Yesterday I got a very strange call, at least to me.

Every year for the past 15 or so I play a Christmas cocktail reception for the NJ Realtors Convention in Atlantic City NJ. Over the years its been held in two different Casinos but always the same type gig. For years I would off load onto my R & R cart, valet park, and take the stuff up myself. This year I was told by some management company I would have to have Union Workers handle my equipment ! When I explained it was just a small setup and I always did it myself I was told new rules dictate that anything coming into the Casino must be handled this way. And I was told the Realtor's office that booked me would be charged.
Now I was a teacher for 35 years and believed our Union was important to us but this is ridiculous. I'm not Bon Jovi coming in with 5 tractor trailers !!
I've also worked in New York City which is really crazy with these kind of rules and handled my equip. myself. I could barley get someone at the back door loading dock to show me where the elevator was. They couldn't care less about helping me.

Another point that bothers me is if people are going to be charged extra for booking small time entertainment what does it say for future bookings ? And will the next step be that all Casino music must be Union, whether its part of one of their shows or just in one of their private reception rooms as I'm playing in?
( Which for NJ I don't know if the Musicians Union still exists. It was a joke when I belonged years ago.)