Photo by Oriol Pascual on Unsplash
Picasso is sitting in a Paris café when a fan approaches the artist and asks that he make a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso acquiesces, draws his dove, and promptly hands it back to his admirer and asks for a rather large sum of money.
The fan is flummoxed. "How can you ask for so much. It took you a minute to draw this." To which Picasso replies, "No, it took me 40 years."
At my age and level of experience as a musician in New York City, I've become more at ease with requests for specific fees for my services. I'm not hesitant at all. I will walk away when I feel I'm not earning the proper amount.
I was asked to participate in an online music project in March of 2020. The performers were asked to perform for free. The reason was to show unity. The project was an attempt to bring joy during the pandemic. It seemed cool at first, but the truth is, we weren't getting paid.
Soon after completing the first project, I was asked by the same group to be in another one. I was skeptical. Why? No payment was forthcoming. I hesitantly did the first, but I stopped giving away my services for free for any subsequent projects.
When all of this happened, it seemed as if I was the only musician asking to be paid. It was odd.
After thinking it through and talking it over with people I was close to, I became convinced I was making the right decision with my demand to get paid moving forward. I had enough of being generous. I reminded everyone I worked with that I'm a professional musician. That means I get compensated for what I do—especially when my efforts are being used in a massive promotion. Someone was going to benefit from its use; why not me?
After some back and forth behind the scenes, there was a decision not to use me for the second project. Another musician took my place.
