The title of this blog might come across as very gloomy. That is not my style nor intention. It is however an attempt to highlight awareness of something that has been bothering me for many years. Only recently the discussed issue to follow, has escalated to an even more intense concern and hence, the reason for my blog.
Being a self proclaimed “Creative”, it’s been extremely hard to make ends meet and to build a career from something that most people will only label as “a hobby”. I have been blessed throughout the years, 25 to be more specific, to have had opportunities to “monetise” my “hobby” and make a decent living off music and all it entails. This included getting qualified to be able to be a tutor and to be able to work on my craft daily for many many years. Countless performances and hours and hours of tutoring, brought me to a place where I can state with confidence that when I am contracted to tutor a student, or get booked to perform a session or track a song for a recording or a performance, you will get a quality product.
But stating the above, does that equate to me being entitled to insist on a certain “flat rate” or an amount for payment that I seem fair? If you take the current industry rates for highly qualified professionals and compare it to the “Creative’s” in South Africa specifically, it will paint a very bleak picture of truth. Does this make what we as “Creative’s” do, less important than for example a qualified professional Chartered Accountant or a Senior Advocate? This is a topic I believe that’s been discussed in many “Creative’s” circles with no clear consensus or proof. In my opinion and belief however, is that the “Creative’s” are just as important as any other Professional in a corporate industry.
Even though, as strongly as I feel about this fact, it does not change the reality of the matter. The fact that society has labelled the services and contribution of a “Creative”, as less important, is indeed a very sad fact. They have come to the belief that a lower value of payment should be allocated to whatever the “Creative’s” contribution is adding to society.
This brings me to the plea that I will submit in this blog. In the same manner that you as the reader is more than willing and in many cases forced to pay exuberant amounts for the “Educated Professionals” out there, be open to understanding the value that we, as “Creative’s” are adding to society. Book a music lesson and pay the full asked price. Go for that art class. Sign up for a dancing class. Support the opera. Go to a live gig and pay double the cover charge. Buy a painting. Pay the full price for a whole album of songs directly from the artist. The list of “support” goes on and on…
There are many ways that you as the reader can help to keep the “Creative’s” literally, alive in this time and the seasons to come.
I will leave you with this quote.
“The only picture more bleak than the current state of the “Creative’s” income, would be a world with no creativity at all...” -Corné Olckers