File puptcrit/puptcrit.0709, message 146


From: "Kismet" <kismet-AT-bigpond.net.au>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:29:28 +1000
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Artsts and Money


Id have to agree with Mathieu, you have to lose the poverty mentality to 
survive as an artist. How many times have you looked at the work or the 
resume of some one well paid and thought "thats crap!" Its because they have 
shaken off the poverty mentality and put a real value on their work that 
they wont comprimise on regardless of the client. Thats right...even poor 
arts organisations/schools/shopping centres need to be taught, by the 
artist, what the real value of the work is. I use a lot of contra deals for 
clients who are economically disadvantaged and that is often generous to a 
fault but I insist that my invoice reflects the real value of my 
work......and do you know the only ones who complain are the ones who 
wouldnt appreciate my work if it was free! Every one else goes away 
extremely happy because they discover that as part of the package I am very 
generous with my time, passion and extensive resources. Dont go casting 
pearls at the feet of swine.

D.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mathieu René" <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:14 PM
Subject: [Puptcrit] Artsts and Money


> Money is not evil, it is a tool.
>
> One of the best tools available today to improve our overal condition and
> existence without having to haul goods on our backs and barter all the 
> time.
> Let's stop feeling guilty about "asking too much", or "having too much".
> It's what we decide to do with it that matters.
>
> First of all, let's stop begging. No begging for a job, for an 
> opportunity.
> It just annoys people and kills your appeal.
> Let's start offering our services confidently, without the fear of being
> rejected. It's no pressure, it's not personal.
> Let's start asking for the right price, the right contracts, the right
> opportunities to better contribute to the world.
> I'd be a catastrophic Doctor, yet my creatures can bring comfort on the
> wings of a smile.
> I'd be a bad auto mechanic, although my puppet mechanics can give the
> appearance of life.
> I'd be a bad school teacher, yet I'm good at teaching my methods to all 
> age
> groups in schools and elsewhere as an independant contractee. What you
> choose to do matters a lot in the balance, not just to yourself.
>
> A few years ago, when I was paid more being a janitor than being a
> puppetmaker, I realised something was very wrong. Especially since I was 
> the
> on-call Janitor of a puppet company's newly built studio!
> I was a very good janitor, but hated it after a while, mostly because I 
> did
> it at night (and I'm a social person) and because of the exhaustion being
> enougyh to prevent me from working my art.
>
> If the people can't pay what you deserve for the work, find the people who
> will. Working for "everybody no matter how poor" is a stupid thing to do 
> if
> kept for too long, you are preventing yourself from being accessible to 
> all,
> because soon you're out of money and have to stop your artsy activities to
> get real work that pays real money.  Or change the kind of work, if you
> really want to do so.  If the contracts are not where you are, either
> provoke or create them, bring the customers to you, or get the contracts
> elsewhere. With nowaday's information and shipping technologies, we can 
> deal
> with pretty much everyone by staying at home, if we choose to. I prefer to
> meet people and work with them, but I still appreciate long-distance work.
> Different challenges and advantages, you see.
>
> I sound like a motivation speaker, but this is how I feel at the moment, 
> and
> I think it's here to stay and keep improving. The proof: I'm physically
> exhausted after another all-day outdoor puppet gig (a disapointing one
> because of the low attendance and very low motivation of guests) followed 
> by
> some computer work at home, followed by a movie. At this point of
> exhaustion, a few months ago, I would have a tendency to see everything as
> negative or rotten, and emphasize on the problems.  Yet at this moment, I 
> am
> seeing only opportunities and solutions, despite some circumstances which
> would, in the past, make me have a quick panic attack, just about ...now.
>
> Nope. No attack, just the nice thoughts that I had a terrific day overall,
> that tomorrow I'm going to solve more problems and carve new puppets.
>
>
>
>
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