(Grinstead 128 is in the inside hallway going north from the foyer to Hart Recital Hall.)
- Nickolai V Zielinski
Knob Twiddlers and Patch Cord Jockeys Local 2600
(50 mins)
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Nickolai V Zielinski
Knob Twiddlers and Patch Cord Jockeys Local 2600
Toward a Labor Union of Electronicists/Improvisors
Improvisors and experimental electronic musicians often navigate precarious working conditions, from inconsistent pay to limited visibility, while their contributions to the cultural landscape remain undervalued. This workshop invites participants to engage in a structured discussion about the feasibility, potential structure, and benefits of forming a union or cooperative network dedicated to the needs of improvisors and electronic musicians.
Moderated by Nick Zielinski (@indicative_of_drumming), the session is designed as a participatory forum: attendees will collectively explore the challenges faced by artists in experimental music, share insights about advocacy and support systems, and brainstorm strategies for collective action. The conversation will consider practical questions — from equitable pay and touring support to shared resources for promotion and education — as well as broader questions about cultural visibility and recognition in both live performance and digital spaces.
Rather than presenting a predetermined agenda, the workshop emphasizes dialogue, allowing the participants themselves to shape the discussion. The goal is to generate concrete ideas and identify shared priorities, fostering a sense of solidarity and opening the door for future collaboration.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how a union or cooperative structure might function within the improvisation and electronic music community, as well as actionable insights for advocacy, networking, and sustainable practice. While no formal organization will be created during the session, this workshop serves as a catalyst for ongoing dialogue and potential future initiatives, providing both a conceptual framework and a community space to imagine new forms of collective support.
Through guided discussion, collaborative brainstorming, and moderated reflection, this workshop positions improvisors and electronic musicians not just as individual artists, but as a community with shared interests, power, and potential.
Nick Zielinski is a percussionist, improviser, and electro-acoustic composer whose work explores the intersections of human creativity and algorithmic systems. He creates performances that blur the line between human intention and machine response. Beyond performance, Zielinski is invested in community-building and advocacy for experimental musicians, exploring ways to improve working conditions, promote equitable practices, and expand the reach of improvised and electronic music.
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