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This one time, a white composer colleague of mine told me that I should get a job at the performance library since I wasn’t happy with my restaurant job. This library job paid $12/hr with 8 hours a week.
I told them that I couldn’t afford that kind of pay cut. (Truly, who can live on $96 pretax??) I told them I have rent and bills to pay, among other things. “Why doesn’t your family just pay rent for you so you can focus on composing and networking” they asked me.
Apparently the concept of coming from a low income family where I have to support myself was completely foreign to them. This colleague also has family that will pay for expensive festivals and other pay-to-play opportunities.
Among other comments:
“I wouldn’t take a gig just to pay the bills. What about artistic integrity?”
“I just feel like people should have support systems in case they aren’t getting gigs.”
Really??? Really??
“I wouldn’t take a gig just to pay the bills. What about artistic integrity?”
“I just feel like people should have support systems in case they aren’t getting gigs.”
Really??? Really??
It’s only now, after having graduated, that I realize just how toxic this was (I always knew how toxic it was, just not the extent).
I’m sick of being around people who don’t understand that not everyone in the industry comes from money. I would complain about how tired I was from working 35 hours plus school plus an internship plus tending to my everyday life.
“I just don’t see why anyone would work outside the field” and “If I can’t teach/compose/gig then I just won’t work. I’m above that.”
EXCUSE ME?
EXCUSE ME?
I can’t help but think how much more practice and writing I could have done if I didn’t have to work a full time serving job... but that’s not my reality. Working or not working isn’t a choice.
I’ve had to turn down networking opportunities, concert opportunities, and (not high enough) paying gigs in favor of a shift at the restaurant to make ends meet.
So... stop saying that people should just “focus on their art.” It’s classist.
And remarkably, I’ve never had a non BIPOC musician tell me this. Every single person who has come up with weird “I don’t have to work” and “Only take jobs that make you feel good” have been white.
Normalize having a day job.
(And honestly, I think through this pandemic we have seen the importance of diversifying your income streams. Also, you can still be engaged in your community by taking adjacent jobs. Arts admin? Photography for musicians? Marketing? Etc.)
(And honestly, I think through this pandemic we have seen the importance of diversifying your income streams. Also, you can still be engaged in your community by taking adjacent jobs. Arts admin? Photography for musicians? Marketing? Etc.)
Normalize having a day job.
Stop being classist.
