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Service Newsletter
August 1996 For Fixers &
Orchestral Managers 173 High Street Dorking Surrey RH4 1AD Diary Service: 01306 880669 Accounts: 01306 880404 Fax: 01306 888041 * *
* * *
* The Service That Does
As It’s Told MAS
Staffing We are pleased to welcome Celia to the team who started
at the beginning of June replacing Karen who left us at the end of May. Celia
is a multi-talented musician encompassing the violin, viola, saxophone and
piano. She gained a B.A. honours combined studies in Music, Law, and Business
Administration. You probably have spoken to her already, hut if you haven't I
am sure you will be delighted when you do. To recap: Staff coverage and names are as follows: Mon - Fri 8
am - Midnight 3 Operators on
at any given time Sat & Sun 8
am - Midnight 2 Operators on
at any given time Current staffing is as follows:- Isobel
- Manager Alison Helen Ann Louise Celia Madeleine Danielle Rachel Gill New MAS Dedicated Fax Line More and more Clients are updating their diaries by fax
and fixers booking in the same way. To support this trend we have installed a
fax machine dedicated to MAS. The new number is 01306-888041 Please change
your pre-programmed buttons etc to accommodate this new number as faxes
arriving on this machine are directly accessed by the diary staff. Please
help us to help you. |
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CV Listing Be warned, a C.V. Listing update is going out to all the
fixers and orchestral managers mid September. If you wish to be included in
the listing or update your C.V. from a previous listing the copy deadline is
the 7th September so hurry up and let us have your C.V.s
now. If you are not sure whether this service is appropriate
for you please give me a ring. I am very happy to talk it through with you.
Remember it is not just applicable to people new to the Diary Service or new
to the freelance world. We have very many established players included and
what is more IT IS FREE. New Telephone System After some eight years of hard labour our original
telephone system has finally bitten the dust and we have now invested in a
new all singing and dancing digital system that should have noticeably better
speech paths and most certainly have many improved facilities that will help
to keep you in touch even more efficiently than ever. Amongst the new
features are digital headsets for the staff that, if nothing else, will stop
them getting a crick in the neck and leave both their hands free to take
diary details. New Fees from December 1996 It is now three years since we increased fees to our
clients. Our sensitivity to the difficulties a lot of musicians have had,
made us find every way we could to avoid increasing fees during that time.
However inflation and steadily rising costs at the sharp end leave us no
alternative this year but to make a small increase Inflation alone has risen
nearly 10% since 1993 nevertheless we are proposing to pass on only a
proportion of that increase by way of an extra fi
per quarter (plus VAT sadly). This makes the fees still only £95 + VAT per
quarter (about f 1.00 per day). The new fees will apply to all new clients
from Sept 1st 1996 however existing clients will not bear the increase until
December. I feel sure you will understand the need and trust you will
continue to support the diary service that supports you. Please Come And Visit Don't be shy - come and say hello. It is great for us to
meet in person the clients we usually only talk to on the phone. Docking may
seem the other end of the universe but is it only 44 minutes away from
Waterloo or Victoria or about the same in the car from central London. If we
know you are coming we will do you proud with wine and food in abundance. Please contact me on 01306 880669 to arrange the date.
You will not be disappointed I assure you. We really enjoy meeting the faces
behind the voices. |
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Mobile News You are all, no doubt aware of the dynamic discounts
and free accessories with Orange that PMC are now offering to the music
profession. See the enclosed leaflet for details of their latest
projects, services and products. PMC will advise you of the least expensive
route to your mobile requirements. Their strict policy is that honesty comes
before sales. Contact PMC on Tel No. 01306 740077 Bulletin Board Lori Bannister (Viola) After a road accident and being
unable to play for two years, Lori Bannister has now made a full recovery and
is available for work through the diary. Andrew Bentley has moved Lisa Evans has moved Richard Taylor has moved From June 26 '96 John
Ludlow & Marilyn Taylor will
have a new address Reminder Please don't hesitate to contact us if there is
anything you required listed on our Bulletin Board. Such things as
instruments for sale, change of telephone number, lost instruments or any
other information that you may feel would be of interest or useful to our
members or to the fixers. |
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Financial Tips – Performing Arts Pension
Scheme The Performing Arts Pension Scheme is now in it's third year. There is not a single member of the scheme
whose notional fund value is less that the premiums invested. Indeed, all
members have notional fund values far greater than the premiums paid. This is
because it is a group pension scheme that attracts lower charges. Further
information and personalised quotations can be obtained from Graeme Blair
Financial Planning on 01732 743092. Graeme Blair Financial Planning is
totally independent" and regulated by the Personal Investment Authority. Tax Tips – Self Assessment – Further updates The self-assessment regime is now almost upon us. The
purpose of this article is to highlight the major difference in the new
system and the major pitfalls awaiting the unwary taxpayer. The first
self-assessment returns, for the year ended 5th April 1997, will be issued in
April 1997 and must be returned to the Inland Revenue by 31st January 1998 if
the automatic £100 penalty is to be avoided. Unlike existing returns, the
self-assessment return includes a calculation of liability which the taxpayer
or his agent is expected to complete. It is possible to have the Inland
Revenue calculate the liability provided the return is made no later than
30th September following the end of the year assessment. It will be possible
to amend the return within one year of submission, provided it was originally
sent in on time and that the Inland Revenue has not started an enquiry. Payment or tax Taxpayers will normally make two payments on account on
the 31st January within the tax year and on 31st July after the end of the
tax year. As all self-employed taxpayers will now he assessed on a current
year basis, a significant number will have to pay estimated amounts on 31st
January and 31st July. A final payment will then be made at the time the
self-assessment return is sent. The Inland Revenue have stated that they
intend issuing a taxpayer with a statement, similar to a credit card
statement, showing tax liabilities including interest and penalties, less any
payments made, leaving the balance due. Interest and
penalties There is a range of penalties which are intended to
encourage compliance. These include interest on all late payments, a fixed
surcharge on late payments of tax due with a return, a fixed penalty for late
returns and a variable penalty for incorrect returns. Self-assessment was
heralded as a government initiative reducing red tape with the aim of cutting
down the burdens placed on small business! For further information call: Mike Harding Harding Whiteman 36 Rose Hill. Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3EU Tel: 0181 641 0102 Fax: 0181 641 4002 |