The Intro to John's Article note: Allegro is the official magazine for New York's musicians who are members of Local 802, American Federation of Musicians.  -e.r. How do you find work in this town? That's the number one question asked by new members of Local 802. As musicians quickly discover, the union's main mission is to help you improve and sustain your work. We do have a few ways to help members find work such as our referral service but the union has no secret formula to invent work for our 10,000 members. Many younger musicians believe that they can come to New York and simply ace auditions. "I was the top player at my conservatory – of course I'll find a job," is their attitude. Open auditions do exist, but more often than not the key to work is through contractors, many of whom are 802 members. A contractor is simply someone who knows musicians. Good musicians. Musicians who they can trust. So a conductor or producer, instead of holding auditions, will ask a contractor to find musicians for a job. Allegro Editor Mikael Elsila Onward to John Miller's Words