06/14/2026
Letโs talk about what doesnโt get said out loud.
As artists, weโre often told to do it for the exposure, the opportunity, or the love of the craft. And while passion is what fuels us, being passionate about something doesnโt make it free. Our time and talent should be respected as work, not just a hobby.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง'๐ญ, ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
We can't keep calling it โsupporting the communityโ when the support only flows one way. If an event benefits from having artists perform, the artists should benefit from performing. Period.
It ultimately comes down to knowing your worth, standing in it fully, and refusing to let anyone else define it for you. This isn't a debate about whoโs right. Itโs just a standard for what is right.
