Giving it away

I used to run a coffeehouse and art center where musicians and poets gathered to practice their new work, encourage each other, and just jam or talk. In time, I became a "clearinghouse" for connecting worthy causes with talented people who would perform for free. The musicians and I both fell for the the idea that the "exposure" was payment enough for their efforts.

You know what? All those people who were so eager to call me and ask for free talent had no problem paying their printers, sound technicians, clean-up crews, and insurance carriers. Everyone but the performers.

I realized that by finding my friends a multitude of non-paying gigs, I was working against their success, and I decided not to do that any more.

Instead, when event planners suggested that they were "supporting" the arts by giving performers exposure, I suggested to them that "the best way to support the arts is to BUY some," whether that meant buying a chapbook, CD, or painting, or hiring a musician or other performer for their events.

It took a little while to sink in. I wrote a couple of letters to local papers, pointing out that it would be a shame to have wildly talented burger flippers and checkout clerks who couldn't afford, any more, to subsidize every event that needed a performer. I suggested that everybody quit asking for handouts and start looking for sponsors to cover the cost of fostering these talents.

It worked. Several musicians who were about ready to throw in the towel on their creative endeavors finally had the financial means to keep afloat as creatives, and were validated by seeing that others placed a value on their work. 

It helped to increase the quality of performances, too. 

Why? 

Because freebies give the public no basis for evaluation. A free show can't be criticized for not being worth the money. 

If an adequate show is available for free, then it's too easy to "settle," and keep the really good stuff, that has to be paid for, from ever being seen.

This doesn't mean that creatives should never use their talents to support the causes they embrace.

But it's just as easy to collect their fee and then donate it back to the organization that hired them.

In this way, the value of the work is acknowledged, and the performer is recognized for his or her valuable contribution.

Sounds like a win-win situation all around to me!