Who's still not paying featured readers?!!
Who's still booking poets and not paying them? I mean, really, are there organizers out there who think features are coming in from out-of-town to perform for free? Without even an explanation? This is actually happening?! Really?
Typically I don't make a fuss over money about most gigs because I know that the people asking are going to pay something or I know them or they've already intimated in the offer that they will be paying X for my appearance. But I fear I'm going to have to start asking about this every time, even if the money is minimal or non-existent. I've just go to know if I'm going to be driving out of town to perform in the middle of weeknights with no expectation of money. It's one thing if I agree to something like that (and sometimes I do), but if someone doesn't bother to point that out before, during, or respond to questions after, that's a problem.
I'm not pulling the superstar card here. I'm not a superstar. But I'm also not typically free. I don't care if the gig is in my own city; almost every reading I've featured at in town has paid something, and we're talking COLUMBUS here. I can get from one side of town to the other in ten minutes if I do the speed limit. They have done this whether they had 100 people or 10 people. You always pay the feature. The concept that poetry should be free when music, painting, theater, dance and film is not needs to stop. You are not doing anyone any favors. I'm not talking festivals here, where free performances there directly translate into free press or advertising for you or your poetry night.
Always pay the feature something or, if you're the feature, always ask if the gig pays before you show up. It might not be what they're/you're worth, but to not pay is worse than poor form; it's debilitating. See, if you don't pay me, then I can't in good conscience tell anyone else to feature there, or suggest that they accept your offer to feature there, or communicate anything but negativity about your show. The poetry grapevine is fast and it is fierce. Don't hurt your rep, your reading, yoru art or your city by being unprofessional, even if you're not down with all of that "corporate B.S." Paying a feature gas money is not "corporate". It's common sense. To do features, I have to take time off of work to travel. I have to use gas. I have to use personal time otherwise spent on any number of things I am responsible for. If you don't make a gesture to honor those sacrifices with your features, then you will not like the gestures you receive in turn.
No one need comment that their poetry night pays. I assume all nights pay that ask people to come feature. This isn't a survey. If you DON'T pay features, however, I'd LOVE to hear from you why you think this is okay. It would also be helpful to other poets reading this so that they can decide whether or not they want to deal with that.
Typically I don't make a fuss over money about most gigs because I know that the people asking are going to pay something or I know them or they've already intimated in the offer that they will be paying X for my appearance. But I fear I'm going to have to start asking about this every time, even if the money is minimal or non-existent. I've just go to know if I'm going to be driving out of town to perform in the middle of weeknights with no expectation of money. It's one thing if I agree to something like that (and sometimes I do), but if someone doesn't bother to point that out before, during, or respond to questions after, that's a problem.
I'm not pulling the superstar card here. I'm not a superstar. But I'm also not typically free. I don't care if the gig is in my own city; almost every reading I've featured at in town has paid something, and we're talking COLUMBUS here. I can get from one side of town to the other in ten minutes if I do the speed limit. They have done this whether they had 100 people or 10 people. You always pay the feature. The concept that poetry should be free when music, painting, theater, dance and film is not needs to stop. You are not doing anyone any favors. I'm not talking festivals here, where free performances there directly translate into free press or advertising for you or your poetry night.
Always pay the feature something or, if you're the feature, always ask if the gig pays before you show up. It might not be what they're/you're worth, but to not pay is worse than poor form; it's debilitating. See, if you don't pay me, then I can't in good conscience tell anyone else to feature there, or suggest that they accept your offer to feature there, or communicate anything but negativity about your show. The poetry grapevine is fast and it is fierce. Don't hurt your rep, your reading, yoru art or your city by being unprofessional, even if you're not down with all of that "corporate B.S." Paying a feature gas money is not "corporate". It's common sense. To do features, I have to take time off of work to travel. I have to use gas. I have to use personal time otherwise spent on any number of things I am responsible for. If you don't make a gesture to honor those sacrifices with your features, then you will not like the gestures you receive in turn.
No one need comment that their poetry night pays. I assume all nights pay that ask people to come feature. This isn't a survey. If you DON'T pay features, however, I'd LOVE to hear from you why you think this is okay. It would also be helpful to other poets reading this so that they can decide whether or not they want to deal with that.