For some reason (that remains a mystery), an assignment I accepted was terminated after the first day on the job.
I thought everything had gone well. Everyone involved seemed pleased.
Then, I learned, someone with an ax to grind with my acquaintance on the job, sabotaged it.
No one bothered to give me any explanation except, "We're going in a different direction".
No one asked for our input.
The word of a stranger was believed, and a potentially viable working relationship was abruptly ended.
I gave my address to the very apologetic, but less than forthcoming contact person, who thought it only fair to compensate me for the work my acquaintance and I did complete.
After that conversation, the previously, very chatty contact person went mute.
No calls.
No emails.
Prior to the assignment I got a call every
day from the contact person.
I also got the lengthy job description in an
email.
A great deal of thought had been put into what we were tasked to
do.
It was all very detailed--minus, of course, the amount of compensation we were to receive.
I
prepared, showed up, and worked.
It's my fault, though, for being
lax about the "when" and "how" concerning compensation.
"What could go
wrong?", I figured. "I'm a caregiver, and the venue isn’t far away."
It
seemed like a perfect opportunity to get out of the house for a change.
I viewed it as a nice reprieve
from my daily routine, and not the job that it was. That was a mistake--my mistake--and one that I will not be making again.
I checked the mailbox every day for about a week-and-a-half for the partial payment that was promised. No check, or money order ever arrived.
I chalked it up as a loss, and yet another entry for an upcoming IRS Form C.
No, I didn't phone the contact person to find out what happened.
I decided I wasn't going to.
I'd been in the predicament before.
I knew what happened.
They either:
hoped that I forgot,
didn't want to pay,
kept the money,
spent the money,
thought I could afford to wait for it indefinitely,
thought that I didn't need the money,
didn't have the authority to promise it to me, or
never intended to pay me at all.
My acquaintance, who is not nearly as passive as I am, did follow through— but not with the person who was authorized. He contacted the person who was responsible.
He'd been patient, and that hadn't worked. He decided to climb higher on the chain of command. He'd come from quite a distance to do the work, and had no intention of letting it go. His persistence paid off and, as a result of his tenacity, I finally got a check, too.
When it came in the mail, it was wrapped in a blank sheet of copy paper-- and was $75.00 less than what was promised.
I found the email from the unfortunate incident yesterday, as I was clearing my inbox. There were a lot of "thank you's", and even a reminder of what color I was supposed to wear to the event.
What the honorarium would be, was the only thing that wasn't in writing. That was discussed, very sheepishly, and almost clandestinely, by phone.
The budget in no way covered all that was being required of us, but I agreed to do the work anyway.
Frankly, that's almost always the way.
It's true. You teach people how to treat you.
Some people will never stop asking for your free services. It's up to you how to mitigate that.
Others will demand a whole lot from you, for as little as possible.
They don't know that by the time you're fed up with being mistreated and devalued, they are on a long list of sly, slick people who have wanted or demanded a lot of something for nothing.
You immediately recognize, and are triggered by their demeanor, and their conversation. It’s manipulative.
They play on your good nature, willingness to help, and commitment.
They're hoping you won't realize that they're nickel and dime-ing you. They could do better. They just don't want to, but once you are on the job, they behave as if they own you.
If you didn't know better, you'd think they'd wired you a million bucks.
From the looks of the email, I was a volunteer who'd agreed to donate my time and services. From the looks of my checking account, back then, I really was a volunteer.
Why do people so greatly devalue the roles of creatives?
People want excellence, but paying excellently for what they demand seems downright offensive to them.
In
an interview conducted by comedian George Lopez, the legendary artist,
Prince said, "I think we tend not to value things we can get for free."
He was so right.
There's a reason why some people handle business as rigidly as they do. They've been screwed. Now, they're smarter.
They don't waver, or lower their standards (or fees) for anyone.
You can't speak to them directly about business.
You have to talk to a manager, an assistant, or an agent.
You can get offended if you want to, and lament how long you've known them, but that will be your problem.
If their services are too much for your wallet, they don't care.
Someone who respects what they do as legitimate work will gladly, and willingly pay what you won’t.
Serious business people have mechanisms in place to protect themselves.
They're not being arrogant or difficult at all.
They are valuing themselves, and what they do.
They're counting the cost of their participation, and they don't intend to be in the red when the job is done.
They have no time or patience for people who are trying to get over, or who treat their livelihood as if it's a hobby.
Perhaps, serious business people had a breaking point; a revelation; an "aha moment".
Perhaps they considered their abysmal history of always working, and when the work was done, having nothing to show for it.
Perhaps they said, "That's it. No more."
Perhaps they used to gladly embrace the handshake, good faith, smiling "friend" deals and favors.
Maybe, one day they realized they may as well have tattooed the word "slave" or "sucker" on their foreheads, and decided "That's it. No deposit or contract? No work."
They don't care if they're labeled “grand”, or "brand new" by the people who are always looking for a freebie.
Maybe they laugh now when they hear people say, "Oh they ain't all that!", because they now do business with deep-pocketed, serious patrons who think they're "all that" and some more.
Serious business people like having good credit, and paying their bills on time. They learned that business is what one does regularly and for profit, and maybe they got a little tired of everyone else profiting from the work they've done except themselves.
Event planners, before you get mad and start badmouthing creatives because you can no longer get them to show up for free, consider the following:
You don't know how many times they've been given empty promises, IOU's, or rubber checks.
You don't know how many times they left a job feeling exhausted--and foolish because their own funds were depleted.
You don't know how many times they had to go without, or couldn't meet their obligations because someone they trusted failed to reimburse them, or took the money and ran.
