WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS : BUSINESS

I was reminded of one of my favorite episodes of “Good Times”. 

The late John Amos, who portrayed patriarch, James Evans, did his good acting that day. 

J.J. had poured his heart into painting “ghetto life”, (Ernie Barnes’ “The Sugar Shack”) and everyone present for the unveiling loved his work, except for Mr. Hewitt, the person who’d commissioned it. He called it “sordid”, and “junk”.

“Oh no, you gon’ pay him, Bougie!”, was a funny line delivered by James, after Mr. Hewitt declared he wasn’t going to pay, but it was followed by all of the reasons why James Evans was a hero to his son, as well as all creatives that day. He understood that art making is work.

When it comes to creatives, many people get offended when they’re required to officially handle business, as opposed to handshake, good faith, friendly dealings. They renege on their own promises. They’re taken aback by a quote, deposit, or a fee, particularly if the goal was to get something for nothing. Suddenly, when something comes at a cost, what they sought, with so much urgency, flattery and enthusiasm, isn’t so appealing or desirable anymore.

What they don’t know, as they lament not being able to sucker their intended target, is that they aren’t the first to try. They don’t know that they are in a long line of friendly, forgetful deadbeats, known to pull out all of the stops for some, but lowball others. They think they’re a savior, when they’re actually the final straw. They don’t how many times the people they enlist to perform particular tasks, have been burned, ghosted, manipulated, gaslit, shortchanged, or made to wait indefinitely for minuscule pay. They don’t know how many times creatives have gone home exhausted, and empty- handed.

How do people think that creatives exist? By osmosis? On air? Courtesy of the Happy Bill-paying Fairy? It’s a mystery.

The most insulting, are those who want artists to replicate, duplicate, or mimic the work of celebrity creatives, whose services they can’t afford. 

“Can you sing it like so-and-so?”

“Can you make it look just like this?”

“Can you play it just like the record?”

Being expected to work magic and miracles, being used, cheated, or taken advantage of, by anyone, isn’t good for the self esteem, soul, pocket, purse, or bank account. It’s worse when the repeat offenders are people you actually know. 

After a while, being expected to work for free, paying to play, or not being able to pay one’s own bills on time, gets old and discouraging. It demands drastic change. It becomes necessary—no matter how uncomfortable it may be, or who’s asking—to unapologetically say, “I’d be glad to _______, but this is my livelihood. This is what I do for a living. My time is worth something.”

Sometimes, it’s even best to just say “No, thank you”, than to know that someone wants what you do, but clearly doesn’t acknowledge your worth, or value your time, experience, or skill. You will have lost nothing by declining the offer.

Unfortunately, many don’t understand why people can’t just prepare, utilize their own resources, sacrifice, show up, and work for nothing. Exposure can be valuable, and participation can be fun, but neither buys groceries, nor keep the lights on. 

There are a myriad of ways to handle financial transactions these days, so there’s simply no excuse for not setting financial agreements. While remembering, budgeting for, and prioritizing everything else that pertains to the project, event, or program, how do people forget they have to fairly, and efficiently compensate the people they hired? 

If you enlist a creative to work, make paying people on time, a vital part of your business practices, not an afterthought, or a nuisance. Don’t assume that the people you enlist are just happy to help out, don’t need the money, can afford to wait, don’t mind being devalued, or are in the habit of donating or giving away their work. 

Don’t suddenly change, or get amnesia about the parameters of the verbal or written contract when the work is done. It wasn’t a favor. It was WORK. 

Don’t treat workers like volunteers—and certainly not like pests or thieves—AFTER they’ve delivered, served, performed, or completed what you asked them to do. Remember— YOU contacted THEM for help, and they followed through. 

Consider how you’d feel on payday, if your check was short, missing, misplaced, rescinded, or forgotten. Consider the financial bind you put people in, when you don’t pay. Either do right by others, and regard them and their work, or find alternatives to achieve your goals.

James shouldn’t have had to threaten violence, in order for J.J. to get paid a paltry $200. It was good for TV, but whether Art imitates life, or life imitates Art, the schooling he gave, could use a revival. 

#TheMural