I manage on the social media forums one group that is for PAID Burlesque Jobs. The key is PAID. Yet time and time again my cursor has to hit the ‘delete’ button next to posts who dont realise/care/give a f about the rules of posting on this group. Ultimately PAID. Seems so strange that unpaid work still persists. I mean really strange. Aside from Charity gigs why else would there be unpaid work? My plumber doesnt do unpaid work, my singing coach doesnt do unpaid work and my landlord does not accept unpaid for the rent. I will however step back, if someone can explain why a gig is free effectively.
Here is why I refuse to accept unpaid gigs (other that the charity ones) exist:
- Are you selling tickets to the show? Where is that money going? To pay the venue? Now, do they also get the bar takings? Does this mean you are not doing this for anything other than to help the venue get arses into their club. This in turn increases their profit?…right so those performers are paying for the venue’s profit margin. Right…so they perform for nothing and a 3rd party gets the money? Doesnt compute does it!? Do you get paid? Oh because you put on a show…right but the show wouldnt happen without the performers. So basically if the performers dont show, no one gets anything. So maybe they should be paid. If I am expected to work for free…why not the bar staff?! Oh they wont…seems very one sided.
- We get exposure? Really?! Are there going to be images that are worthy of using for publicity? I mean really. Not blurred ones. Are the stage lights that good the images will look high key? It will get my name out there will it? Really. But you knew who I was, how much are you pushing my name then? Is your show going to be that well covered by press that I will get exposure. If I need exposure more than I need payment why are you risking me drawing in the crowds? Surely you profit margin is important.
- So I can perform at your bigger show? You will not pay me to perform at your smaller show so you will book me for a paid job in your other show? Can I have that in writing. with a timescale? With a penalty if you dont. Oh you wont? Then…I wont either.
- Stage time – acceptable…but I would still like travel if possible. I know I need stage time to work an act but lets be fair I should still be allowed some petrol funds.
I am fed up with seeing shows put on in venues where no one on stage gets paid. That show would not exist with out the performers to enable a show to happen. It makes no sense. The downside to all this ‘free’ burlesque is no one wants to pay for it now. Sadly a lot of performers just want to perform and i cant help but wonder if this eagerness is making them vulnerable to abuse.
Think before you say yes to unpaid work. Why would someone pay you, when they havent had to before. Burlesque will be awash with unpaid performers who are expected to have spectular costumes and acts, who will pay for them…..