You don't know how many times they did what they were tasked to do, then waited, and waited, and waited some more for compensation that turned out to be a fraction of what it should have been.
You don't know how many times they were told to hold a check for a week, only to be told to hold it a week longer.
You don't know how many times a bank teller told them, "I'm sorry. This account is closed".
You don't know how many times the parameters of the job drastically changed or increased once they arrived.
You don't know how many times one amount was written on the front of a sealed envelope, but a considerably lesser amount was inside.
You don't know how many times they looked for the contact person-- who was a veritable pest before the work was done--but was nowhere to be found when it was over.
You have no idea how many lies, and excuses they've gotten, instead of negotiable tender.
Dear Event Planner, now you know why words like "exposure", "ministry", and "giving back" are funny.
They have been exposed. They have sunburn and frostbite from all of the exposure. They have given back. They've been robbed, too. Now, they simply want to be able to fill up their gas tanks, pay their creditors, and feed their families, like YOU do, and like everyone else does.
If you enlist people to work, remember that you have to pay them.
Budget well.
If you want them, but can't afford what they have to offer, move on. Neither of you will have lost anything. Perhaps the fee is negotiable. Ask. If not, do without the service. Break out a boom box and play CD's;
hook up your iphone to the speakers;
find an all-music station on the radio, but don't enlist the services of living, breathing human beings.
Don't make all kinds of unreasonable demands as if you're paying top dollar, enjoy the services, and then, when the job is over, think it's okay to play dumb, go mum, or missing in action. That's just low down and all kinds or evil and wrong....
And please, please, PLEASE stop thinking that ANY plate of food, or tray of snacks you give a creative person is even remotely commensurate with their time, talent and effort.
If Gordon James Ramsay, himself, didn't prepare it, and serve it on solid gold dinnerware, stop thinking you're even.
You planned the event. You know they're coming because you asked them and they said, "Yes".
They put your date on their calendar.
Saying "Yes" to you means they said "No" to someone else (who wouldn't have stiffed them).
Get those checks for the singers and musicians ready ahead of time with the same enthusiasm you get the decorations, food, your new outfit and shoes, and hairdo or haircut ready.
Take care of that business, too.
*Sigh*...If only singers and musicians could post date or repossess the millions of notes they've sung and played, for which they were never compensated.
CONTRACTS
When it comes to signing your name on any official agreement/document's dotted line:
It is a big deal.
It does matter.
It's not just a formality.
It isn't time for random interpretation.
It will be read.
It means you agree.
It does induce worry.
It's important not to ignore red flags.
It is/ will be legally binding.
It's not frivolous.
It all applies.
It can create complications.
It can put you into a bind.
It isn't standard procedure.
It does mean you're liable.
It includes items that you shouldn't ignore.
It may require a gallon of White-Out.
It reminds you that reading and comprehension is fundamental.
It does favor one party's interest.
It's not something to do hastily.
It's not a one document fits all situation.
It can be corrected/fixed/amended before you see the flaws.
I imagine there are a lot of deals that don't get done because someone messed around and utilized their reading skills.
People
don't hand you things to sign for nothing. If there was truly trust and
good faith, your signature (particularly for what you would do happily
or willingly) wouldn't be necessary.
Problems arise when what you're
expected to sign, bears no resemblance to the business at hand,
misrepresents it, or provides broad cover for everyone except you.
Ever
wonder if people read themselves what they're expecting you to endorse?
Is it an indication of what they think of you?
Why are people so
perplexed; so condescending and quick to gaslight you when you point out
blatant discrepancies, irrelevance, overreach, or dishonesty? Why is
there angst, confusion, anger, or offense when you ask seemingly simple,
necessary, common sense questions about anything that may, or will
obligate or impact you?
Why don't they think you should care about what you sign?
No matter
how harmless or friendly the environment, there's EVERYTHING to worry
about concerning a legal document you've signed, but neglected to
thoroughly vet.
You
should know the cost of your participation, particularly if there are a
myriad of last minute demands, and inconsistent communication, but
sparse, or no compensation or rewards.
It seems that those who demand
the most, and expect to be dealt with professionally, extend very little
consideration or concern for their professionalism toward others.
Some
people would never, EVER blindly accept what they expect others to
tolerate or ignore.
You'd think that people would know the parameters,
rules, and requirements of their business much better than you.
Maybe
the notion is that you're gullible, passive, agreeable, needy,
incompetent, or careless.
What
makes people think you're not going to read what they insist you sign to
see if it's RIGHT? If it isn't, (and they already KNOW it isn't) how
difficult is it to make it so, such that all parties can be comfortable
and secure going forward?
There's something very safe and secure about singing in the background. Obviously, you're not out front. There's no pressure. You may be nestled in a nice comfortable space where you can take your shoes off, and not worry about wardrobe malfunctions, bad lighting, or wires all over the floor. You're there to be a help; to be encouraging; to fill empty spaces; to push another person to be their best. Sure, it's fun, but it's work, too. It's a job you just can't be lax about. It's precise. You're a part of a team. No one has to know your name. You have one task. Sing your part and sing it correctly. All you have to do is remember, listen, think, smile, look alive, and do your very best to form a perfect, seamless blend with your fellow singers. Your part can't be weak or missing. It's not about you. You don't have to make any sudden moves. Just stay in your space. 
Most background singers are quite happy where they are. Solos are nice, but hearing that ringing when the harmony is tight is a wonderful thing. The folks I know love harmony and actually prefer the sound of their own voice blended with the voices of others. Harmony is a blessing--in music and in life. It's great to deliberately achieve and maintain it.
