Thread: Being paid when other performers aren't: WWBD?

I think I probably already know the answer to this, but would still love the combined wisdom & advice of bhuz!

I've been approached by a local not-for-profit arts organisation to dance at a forthcoming event that they are organising. The event is mixed - the other performers will be spoken word, musicians, comedy. Everyone is doing 5-10 min slots. They have agreed to pay me (just over half my usual fee) but have asked me not to mention this to the other performers as everyone else is performing for free.

I don't feel comfortable with this (especially as I know one of the other performers personally) both in terms of performers not being offered payment and also the 'not mentioning' issue. I am, apparently, the only person approached who asked to be paid. I could do the gig and 'just not mention it', but if someone asked me directly whether I was being paid, I wouldn't lie about it.

Other complicating factors:
- I live in a small town where the arts scene is pretty small and I don't particularly want to come across as 'thinking I'm better'
- I live in a small town where the arts scene is pretty small and I want to support an organisation that is trying to get off its feet and liven things up locally (and am therefore happy to perform for the lower fee).
- I have taken a break from performing for the last 12 months due to family reasons, but am ready to start up again - local gigs are ideal.

I am in two minds as to whether to take this gig or not - WWBD?

If you want to dance at the event but feel that it is only worth it to be paid, then do it.
It is not your responsibility to make sure the other performers are paid. They may have their own reasons for donating their time.

Ditto pp - don't worry about the other performers, they could have asked to be paid as well!

My first thought is that it is better than the opposite scenario (everyone getting paid *but* you). When the belly dancer is the one getting paid, it is a good day indeed!

I would take the gig. You are supporting the arts organization by taking a lower fee.

My concern would be not letting people know I was getting paid. You don't need to announce it, but if asked? Well, like you I would not lie. I have a larger issue with employers telling workers they cannot talk about wages/money (even cool non-profit bosses, in any industry).

I don't think you would be perceived as thinking you are "better than" anyone, but if it comes up it might be a big lesson to the other performers to *ask* next time.

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

If you want to dance at the event but feel that it is only worth it to be paid, then do it.
It is not your responsibility to make sure the other performers are paid. They may have their own reasons for donating their time.

I agree with this as well. There's nothing elitist or snobby about treating your business like...y'know, a business.

Absolutely! When I was a member of a folk troupe, we were the only paid dancers at several not-for-profit events. OUr troupe directors always used a contract, and always got paid. Once in a while, we'd do a charity for free, but that was not the norm.

If the fact that you got paid gets out, simply explain that you asked for less than your usual fee, because that’s what you do for charities, and they agreed to it…and you’d assumed that other dancers had asked for whatever they usually charge for charity events.

I had one small event where I had to get over feeling like a diva because I knew what I was asking for was well below what we all deserved. Sometimes you have to explain why you’re demanding things and hope other dancers learn from your example. I felt like a diva telling the dancers who’d agreed to the gig before me that they seriously had to contact the store (Lululemon) and demand some sort of compensation for all of us before I was on board. If the store was going to pay for wine, cheese, and fruits for the social event they could sure as heck pay for us...I have no clue if the cheer team before us was paid.

(I settled for being paid in sports bras, which I needed at the time but was, needless to say, below what I usually charged…but I’d mainly agreed to be there to support a little dancer sister and I was proud of her corralling the others and getting them to go back and say “We’ve thought about it, we know what we agreed to..whe know other dance4rs in the past have agreed to that… but we can’t do it. We will need compensation” because that couldn’t have been easy for them at that stage of just wanting to be out there and dancing in public.)

When I got there and found out that the other dancers were in the upper half of the store, at tiny tables, putting on make-up and stuff in full-sight of the remaining customers and staff…I again had to be diva and explain that we really did need a private place to get ready…that the allure of a dancer is somewhat lost if you get to watch her put together her face while wearing her street clothing. (Id come from 6 hours of workshops and was less than fresh. I was ready to become unrecognizable, but not ready to show people what it takes to make me lovely. That’s over share.

I know some of the other dancers who were there now hesitate to ask me to do certain events with them now, but they are events below my minimum rate/standards so no great loss. I am happy knowing that my little dance sister does know to ask for more.

I agree that it is not your responsibility that others also get paid, and frankly you don't know if that is actually true since nobody is allowed to discuss it. Perhaps some people are getting paid and others aren't and all at different rates, you just don't know.

Thanks all - your insights have, as I hoped, help me to come to a decision. I'm going to take the gig, but am not going to lie - will make that clear to the organiser.

Thanks again!

When asked directly by someone who you don't want to lie to but don't want to alienate either, why not try a well rehearsed response like "I negotiated for a very modest honorarium that includes stuff like having my name on the promo materials and whatnot". That way you're not explicitly commenting on a monetary compensation (although honorarium does imply that) and you're also including the standard stuff that everyone is probably getting like having their name on the posters.