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Working for FREE?!?!?!?!?

Printed From: mbd2.com Forum
Forum Name: Entertainers Forum
Forum Discription: What are balloon entertainers talking about?
URL: http://www.mbd2.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=143
Printed Date: 13 April 2005 at 9:02am


Topic: Working for FREE?!?!?!?!?

Posted By: lukethejuggler
Subject: Working for FREE?!?!?!?!?
Date Posted: 28 September 2003 at 1:21pm

Hi all,

I recently was contacted by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation here in Columbus, Ohio, and the woman gave me this big story about how the Diabetes Foundation is a non-profit and it supports such important work and all that.

She then asked me if I would donate my time (ie, work for FREE) for their annual Diabetes walk which happened this morning. In good faith and in the mood to "give back to the community" I attended the event this morning. I was there at 8:45 in the morning and stayed until almost 11:30, juggling and goofing off, not doing balloons since I noticed they had a couple of clowns there also making balloons.

However, once I introduced myself to the clowns during a lull, I find out that the clowns were being PAID to be there!!!! Not only that, but the caricature artists was being paid too!

I feel like a total SCHMUCK for telling her I'd work for free and "just pass out business cards."

Hey, it's either one way or the other. Either EVERYONE gets paid or everyone does it for FREE.

I feel USED and frustrated, angry and resentful. I also feel that handing out cards just doesn't pay the bills in the short run. The two clowns who got paid didn't even HAVE cards to give me, cause they'd passed out their own AND got paid.

Please don't tell me how great it is that I did a benefit for a "worthy cause." EVERYTHING is a worthy cause, know what I mean? If it's not Diabetes, it's the Jerry Lewis Telethon, or the "Save the Environment" people, or a whole host of other issues. Pick your charity.

They yelled over the microphone that they were close to surpassing their goal of $375,000. and I suddenly felt like dog doo doo. "Wow, they saved another few bucks by not paying ME to be there."

I finally went up to the woman who originally booked me and told her that I had found out that she had paid other performers and that I no longer felt that I could add any more atmosphere to the event and I was leaving.

I want to send her a leeter, but actually am mad at MYSELF for not saying in the first place that I DON'T WORK FOR FREE and if they couldn't pay me then I didn't need the gig.

I know some of you are going to give me the old, "well, you never know who you are going to meet and hand a card to" routine, but I'm not able to hear that right now.

I FEEL CHEATED BY THIS ASSOCIATION!!

What are your thoughts on working for free? As for me, I'll NEVER do it again. NEVER, unless some day Diabetes affects ME or someone I love and it becomes PERSONAL.

Whew! Glad I got that off my chest. It's going to take all day and into tomorrow to get over being angry about being TAKEN by these folks.

Sigh, hope you all are having a fun day.......

Luke

Luke the Juggler
www.LuketheJuggler.com

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Luke the Juggler
614-486-8807
www.LuketheJuggler.com
LKareklas@yahoo.com


Replies:

Posted By: danoballoonmano
Date Posted: 29 September 2003 at 1:41pm


Hey Luke,
   I know how you feel. I've had that happen a couple of times myself. It leaves you feeling ripped off. The thing I tell myself when that happens is that I agreed to do it for free. It doesn't really matter if someone else was paid to be there.....the final say was entirely up to me to be there. I understand that the old "you never know who is going to ask for your card" doesn't pay the bills..(Believe me...I've tried to pay my mortgage by offering the banker a free balloon animal every day for the rest of my life...but he didn't want anything to do with that)
    It happens all the time......working a farmer's market or a "busking" gig where someone shows up with a truckload full of helium balloons to just give away...meanwhile, we are there asking for a "tip" for our balloons.
    The woman should have been more "up front" with you when she booked you. What goes around.....comes around.


Dan the Balloon Man


Posted By: littleprofessor
Date Posted: 29 September 2003 at 4:06pm

i recently felt frustrated.  i was envolved in 2 days of doing balloons for free. the organizer made a mistake and gave me money, but i found out that the money was to go to the other clowns.  these "clowns" were not doing balloons.  i love what i can do and its hard to give up.  i went through 3 bags.  i am greatful that they had the media there (free advertisement).  i hope next year that they will pay me seperately, but who knows.  by the way the more clowning you do, the kids will recognize you and your talents. 

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why did the cookie go to the hospital? a: he felt crumby!
take care--little professor


Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 30 September 2003 at 10:16am

Luke

 

You have just learned the hardest lesson in entertainment field.  The hardest thing to do is stick to a price, no matter what the job is…I’m not saying you should never do a free job, but pick your freebies carefully. 

 

You may find a charity that you feel is worthy and will donate your time or money too.  This week I will be helping an agent (Onesti Entertainment) at the PROMO Expo Trade Show at Navy Pier.  I will be donating 2 hours of work and balloons to this event.  Onesti Entertainment is returning the favor by participating in the mbd2.com Balloon Jam 3 and over the year has provided me with multiple shows.  I feel this exchange of freebies is fair. 

 

Dale



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Walk around entertainment at it's best! www.mbd2.com


Posted By: lukethejuggler
Date Posted: 01 October 2003 at 11:45am

Thanks all for your great comments! Nice to have others who can relate, understand, and give good feedback!

I also talked to the woman from the agency and she agreed that that's not a good situation to put an entertainer in.

Thanks again for your encouragement, "to the point" honesty, and suggestions!

I'm over it now! I'm sticking to my price "no matter what!"

See you all at the balloon jam!

Luke

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Luke the Juggler
614-486-8807
www.LuketheJuggler.com
LKareklas@yahoo.com


Posted By: Rick
Date Posted: 02 October 2003 at 1:46am

Yeah! Dale got me hooked into the freebie today! I did a few jobs that Dale referred to, for lower than average money for such an event.

NOW, this is not a complaint!!!

It is merely an example!

I had the option to say no if I wanted to! (Of course, I probably wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for Dale asking me to.)

But you never know, I could be getting a few nice jobs out of it!

But it all boils down to it being MY decision! I decide what my pay will be! Money or smiles! It's all up to me!

Since it is in the middle of the week, I said OK! On the weekend, I would never say that - I would need to get paid. Supply and Demand stuff!

Besides, he's covering the parking at Navy Pier!!!! How could you pass that up!

Well that is my 2 smiles worth!



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Care To Share!
Rick Mohr The Balloon MAN!
www.RickMohr.com
www.BLUNIVERSITY.com


Posted By: Dale
Date Posted: 04 October 2003 at 10:10am

FYI - Luke

Your posting was the inspiration for the http://www.mbd2.com/Update/2003/10012003JamadvertisingHallow eenTheme.htm - mbd2.com Notice Update, Entertainers Tip 21 - FREEBIES.

http://www.mbd2.com/Update/updatearchives.htm - Update Notice Archieves

Dale



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Walk around entertainment at it's best! www.mbd2.com


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