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The Musicians’ Answering Service Newsletter, February 1997 ‘The Service That Does As It’s Told’
173 High Street Dorking Surrey
RH4 1AD Diary Service: 01306
880669 Accounts: 10306 880404 Fax: 01306 888041
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M A S Staffing We are pleased to welcome
Stuart to our team at MAS. Stuart gained a music degree whilst studying at
Exeter University and is an accomplished saxophonist. If you haven't already
spoken to Stuart I am sure you will be delighted when you do. To recap, staff coverage
and names are as follows : Mon - Fri Sam
- Midnight 3 Operators on at any
given time Sat 6c Sun Sam
- Midnight 2 Operators on at any
given time Isobel (Manager)
MAS Dedicated Fax Line - 01306 888041 I here are still some
people who are using our old fax line number instead of the new dedicated
line for \IAS. Please help us to look after you. The new number gets to the
heart of MAS, please use it. We Continue To Grow We are pleased to announce
that we have now in excess of 670 clients thanks to all your recommendations.
We are committed to ensuring your continued support with our programme of service improvements and developments,
increased staffing levels and telephone system enhancements. On The Move! Due to the continued
expansion of the diary service and the need to increase staffing levels this
year we have made a decision to move to larger premises. The mo will take
place on 1st November this year but should be stainless as far as you, our
valued clients, are concerned. The move will allow us to
implement new and exciting developments within the Company that have been on
the drawing board for some time. The exact venue will be announced nearer the
time. Please be assured there will be no changes to telephone numbers or fax
numbers. It is simply the postal address that will alter. New Special Offer to College Leavers A new and dynamic offer to students
in their last year of college or within two years of leaving college who are
intending to pursue an orchestral career. MAS are offering any young aspiring
orchestral musician:
Call
Richard Smith or Isobel Collins on 01306 550669 for an information pack. CV Listing Re warned the latest edition
of our much talked about CV reference manual is tube published later this
year. If you wish to be included in the listing or update your CV from a
previous listing, you will need to hurry and let us have your CV's now. This manual is becoming
more and more useful to fixers as time goes on. Consider very carefully
whether this service could be appropriate for you. If you have any doubts
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 II' IS FREE! A Little Prejudice Towards Women As them is a lot of
prejudice against women in the profession we thought we would create a little
for women to help balance the hooks. It is now the policy here at MAS to give
a free quarter to any of our female clients about to have a baby. If you are
about to have a baby, let us know - we will give you
a free quarter while you get over it - does it really only take three
months?! Any Ideas? Have you got any
interesting news or ideas you think may be of interest to our clients? If so
please write in to 'The Editor", MAS Newsletter, 173 High Street, Dorking. Surrey RH4 IAD. We cannot guarantee if or
when your contributions will appear but we do guarantee to read them all and
include those that we are able. Please note The Editor's decision is final.
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`Wanted! More Promises For Auction! An
'Auction of Promises' will be held early nn 1997 to
raise money for the Clarence Aduo Trust Fund.
Examples of pmmises which might be donated for
auction are:
Any
promises you make will then be auctioned during an evening (date and venue to
be decided) where as many 'bidders" as possible bid for the services and
items offered. If you feel able to donate a promise (of any description)
please write or phone Jo Hensel, 59 Mayfield Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 5RH 0181 523 5328 with details
of the exact nature of your pledge and a contact address and telephone
number. You will be sent details of the auction nearer the event. Please pass on this information to anyone who you think may have a promise to offer' 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. Dorking may seem the other end of the
universe but it is 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 850669
to arrange the date. You will not be disappointed I assure you. We really
enjoy meeting the faces behind the voices. Mobile News FREE
Orange ('hones, FREE Accessory Packs, FREI: Couriered Delivery. See the FREE
leaflet enclosed. If you are not .sum whether to 'get mobile' or not ring PVC
who will advise you of the least expensive route to your mobile requirements.
Their strict policy is that honesty comes before sales. Contact
PNIC on telephone number 01306 790077 Financial Tips I Need a Mortgage and I am a
Self-Employed Musician! With some
lenders projecting property price increases of 16% during 1997, and the
possible end to negative equity by the end of 1998, there has been a
considerable amount of renewed interest in house purchase. Robert Turrell has already seen the re-emergence of 'gazumping’ property prices increase during the conveyancing period. With
interest rates still at long term lows, now is an excellent time to lock into
a fixed rate mortgage as interest rates are expected to increase during the
next few years. As
a self-employed musician, most lenders will only offer you a mortgage
equivalent to the average of your last three wean N EF income. That is the
income you are taxed on, NOT your total fees received. If your accountant is
doing what he is paid for, your taxable income will be very low. However,
this causes problems when you need a mortgage. 'I
he greater the deposit you have, the core options you will have available. It
is not all doom and gloom as there are a number of lenders, including High
Street Banks and Building Societies that can be more flexible and work on
affordability as opposed to a percentage of net income. These mortgages are
not available direct to the general public, but only through applications
introduced through professional financial planners. Grime
Blair Financial Planning I.td, under the direction
of Robert Turrell, looks after in excess of 500
musicians, many of whom have had their mortgages placed by Robert. Further
information can be obtained by telephoning 01732 793012. Tax Tips - Self Assessment - Further Updates SELF
ASSESSMENT : You should now have received
notification of, and paid the first self-assessment payment on account in
respect of 199.5/97. If you have not yet received a statement of account, you
should contact your accountant urgently as, in most cases this should have
been issued in November or December 19%. For late payers, interest is
chargeable from 31st January 1997. The most marked difference under the new
rules is that there will be a surcharge on late payment of tax outstanding
after the fixed filing date. The surcharge will be applied in stages: 5% of the tax unpaid 28 days
after the appropriate due date A further 5% surcharge of any
tax remaining unpaid six months after the filing date. Clearly;
if you have not made full payment this should he attended to without delay!
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TAX PLANNING : As
the end of the tax year is approaching, care should be taken to ensure that
one is achieving maximum efficiency in respect of your tax affairs. Principal
areas that should be reviewed are:
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