PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24254, 23 March 1940, Page 3

PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS

WORTHY OF THEIR HIRE CAMPAIGN AGAINST EXPLOITATION PROTECTIVE- ASSOCIATION PLANNED A crusade to form throughout New Zealand branches of the Entertainers' Association, which is similar to the Musicians' Guild of America, the Victorian Vocalists' Society and other bodies in various parts of the world which advocate a fair monetary reward for musicians and entertainers, is at present being actively conducted by Miss Isobel Langlands, the organising secretary of the association, who is visiting Dunedin as a member of the "Switzerland" ice ballet company orchestra. Miss Langlands is well known to Dunedin music lovers as an accomplished concert violinist, and her' present activities on behalf of professional performers are-certain to arouse keen interest amongst entertainers and members of the general public alike. Although the lot of the ardent reformer is liable to be far from easy, for the task of breaking down established customs, however indefensible, is inevitably met with prejudiced opposition from some quarters, Miss Langlands has achieved a considerable measure of success in her mission. Already there is a Christchurch Entertainers' Association, and musicians and others in Auckland and Wellington have also taken active steps towards the establishment of similar organisations in those cities. The aim of these organisations, which Miss Langlands hopes will ultimately be incorporated into the Entertainers' Association of New Zealand, is to protect all professional entertainers from exploitation bv those social clubs and other bodies which consider that the honour _of performing at their functions, with supper thrown in, is the sole reward an artist can reasonably expect. Miss Langlands stated yesterday that many world-famous artists while visiting New Zealand had expressed themselves as being whole-heartedly in support of a scheme to combat such exploitation. Such celebrities as Josef Szigeti, Alexander Kipnis, Lotte Lehmann, Lawrence Tibbett (who is president of the Musicians' . Guild of America). Thorold Waters, Nicola, and Alfred Hill had written to her commending the scheme. She pointed qm, moreover, that Queen Mary, realising the plight of professional entertainers under the demands made upon them for charity performances in the last war, had refused to attend any event unless contributing artists were paid. Too often. Miss Langlands said, musicians and others were asked to give their services for this or that object without fee or reward. A musician had a certain gift, the cultivation of which had occurjied him for a number of vears at no little cost. Yet. having arrived at a stage when he played or sane well enough for the public to wish to hear him. he was approached from all quarters for his gratuitous services. Just as the labourer was worthy of his hire, so was the entertainer worthy of his fee. Sir John Madden, when he accented the presidency of the Victorian Vocalists' Society, said: "It is an obvious injustice that, while the rest of the community are expected to contribute what they can afford to national necessities, concert platform artists in effect have been asked to give their all." ■ The Entertainers' Association has certain rules, one of which is that everv member must give a pledge not to perform at any entertainment open to the public unless paid a fee of at least 10s 6d for each performance. In certain cases of entertainments for specified charities, members mav perform without fee provided reasonable out-of-pocket exDenses. for transport, etc.. are oaid by the organiser.?.