I Don’t Work For Free – Do You Work For Free?

I need to vent.

We, as Independent Artists, don’t like to stir the pot when it comes to our pay cheques and many are afraid to “bite the hand that feeds them” but I no longer care about that.  I’m putting this out there because I feel it needs to be said and to any FUTURE clients that are reading this please take it in context.  This blog post has been coming for close to a year now and I’ve just not had the guts to post it and put it out there.  Today, that changed. I think most working artists would/will get behind this blog post 100%.

Hi, I’m BONNIE BIG MOUTH, I’ve Got This Event Happening In May!

Probably 5 out of 10 phone calls I get for gigs are calls from people looking for “artists to volunteer time to this super important event that so and so and such and such are putting on to recognize so and so and such and such for their commitment to so and so and such and such and we can’t pay this year but so and so and such and such are doing the show and it promises to be a really good event. Can you do about 45 minutes at it?”

Let me be clear – I volunteer for TONS of stuff. I’m committed to my community and to the youth I serve in that capacity. My show pricing is always dependent on available budgets and I work hard to meet the needs of my contractors. When it’s appropriate and a cause is near and dear to my heart – I WORK FOR FREE.

But when I can’t justify doing YOUR event for FREE don’t make me feel like an asshole because I can’t/won’t/shouldn’t do your event for free.

Why Are Artists Always Forced To Defend Their Worth?

I know the answer to the question – all Arts/Artists are generally under paid, over worked, and under appreciated.  I get it.  The question is a bit more rhetorical in nature.

Everybody wants that really amazing musician or super charming host for their event, but when push comes to shove, very few want to pay for it.  Artists take years to get to a level of being able to sustain themselves and their families and that doesn’t come without great sacrifice.  I’ve already gone through the “starving artist” phase of my life when I was 20 years old and I don’t plan on going back there anytime soon.  I’ve driven across the country in vans, been ripped off, had cheques bounce, driven to shows with more performers than audience members, dealt with hecklers that “stumbled into” the comedy show, and much more.  I’ve earned the level of pay that my show asks for.  Generally speaking, I work within individual communities budgets.  I’m proud to say, I’ve NEVER lost a gig because of money – I always try and accommodate – to a point.

Once I’ve sent a quote in to an organizer I give them a day or two to review the quote and I always follow up with a phone call.  I’m always greeted with the same thing, “OK, that looks good.  We’re really happy with that number.  We’ll get you booked today.”  Or, this one if my favourite, “Are you on fucking glue?  We aren’t paying you this much.”  To be honest, I more than appreciate that type of response over no response at all.

When I have to defend myself in regards to my show cost I lay it out very simply – I’m worth every penny.  I work hard to write, perform, rehearse and prepare for YOUR event.  I don’t have a “canned show” I bring with me on the road.  If you see me a few times you’ll realize I rarely perform the same show twice.  Sure material overlaps but you won’t see me do “my act” the same way over and over and over and over again.  That’s just the way I choose to work.  I do tailor some material for your event and I think it’s important to be relevant to the people that are watching the show.  As an artist, I tailor the material and the show to meet your needs – out of respect to the audience.  I am grateful for the chance to be in front of an audience, therefore, I work hard to earn the laughs.

One Step Further – Artists Don’t Respect Themselves or Each Other Enough

I know all artists have to live, eat, pay bills, etc.  I had an interesting conversation with one of Indian Country’s Best Musicians, Billy Joe Greene, and he brings up interesting points in this regard – we need to stop undercutting each other and find a way for “the cream to rise to the top.”  Billy’s point was this, “there’s always someone out there willing to work for cheaper, but in the end, ya get what you pay for.”  I agree.  There is nothing wrong with looking for community people to play at your show, but in the end, like anything, you get what you pay for.  If your hiring Billy Joe Greene to play music at your event you’re guaranteed to get the show of a lifetime.  He’s a legend.  If you pay JOE SCHMOE half the money Billy asks for, you’ll get music at your event but you’ll probably hear Bon Jovi cover songs and JOE SCHMOE will never have to put in the time to get better, write songs and earn the credibility that someone like Billy has.  JOE SCHMOE then becomes the working artist – and that is ridiculous.

In talking with my personal comedy hero, Charlie Hill, he says the same thing, “Comedians would rather backstab each other than see the other guy get work.”  Charlie is a comedian that asks for what he’s worth and rightfully so – HE’S EARNED IT. When you have a group of Artists out there that don’t respect each other enough to “play fair” when quoting on shows and often the deciding factor on whether one lands a gig or not is money, you get the people that have earned it .  It’s hard to make a living when the guy down the street is offering “his show” for half of what you charge.

So What Are You Whining About?

I’m trying to prove a point.  Being an Artist is a tough job.  Being a self managed Artist is even tougher.  Being an Aboriginal, Self Managed Artist is even tougher yet.  We as artists need to fight for each other.  Support each other.  We need to help to educate the people that are looking to hire us.  I’m not talking about getting rich from the Art – I’m talking about sustaining ourselves as Artists.

We have to STOP NOT thinking about our futures, our kids’ educations, our retirement planning, etc. and start standing up for ourselves.  These are all things that I think about as an Independent Artist trying to make a go at it.  When forced to justify the cost of my show it nearly brings tears to my eyes.  It hurts me.  For years I did shows for free.  I’ve earned my right to get a pay cheque   And, relatively speaking, what I charge is MORE than fair compared to what others are charging relative to the quality of my the show that I’m bringing with me.

All I’m after is a good life for my kids – and that’s why I do what I do and charge what I charge.  If that makes me a bad person or a greedy Gus, so be it, I’d rather quit comedy all together than tell BONNIE BIG MOUTH about why I need hotel expenses covered when I come to her community.

Tagged as: independent artists, making a living, rant, show prices