Read on Twitter
I’ve been an author for 16 years
It only occurred to me TODAY to question the following
I’ll be paid to teach writing or performing
I’ll be paid to give talks (perform) on writing or publishing
It is ASSUMED that I am never to be paid for a reading, ie performing my own work.
It only occurred to me TODAY to question the following
I’ll be paid to teach writing or performing
I’ll be paid to give talks (perform) on writing or publishing
It is ASSUMED that I am never to be paid for a reading, ie performing my own work.
It is assumed on a level so deep & basic that no one has ever so much as offered to pay me for giving a reading, with the exception of the occasional drink tickets or meal, but those are very rare.
Money is never even mentioned. And I’ve never thought twice about that until now
Money is never even mentioned. And I’ve never thought twice about that until now
It seems very odd that the act of me standing at a podium or on a screen is worth money if I am teaching others how to make fiction or lecturing on any topic at all, but the very same woman at the very same podium is not worth money if I am reading from my own work.
And if I were to pass a tip hat around, as literally every musician does when they perform, that would be considered gross and gauche and Not At All Okay by any event or venue I can think of. I wouldn’t dare.
I’m not saying I suddenly am going to demand to be paid for reading. There is a whole system that assumes publicity in exchange for performance space (ie exposure) & I actually have benefitted from that & it took a pandemic for me to question any of this
It’s more of a “huh”
It’s more of a “huh”
A lot of us are being asked to do a lot of performances for free right now & it is the worst time for most freelancers to be doing unpaid work.
Did this thread come from being treated poorly by an event that has treated my time as theirs for free? You bet.
Did this thread come from being treated poorly by an event that has treated my time as theirs for free? You bet.
It just sticks out so much right now that no one is asking me to teach, lecture, write, or even narrate books for free.
But readings are assumed to be gratis. Always. Because performance isn’t worth remuneration? I don’t know.
I can get paid more for poetry than performing tbh
But readings are assumed to be gratis. Always. Because performance isn’t worth remuneration? I don’t know.
I can get paid more for poetry than performing tbh
Yes, readings are publicity.
Yes, you benefit by getting new fans & sales. (Sometimes)
Yes, being a good reader can open big doors.
It is also entertainment & takes time & training.
Tossing readers at your event a $5 or $10 isn’t so much to ask really
Yes, you benefit by getting new fans & sales. (Sometimes)
Yes, being a good reader can open big doors.
It is also entertainment & takes time & training.
Tossing readers at your event a $5 or $10 isn’t so much to ask really
It’s just so odd that if I were teaching you to write or even teaching you how to give a reading (both of which also inspire people to buy books) I’d 100% be paid something.
But the minute I’m reading from the thing that makes me worth hiring as a teacher, that’s for exposure.
But the minute I’m reading from the thing that makes me worth hiring as a teacher, that’s for exposure.
I guess part of the reason I’m thinking so hard about this is that normally I don’t mind reading for free at a convention.
The convention is providing a social/professional opportunity where I can meet with people I wouldn’t ordinarily see & make connections.
But that’s gone
The convention is providing a social/professional opportunity where I can meet with people I wouldn’t ordinarily see & make connections.
But that’s gone
Cons are still happening, but they’re virtual. There is no barcon, no mingling, no dealers room, no signings, no real connections or fun memories to be made.
And that’s ok, it’s rough right now.
But unless it’s a huge event, I’m unlikely to get more “exposure” than on Twitter
And that’s ok, it’s rough right now.
But unless it’s a huge event, I’m unlikely to get more “exposure” than on Twitter
And my time is still considered to be worth nothing despite the beneficial structure of events now being heavily offloaded to people who can bring their own audience.
But if I read at a school, it would be worth something!
So you can see how it’s confusing.
But if I read at a school, it would be worth something!
So you can see how it’s confusing.
Thank you for coming to my unpaid TED talk stemming from frustration at the entitlement of a particular group to my time and labor without even manners on their part in return.
Also, a conversation with a musician that basically went
“I don’t do unpaid performances anymore.”
Me: “lol I will literally never be paid for a performance. Wait...huh.”
“I don’t do unpaid performances anymore.”
Me: “lol I will literally never be paid for a performance. Wait...huh.”
