At the moment I’m in a situation where my day rate goes up and down. Sometimes an organisation will other offer a good pay for a workshop and I’ll take without question. But often I work for organisations who have small budgets but provide imaginative projects that will really challenge my skills as a creative and allow be to develop working in new environments and new groups. Maybe my views will change when I’m doing creative work full-time, which I understand if a struggle for a lot of people. But for now I kinda see it as a juggle.

Yem

yeah, I think there is a general misunderstanding about what we do.

My website’s still being updated, so the links will work soon! Otherwise, right now I deliver workshops around the theme of the environment but with an arty twist e.g. print making with natural resources.

In software you’ll get £5k more on average by working directly for a creative company but in music you’ll jump from about £14k to £24k.

You should be wary of the stats though as they don’t include freelance figures (the government hasn’t really got an accurate way to include those figures) so all figures relate to employees within or outside of the music industry (and all the other sectors of the creative industries).

Dave

Dave that news is truly depressing!

The funny or bittersweet thing is my partner works in the software industry; mainly working with unis.

We both work hard- but I am skint and he isn’t. Does this mean his work is valued more?

I’ve done a summary of the research on my website.

As you have proven you are simply trying to do your job.

What can I do to help make this so important, necessary and valid case so organisations like Kerry’s and whinge bags like me can get paid properly?

It think you’ve asked some useful questions that other people will find useful too.

I was simply thinking about whether to or not, and what to do if similar situations arose (which I am sure they will) and am getting some good advice.

If you do this – don’t moan about it once the project has started. If I agree to work at a rate of pay – I don’t carp about it later!

Kerry – I’ve been in your shoes! On one hand you have the funders giving you a pittance but wanting the moon on a stick! On the other you have your conscience and artists telling you it is too little.

The best thing we can do is make the case jointly as arts organisations and artists (it is not a battle between the two in most instances) for the work we do. We should do this to whoever will listen politicians, funders, teachers and the public as there is so little understanding my most people of the value of such work….

I apologise about not mentioning the daily rate (but in conversation it seemed to be for less frequent/‘one off’ projects). I appreciate you are working hard to run these projects and did not say the small pay was at the profit of the organisation.

I don’t want this to turn into a tit for tat argument, but I do recall the hourly rate was stated first and we both agreed that for a community artist who works an hour in the morning, it is impossible to then go off and do another elsewhere what with packing, clearing up and travel. So a morning or afternoon is used up.

I work in both formal and informal education settings and for me I am trying to weigh up the benefits of both industries. Since graduating friends and family have yelled PGCE cos it’s more secure. Financially I know which one is less stress. In terms of rewards, creativity and working with diverse groups: being a community is musician very satisfying.

I still felt as though I wanted to understand more about this issue and threw it open to the public domain regardless of whether or not it came back to bite me…

The thing is, I am still keen to work in health settings and I did not say to you I was not interested. I just wanted more answers. I am getting them ?

Thanks for your comments!

Of course not all community musicians should get paid the same rate- I cannot expect to get the same as someone who has more experience and skills. I meant a base rate (not bass rate) to cover expenses at least.

The person who served to catalyse my rant even stated that more experienced artists refused to work for them and that she even received venting/harsh email responses when advertising on artsjobs etc. It was a shame the money only came up in interview cos the work is really something I am interested in. So, do I work for pittance for the experience?

The AN link looks great! I shall have a gander later on today!

I think that although nihce skills are precious- sometimes sharing a few gems with potential clients can increase your marketability, something I hope to explore later.