Interesting Takes....

[geminiwench]

Music is a commodity
in our capitalist system.

But it is interesting when musicians themselves
are also treated that way.

Our Development Department wants to hold a "Thank You" party
for their major donors...
an event that hasn't taken place since 2019.

The woman who handles these accounts/relationships
wants live music
(of course)
and since I book the musicians for our television series,
I'm helping her secure that.

But the way she talks about
people
as targets, commodities, and set dressings,
raises all my hackles.

Of course everyone wants everything
as cheap as possible.

Budgets demand such things - I get it.

But as she clarifies that the musician doesn't need to be paid
standard fees because
"it isn't a real concert"
and yet -

the musician has to... BE a musician,
bring their instruments,
bring their P.A.
dress up - set up
and perform professionally
and with skill -
- for an audience
at a scheduled time...

So I am holding back asking,
"Then, what IS a concert?"

I wonder more about how she organizes
the value of other people
(and their time)
in her mind.