youth Member until they reach the age of twenty-one (21), at which time they will become a Regular Member at no additional cost (no FIF or LIF). The membership application of a person younger than sixteen (16) must be attested to by the parent or guardian of the applicant and approved by the American Federation of Musicians. A Youth Member shall be entitled to all rights, privileges, and benefits of a Regular Member and will be required to pay Local dues.
Student Member:
Annual Dues: $130.00
Semi-Annual Dues: $65.00
Pro-Rated First Time Dues: $32.50 per quarter
Initiation Fees: Waived
A person who is registered as a student in an accredited school, college, or university may apply to join The Local as a Student Member without paying either The Federation Initiation Fee (FIF) or the Local Initiation Fee (LIF). A Student Member may establish their residency within The Local’s jurisdiction using either their parent(s)/guardian(s) permanent address or the physical address of the school where the student is enrolled. A Student Member shall remain in that classification until they are no longer a student, at which time they will become a Regular Member at no additional cost (no FIF or LIF). A Student Member shall be entitled to all rights, privileges, and benefits of a Regular Member and will be required to pay Local dues.
Contractor Member
Annual Dues: $130.00 + $30.00 premium
Semi-Annual Dues: $65.00 + $15.00 premium
Pro-Rated First Time Dues: $32.50 + $7.50 premium per quarter
Initiation Fees: one-time Local Initiation Fee (LIF) of $10.00 and one-time Federation Initiation Fee (FIF) of $65.00 if not currently a member of another AFM Local
Any Member, other than an Inactive Member, who files contracts for engagements within the Local, may request that the Executive Board grant them a Contractor Membership designation, which requires payment of a premium of $30.00 above the annual Regular Membership dues. A Contractor Member is not required to pay work dues on themselves as a Contractor and/or as a Side Musician on work they contract, provided that the Contractor Member:
- Files a contract with The Local for the engagement,
- Deducts work dues for Members on the engagement, and
- Forwards proper American Federation of Musicians’ Employer’s Pension Fund contributions on behalf of all Members on the engagement.
Contractor Member status, once approved by the Executive Board, may be renewed each year until the Contractor Member chooses not to renew. If the Contractor Member is found guilty of failing to satisfactorily fulfill the duties outlined here, the Executive Board may revoke the Contractor Member status.
Inactive Life Member:
Annual Dues: $72.00
Semi-Annual Dues: $36.00
A Life Member whose active professional career has ended shall be considered an Inactive Life Member by their application. There will be an accompanying (reduced) Dues Rate coinciding with The Federation’s Inactive Life Membership Per Capita Tax Rate assessment. These members shall retain all rights and privileges of a Regular Membership except that they will not be allowed to vote, hold office, or hold Contractor Membership status.