In this second in a series of articles, essentially answering, "why do (or don't) you do that?" we address another sad assumption. Treating your performers like human beings.
It's very common to assume many things about the work we do. Here are a few we have to challenge often:
A) You must love what you do so it's not really work
B) This comes very easy to you so you it's not really work
C) You must enjoy your work so you don't need to make much from it - surely you have a "paying the bills job."
D) You must appreciate the work so anything before or after this must be your free time.
See a common thread?
Yes, loving what you do and doing what you love makes for a better quality of life. However, if what you love and what you do are your full time job, "every dog has its fleas."
Those that aren't achieving their goals or dreams or have no plan for their lives will be intimidated, confronted or just bothered by you succeeding by your own definition. I paraphrase Denzel Washington, "...it irritates their demons."
And then there are the related assumptions such as the above, but also that any good results must be the result of very little effort. No prep, driving, costuming, materials, equipment, training, marketing, advertising, taxes, insurance...everyone who can charge you for something WILL.
A wise man said, "you can have good, fast or cheap. You can't have all 3. Pick 2."
If it's good and fast, it won't be cheap.
If it's good and cheap, it won't be fast.
If it's fast and cheap, it won't be good.
Most of our customers want good or fast and we hope they understand that things cost what they cost. We try to provide no-fine-print pricing with no pressure - because we are blessedly busy. But (spoiler alert!) performers need to eat, sleep, and have decent working conditions. We insinuate, communicate and expect that too.
So the next time you think "boy, that (whatever) performer (or artist) must be tired/hot/hungry/thirsty/ready to go home" YOU'RE RIGHT! Please offer to support their success or at the very least DON'T bring it up.
Happy Holidays!