Listening to: nothing. Seriously. I hear a heater & the furnace.
I posted what is below to a Facebook group entitled the Sideshow Spectrum, then also to another forum entitled P.O.P. (Pissed Off Performers). This is the total of everything I posted that is worthwhile.
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| Monkeys riding dogs, from our friends at the Banana Derby |
After reading countless complaints, I looked through my notes for the book I am writing, "This Business That We Call Show," and pulled some things out of my notes that is the core idea. The actual book expounds upon these points and MUCH more. Not fun!
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| This is what happens when you do the work we do... |
Post as below:
You want to get serious about it? Good. Create a business plan. Get liability insurance. Put an entertainment lawyer on retainer. Hire an accountant(or at least get the software). Take a business class… or several! Find an apprenticeship. Get in a peer group (this forum does not count).
Then: oh, you’re a dancer? Take dance classes! A singer and/or talker? Take some elocution classes and have a voice teacher. Take some college-level acting classes to know your way around a stage. Get & stay in shape, ready for anything in an instant! Consider theatre classes, playwriting, history — you can’t break the rules until you know them.
SO on & so forth… I hope everyone gets why I am ranting —
I am sick & tired of stoopid (sic) stories from folks who choose to remain clueless about the “business” part of this Entertainment Business. Once you start expecting or demanding payment from people - audiences and promoters - for your services, you are no longer just “an artist” - you are conducting business.
Can’t be bothered with all that? Then just keep your performing as a hobby — there is NOTHING wrong with that. You want to hobo around? Living in the wind & by the skin of your teeth? That’s cool, too. But don’t go comparing yourself or criticizing the folks who ARE doing what it takes to have a business.
I launched this rant because of a couple recent things: including this kid I met at a gig last year reach out to me & ask me to teach him some acts - it turns out he had booked himself on a tour to do sideshow: and didn’t know the acts. ON TOP OF IT: the tour he booked himself on is with a promoter who still owes me money (oh, yes - there is a contract - but I am still trying to collect more than a year later).
At a recent show - my amazing fire performer in full swing - some kid steps up to the stage, getting in front of me, and when I politely, but firmly, tell her to move, she decides to inform ME that she’s worried about the performer because she doesn’t see a fire safety. I directly informed her she was currently distracting one of the fire safeties (me), and thanks, but we have it covered. a pro show doesn’t draw attention to the safety procedures...
I see some GREAT performers in my travels -- and some of the really great ones are not technically, "pro." There are plenty of reasons NOT to go pro! Being an "amateur" gives a performer a LOT more freedom!
I don’t mind if whatever you are doing in this Entertainment Business isn’t the only job that you have… LOTS of career folks in all kinds of careers work multiple jobs. NOTHING wrong with it, especially in this economy. You’re a hard worker — be proud! Being a “pro” does not mean working full time.
That said, if your other work/job is paying for what you do in this Entertainment Business - that you are not at least “breaking even” with what you put out compared with what you are being paid - then what you are doing is your HOBBY. Nothing wrong with that! Hobbyists do some really amazing things, they can innovate (because they can afford to with both time & $$), and it keeps the pros on their toes…
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| I am the Human Firework |
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