Information Center

MET PHONE NUMBERS

Main Phone (212) 799-3100 Orchestra Office (212) 870-7472 Music Library (212) 872-9940 FOR URGENT MATTERS Kingsley Wood, Personnel Manager (917) 841-4295 cell Kayla Dempsey, Asst. Personnel Manager (631) 312-6366 cell

ORCHESTRA OFFICE PERSONNEL

Kingsley Wood, Personnel Manager Kayla Dempsey, Asst. Personnel Manager Rachel Hocking, Orchestra Office Manager

MUSIC LIBRARY

(212) 872-9940 Located on B-Level, stage left Hours of operation Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Also open during performances beginning one hour before the downbeat. Wendy Skoczen, Chief Librarian WSkoczen@metopera.org Nishana Dobbeck, Assistant Librarian NDobbeck@metopera.org Jennifer Johnson, Assistant Librarian JJohnson@metopera.org Àngels Martinez, Assistant Librarian AMartinez@metopera.org

HR DEPARTMENT

Located on the 5th Floor. Take the elevators across from the vending machines. Walk to end of long hallway. Hours of operation Monday-Friday 10am-5pm Corliss Cobham, Director The HR has multiple functions. You can go to them for the following: • Filing tax paperwork and applying for direct deposit • Make changes/updates to your personal information • All 403b Retirement account administration • Harassment complaints

REPORTING A PROBLEM OR ISSUE

Any problems or issues you may have can be directed to Kingsley Wood, Orchestra Personnel Manager. If you are unsure of how to report a problem, you can always speak to a committee member and they will help direct you to the best course of action. You have the right to ask any committee member(s) to attend a meeting between you and management. Having a committee member present is highly encouraged in situations that involve harassment or any issue that you makes you feel vunerable. The committee members are there to represent you and to assist if the situation escalates. The Associate Musicians retain a labor attorney who can be consulted if the situation warrants.

READING A REHEARSAL

If you are scheduled to play a show, but you are not offered a rehearsal, you can request to read (watch) a rehearsal. You must make this request with Kingsley (Personnel Manager) in advance.

PRACTICE PARTS or DIGITAL PARTS

If you want a printed practice part, you must make a photocopy yourself in the library.

Click here for link to Digital Parts

2023-24 INSTRUMENTATION

Click here for link to Instrumentation

ID CARD

To obtain a Met ID you must ask Rachel Hocking (Orchestra Office Manager) to submit a form to security. She will let you know when you can have your photo taken for the ID card.

PERFORMANCE DRESS CODE

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Including HD, HD Scratch, Symphonic Concerts, Tours and Gala Performances (e.g. opening night, New Year’s Eve, and special performances TBD):

All concert attire must be formal dress clothes and all black.

Suit
Standard collar shirt; tucked in with long black tie
Mandarin collar shirt; tucked in, buttoned to top
Long-sleeved formal blouse, fully buttoned.

Dress pants or mid-calf to full-length dress/skirt; 3/4-length to long-sleeved formal blouse, fully buttoned; dress shoes.

STANDARD PERFORMANCES
(other than special performances as listed above):

NO DENIM ALLOWED
All attire must be black.
Jacket optional
Long sleeve black shirt with collar; fully buttoned, tucked in, with long black tie
Mandarin long sleeve black shirt; Buttoned to top, tucked in
Dress/skirt; knee-length or longer
Formal blouse; elbow-length or longer

SIGN-IN SHEET

You must sign in for all services. The sign-in sheet is located by the Men’s Locker Room for pit rehearsals/stage band. For C-Level Rehearsals the sheet is located at the front of the room.

PAYCHECKS

Available for pickup every Thursday mid-afternoon in Orchestra Office (usually after break). Direct Deposit available – Sign up through the HR Department.

VACATION PAY

Current vacation pay rates: Pool Strings = 9.58% All other Associate Musicians = 12.08% Vacation pay is calculated by using your gross wages from the current season and applying the appropriate vacation rate as listed above. Vacation checks are paid in one check as a lump sum. They are not processed until after the summer concert tour is completed. You can always inquire with Rachel Hocking when they will be officially processed around that time.

SICK PAY

Sick pay guidelines per NY State law:

56 hours of paid sick leave can be accrued per calendar year.
1 hour of sick pay is accrued for every 30 hours worked.
Both rehearsal hours and shows count towards your accrual. All shows, regardless of length, count as 4 hours.
Accrued hours can be used towards both rehearsals and shows. (Please remember that shows pay more than rehearsals so it is more prudent to use them towards shows if possible.)
Any unused accrued hours will carryover until the next season up to the 56 hour limit.
You should be receiving sick pay accrual reports from HR. If you need a report, you can request one from the HR Department.

HEARING PRESERVATION PROGRAM (HPP)

Any Associate who has played 200 or more hours in the previous season will qualify for the Hearing Protection Program (HPP). You will schedule a private appointment with Dr. Laura Sinnott, music audiologist, who will assess your hearing and options for hearing protection. She regularly helps musicians who have hearing injury due to loud sound exposure but also non-music-related reasons. The purpose of the program is to teach you how to learn when your hearing is at risk due to high sound levels, motivate you to protect your hearing when you're at risk, and provide you the information and tools to do so. It is also to help you enhance your hearing if you have any difficulties You will receive custom earplugs or the 3DME or Music Pro electronic earplug system. Your options will be discussed at the time of your appointment with Dr. Sinnott.

REHEARSAL TIME ADJUSTMENTS

Rehearsals end-time are subject to change. If rehearsal ends earlier than scheduled the Met retains the right to adjust the time paid, however, you will always be paid for a minimum of 2.5 hours.

