From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 13:56:46 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] free shows - a different perspective


   Hmm, not that I need validation or responses, but I find it curious 
that no one responded in any way to my previous post on free shows. No 
agreement or disagreements. Maybe it got lost in some new threads. 
Personally, I'm a bit on the fence about this, so I had hoped to spur 
further discussion on an alternate view. While I can agree with some of 
what previous posters said about exposure and such, I do see some 
reasons to do free shows on occasion. I am beginning to see more 
personal gain (though not necessarily monetary gain) in this. A limited 
amount of free shows gives to a worthy cause, gives back to the 
community, and can promote the art which I practice. Maybe some of this 
will come back to me in time, either monetarily or in a time of need, 
but that's not the main reason to do it. The reason to do it is because 
we should, or at least I feel I should, give within our abilities. We 
don't need to say "yes" to everyone, but if we say "no" to everyone, 
who will say yes to us should we need? For me it is becoming less of a 
matter of "if" I will give, and more of a matter of "how" to strike a 
balance. I know I can't always spare money, but time and talent are not 
so hard to spare.  I give money, time, and or talent to my church, my 
kid's school, my puppet guild, the P of A, other organizations I belong 
to, and so on. Why should I automatically decline a cause I would 
support, just because they have a need but a limited budget?

   At the same time, I am having a hard time with the conflict of "doing 
a show for free takes paying jobs away and/or devalues our art/service" 
and the act of donating a show or service. I no longer think that in 
all cases giving a show takes away a paying job. If there is something 
in their budget and you request it, you may get an honorarium or even 
your full fee. If there is not money in the budget, the fact is that 
they will find someone willing to donate or do without. I have long 
held the belief that charities should not tell me how and who to donate 
to via a "request" for a free show, but I am also moving away from the 
idea that other artists should determine whether or not I donate and 
how I donate (monetarily or with time/talent) to a cause I may support 
through their pressure via the idea that I may be taking away jobs. 
Where is that line? That happy medium?

   I am interested in hearing from "for profit" people who do give shows 
to "not for profit" events. Can you share how you determine what you 
will give and how you strike the balance between enough and too many? 
If you are not willing to share via the list I'd love to hear from you 
off list.

   Has anyone on this list approached a charity/cause they support and 
offered to do a free show as a fundraiser? I am seriously considering 
doing this. It is a way to support the charity/cause and if the 
fundraiser showcases my show (as the headline or only event) that would 
not be an entirely bad thing either. Certainly in that case the 
"exposure" would be a good thing. If others have done this I'd like to 
know so that if I don't do it I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I 
don't really need theories on this. I'm looking for facts. I'd like to 
know how it was done and the success of the event.

Thanks for any input.
Christopher




On Feb 26, 2009, at 1:52 PM, Christopher Hudert wrote:

> I've been reading the thread on free shows lately and I have to say I
> am of two minds on this. I agree that the "requests" are, at times, a
> bit irritating if not insulting. The temptation is to come back with a
> snappy reply (especially for me, one whose blood is made up of three
> parts: white blood cells, red blood cells, and sarcastic acid).
> However, I also think we need to keep some things in mind and in
> perspective. <clip - see previous post for full posting>

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