I’m A Professional Too: Session 3 — Value Your Work
Session Summary
On April 25, 2021, CAREspaces and SNS Arts Development Consultancy co-curated and co-hosted the third session of their five-part event series “I’m a Professional Too Session 3: Value Your Work” — a candid conversation which essayed what creative, monetary, and intrinsic value means to all stakeholders in the Indian arts space as well as the fundamentals of the arts economies of the Carnatic music and Bharathanatyam dance communities as they currently exist.
This session highlighted gaps in the system as it exists today and revealed some of the action items some stakeholders are doing to ensure apt payment and valuation of the artistes and art form as a whole. As a community, we are all ardent fans and supporters of the Indian performing arts — this session helped us all be better consumers as well.
CAREspaces is a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit that aims to provide tangible measures for more conscientious and ethical workspaces in the Indian arts communities through resources for healing, learning, and accountability. SNS Arts Development Consultancy is a company that provides strategic guidance and arts management among many other resources for artistes. Together, CAREspace and SNS aim to start discussions on ethical professional practices within the Indian arts through their campaign and five-part series, #imaprofessionaltoo.
Part 1: When Did You Make This A Profession?
Each panelist’s path towards performing the arts full time. All professionals in their own right, both within and outside of the Indian arts space.
Stories bound by art. Instruments become family — like spirits we grow up with turning into human parts of our family.
The community is so connected, in various ways. It became a huge part of the way I grew up.
We didn’t have access the way we do now to see and get exposure to the art form.
I had never considered music as a career…and within the course of a few months, I decided [Berkley] that’s where I was going to go.
I always value financial independence…and started confusing passion and profession… I wanted to be in the arts, but knew performing was not my strength…I wanted to bring people together — build the art…the idea of starting a consultancy is that I’m available to anyone from anywhere to help build our community.
Part 2: Current Pay Structures As They Exist
Varied payment structures and monetization of art. A deep dive into the revenue streams that artists may have today. As a community, we don’t have robust arts economies in place yet. There is still a need to ask “Why aren’t you getting paid?” Geography sadly plays a role in whatever standards do exist.
#artforfee
Given that we’re all handling an individual role [at Berkley Indian Ensemble], we all actually split the payment evenly…there are still complexities we are trying to iron out for those from international background…we do our best to get students paid…we try our best to make it cleaner with every show we do.
Even without paying anyone, there’s a huge amount of money you need to self-produce your projects…the first resource I thought of was grants. As a new company, there aren’t that many grants available!
Dancers didn’t get paid. That wasn’t a thing. The idea of payment was not a common conversation…I still would find the money to pay the dancers something.
Make sure you pay yourself!
…the virtual performing platform brings about the need to (better) systematize this ecosystem because of the windows of opportunities being equally available another one takes that time-slot…
Avenues like Twitch and YouTube have been playing a big role for artists, especially western producers and musicians for money. Do you think there is an equivalent for carnatic musicians and dancers?
You have to pay for a prime time slot in a sabha…the sabha sees value in the artist…the artist has to pay…for it all…I don’t think sabhas are a part of the sustainable future.
Sponsors want full auditoriums.
Multiple avenues for funding exist, but they are not consistent.
When my name is on the program, there is a set number of people who will come to see me, the more that grows and gets built, the more I get built…you can sense that you have a certain levrage when it happens.
There is a certain [financial] comfort I have through a job that gives me regular payments — I don’t feel compelled to take on every opportunity that comes through. On the other side I’m also cautious of where I stand today — my ability to negotiate, who my peers are, the going rate etc…I want to undersell myself because the ‘x’ amount difference doesn’t matter to me much, but the opportunity does.
You’re deflating the rate if you don’t accept the going rate…it’s illegal!!!
There are some ‘rich’ dancers who dance for free, and even recommend people who will be willing to do. This sort of breaks the market for other dancers…
Part 3: How The System Has Conditioned Us To Value Art
Pain points within the current structure of how compensation and art are valued in our community.
Today’s artistes need to have a profession to set them up at least for the first 5 years of their career.
I still want to be friends with somebody even if we’re not playing a concert together.
Sometimes we think we shouldn’t tell stakeholders the costs involved.
Ticketing can help us acknowledge the value of the art.
The Chennai Brand — 100% agree with you…I tell artists in the US the same thing. It also helps you not to make decisions that will hurt your soul.
Being a Mridangam player outside of Chennai; I do not understand why is the role of ‘accompanying’ artist considered as an extra; how to create value for yourself when the role is itself increasingly considered secondary while also providing the role?
Part 4: How The Panelists Value Their Work
Non-negotiables the panelists came up with for themselves.
Pay everyone equally — yourself included!
…applies to professional job too. you realize how valuable your time is to others. then one could monetize.
Part 5: Potential Solutions
The US performance tour industry and future solutions to ensure apt payment for all stakeholders in this community.
Arts for arts sake. I don’t do performances for free anymore. Humanize it by talking about it.
CCRT, Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship are a few grants that’s available in India — more so for folks who pursue research than performers.
General Takeaways
- Understand the building blocks of the arts economies that run this space.
- Evaluate the tradeoff between exposure/reputation versus intrinsic monetary value of your art.
- Assess and value your work and subsequently negotiate apt compensation.
- A career in the arts was a goal early on for all panelists.
- Its okay to do something for free, but it should be your choice. Be aware of your privilege every time you’re performing for free.
- Whether you’re “part-time” or “full-time” you should be paid you are considered a professional
- It’s not part time — it’s dual career
- You don’t need to limit yourself to one specific interest and feel obliged to stick to it.
- Always ensure your happiness quotient is met — ‘Is this fair to myself and my audience? ‘Can I still succeed?
- Be strategic and conscious on where how you’re performing.
- Learn from people who are ‘doing it right’ in your view.
- Building value is directly associated with audience development.
- It doesn’t matter what levels of expertise or degrees you have. You want to share the space with someone you connect with. It’s about personal relationships.
Kudos for having such a great conversation bringing to the surface learnings and pain points from the space which never get addressed!
STAY TUNED FOR OUR NEXT LIVE EVENT!
Now that you’ve understood the building blocks of arts economies that run this space, it’s time to learn how to draw boundaries.
“Draw Your Boundaries” is the next session of “I’m A Professional Too,” which has been postponed until further notice, in light of the current COVID-19 public health crisis in India. While we wait for the most sensitive and appropriate time to have our next session, we ask that you stay in touch with us and stay tuned to our socials for more information soon!
