I'm back a day early.
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It's helpful to consider the whole "art and money" question. Basically, what role do believe money should have in your artistic process?
Everybody's answer will be different, but it is something every one should consider.
Let me tell you about the day I came up with my own answer to the art/money question.
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Back when I was the ED for a small theatre, I was handling one of many thrilling duties, writing checks. We had just finished a five week run for a show I can't even recall. I was writing the check for one of the non-union actors in the show.
It was for $450, or something like that. That was her total compensation.
I had written similar checks, in similar amounts, a few times in the past. For some reason, however, this one caused an emotional response in me.
I started thinking about the hours of time this performer had invested. Rehearsals, driving to and from performances, parking her car at the performance venue, the time away from her family. For all that she was receiving compensation that came out to maybe $6 a hour. She could make more serving coffee.
Now I was the guy that had approved the budget. I knew what she was getting paid. Normally in those situations I would lean on the same rational so many of us lean on:
I'm not getting paid much myself.
I wish I could pay more but there isn't money in the budget.
Sure, we aren't paying much but she's getting exposure.
It was true. All of it.
But I was still ashamed. Ashamed that I worked in a business that could ask so much of people and then pay so little. I had my reasons. We all do. But that didn't make me feel better.
When I signed that check I came to a simple - and probably permanent - answer to my money/art question:
Money matters.
I'm not saying it matters more then the art or as much as the art. I'm not interesting getting caught up in that dumb ass debate.
I'm saying that if we are going to ask people to invest time, money and skill into anything then they deserve to be compensated fairly.
Not paid like every else gets paid . . . compensated fairly.
I signed that check and committed myself to being world class at bringing revenue to the arts. I committed myself to teaching others how they could attract money and other resources to their work.
I had my answer. Money matters. No, it wasn't worth selling your artistic soul over. But it was damn sure worth fighting for. It was worth it to build a strong company that drew in enough revenue to give as many people as possible a bit of security.
I was not going to spend my career underpaying artists (and administrators) and then blaming the system. I was going to develop revenue generating skills . . . and spend my life using them and teaching them.
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So that's my answer.
It may not be your answer. You feel completely differently and that's fine.
But you need to think about it. You need to find a relationship between art and money that brings you some peace.
Give away your skills.
Demand top dollar for them.
Find some happy medium.
The answer is up to you. Just give the question the consideration it deserves.
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