OPAS (Musician's Schedule Portal)

You may request access to this online orchestra schedule portal from Kayla Dempsey, Assistant Orchestra Personell Manager:
KDempsey@metopera.org

WiFi

Network: metguest2

Password: accessmet

DISCOUNT TICKETS

All discounted tickets are subject to availability and can be withdrawn at anytime. Tickets can be purchased for $55.00 (includes facility fee) at the Company or regular Box Office Windows. Availability is determined approximately 2 weeks in advance. Limit of 2 tickets per Employee per performance, subject to availability. In most cases, seats will be in Side or Rear Orchestra. You must have your Company ID for identification. Tickets must be paid for (cash or credit card) by the Company Member at time of purchase. No reservations. All sales are final. There will be no exchanges or refunds or adjustments from any prior sales.

LOCKERS

Lockers have a very limited availability. Only those Associates who are playing on a regular basis receive a private locker. You may inquire with Rachel Hocking in the Orchestra Office about availability.

MEDICAL OFFICE

Located in Room S-15 (located in hallway by stage-right)

There is always a nurse or doctor on duty during rehearsal and performance services.

WAGE RATES

Click here to request Wage Rates

CLOTHING ALLOWANCE

You are eligible if you play 30 or more performances in a season. Eligible amounts are: 120+ shows = $900 90 - 119 shows = $700 60 - 89 shows = $500 30 - 59 shows = $350 Rachel (Orchestra Office Manager) will send an email to you at the beginning of each season if you qualify. Contact her if you think you qualify, but didn't receive an email. You can opt to receive the money as tax-free allowance if you submit receipts for qualified expenses. A list of qualified expenses are available in the orchestra office. If you do not expenses to submit you can choose to receive the money with standard tax deductions. Deadline to submit forms is usually late September and early December. Rachel will provide exact dates each season.

Anchor 1

403b RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

Any Associate Musician can sign up for a 403b Retirement Account regardless of the amount of work they have at the Met. It is strongly advised that all musicians sign up for a 403b account to begin saving for retirement as early as possible. • A 403b account is works the same as a 401K account. • You can direct a portion of your check to the 403b account pre-tax. • You will be able to allocate how your money is invested amongst numerous investment options as you choose. • Online access to your account is available for easy management of your investment. • Signing up is a simple form that you can complete in the HR Office.

HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS

CONTRIBUTION RATES

$75 per show
$8.61 per rehearsal hour
Cap of 3 shows per week (no more than $225 per week)

LOOKBACK PROVISION

Any shows you play beyond the 3-show weekly cap is "banked" on your payroll account. You may request to "cash in" those banked health contributions if you need the funds to achieve Plan A health coverage from Local 802.

Follow these steps to use the lookback provision:

Contact HR to find out how many shows past the cap you are eligible to receive.
Contact the Health Benefits Department at Local 802 so they can formally request that the Met pay contributions for the additional shows.

Transit

TRANSIT BENEFITS

All Associate Musicians are eligible to apply for Transit benefits. You may elect to withhold up to $300 per month pre-tax from your paychecks. You can use this money to be reimbursed for any kind of travel to and from work which includes MTA, LIRR, Metro-North, Parking, etc. These benefits are administered by WEX Benefits.

How does it work?

You can enroll or make changes at anytime. CLICK HERE FOR TRANSIT FORM
You elect the amount of money you want withheld each month up to $300.
The monthly amount will be taken from your paycheck each week. If you aren't at the Met every week, they will prorate it accordingly to be withdrawn as needed to meet the monthly elected amount.
If you are new to the program, you will receive a WEX Benefits VISA card. You will also setup an account online and a phone app. You will also setup direct deposit.
To recoup the money withheld, you will make a reimbursement claim. The phone app is very easy to use and the best way to make a claim. It is best to do this monthly. They do not require receipts for your travel expenses.
Claim are always approved immediately, and the money will be deposited into your bank account electronically within a few days.

SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE

We ask that all Associate Musicians refrain from posting disrespectful or discourteous posts pertaining to the Met. This includes comments about conductors, composers, and productions in general. Posting negative comments is a direct reflection of the orchestra in the public eye and it can adversely affect us in a multitude of ways. We appreciate your restraint.

WEBSITE & PROGRAM LISTING

Any Associate Musicians who has played 60 shows for 2 years within a 3 year period will be listed in the program and included in the Met Orchestra Musicians website.

CONTRACTS & BYLAWS

Copies of our CBA and by-laws are readily available to all members. The committee is always happy to answer any questions you may have about these documents.

Click here to request copies of contracts

VOTING MEMBERS

All Associate Musicians who have played 30 shows in two of the past three seasons are qualified to ratify all contract agreements and to vote for their Committee representatives, by-law amendments, and all other matters.
Generally 50-60 musicians qualify each year to vote.
These voting rights are codified in the by-laws which when drafted were approved by the Local 802 Executive Board and ratified by the voting members of AMMO.
Each Fall the MET provides the AMMO Committee performance totals and rehearsal hours for each musician from the previous season. That information is then collated, and the musicians who meet the voting qualifications are determined. The AMMO Committee can also verify members’ qualifications for various benefits earned by their number of performances plus rehearsal hours.

ASSESSMENTS

Each Fall, all Associates are assessed generally $1-2 a show based on the previous season's show totals.
It is imperative that we collect these assessment funds to ensure that we can retain sufficient counsel and cover organizational costs.
Outside counsel is crucial to negotiating a fair contract, and crucial to representing us when we have disputes with management.