Thought I'd come back and say Hey!
It's been an interesting summer and now that Fall is upon us, I've got nothing set up for next year. I made some friends this year and gained a little notoriety, but I'm a afraid that I slit my throat with the Chamber of Commerce. The COC runs just about anything and everything in my town. If you are not a member, you generally won't be doing anything here. The COC contacted me and wanted me to come an DJ for free at the biggest event of the year. They had wanted me on a Thursday, which I don't do weekdays due to my day job. I told them no I won't do it because that is the biggest event (Bike Fest) all year round and why should everyone else be making money and I'm not for my efforts? I was unable to sacrifice my day's pay at my day job and my additional incentive money ($300) that I would have made if I came and gave all that up for them. They were not going to pay me to recover that lost money, which I really need to operate my basic household needs.
So when I said no I can't do it, they got all offended and blacklisted me in my own town. I thought that DJ's were supposed to make a little money with their services and not give it all away for nothing. The word was "Exposure" That stuff doesn't pay bills. Never has. Every time I've done anything in the past for "Exposure" it's only been an solution to a means that benefits somebody else and not me. I don't get recognized for my efforts and work and I'm not remembered. It's not because of the music I play . I play great music but I'm forgotten about by the end of the event. I never get any prospects from these events or really benefit from them in any way. I usually have to shell out money to even do anything for them. I've decided that it's important to stop doing these things for "Exposure" My feeling is that if I need exposure, I'll do photography. However, without the backing of the COC, I do not believe that I will do another gig in my town again.
I'm caught in a twisted web. (and it sucks) COC undervalues my work and believes that it's not worth anything because and they told me direct " The only way to get any shows in this town is to do some Exposure shows" I said no and I'm going to continue to say no. I'm not joining the COC in this town as long as the marketable services are going to be oppressed with their monopolies, surcharges and taxes that are just not collected anywhere else in my state. You would think this wouldn't be how a COC would act toward you but it's what's happening. It made no sense to me that they DID pay me the first time they used me.
I've decided I'm just going to continue on doing what I'm doing. With my day job at the school system and my other job with the Military , It's not like I don't have a lot to do. Frustrated yes. Down and out ? No I can't get down and out over something that never really was in the first place. It's that moment right when you think you are starting to make an impact and something else comes along and impacts you right back.
Just thought I'd come by here say Hey to you guys let you know what kind of no good I've been up to.
It's been an interesting summer and now that Fall is upon us, I've got nothing set up for next year. I made some friends this year and gained a little notoriety, but I'm a afraid that I slit my throat with the Chamber of Commerce. The COC runs just about anything and everything in my town. If you are not a member, you generally won't be doing anything here. The COC contacted me and wanted me to come an DJ for free at the biggest event of the year. They had wanted me on a Thursday, which I don't do weekdays due to my day job. I told them no I won't do it because that is the biggest event (Bike Fest) all year round and why should everyone else be making money and I'm not for my efforts? I was unable to sacrifice my day's pay at my day job and my additional incentive money ($300) that I would have made if I came and gave all that up for them. They were not going to pay me to recover that lost money, which I really need to operate my basic household needs.
So when I said no I can't do it, they got all offended and blacklisted me in my own town. I thought that DJ's were supposed to make a little money with their services and not give it all away for nothing. The word was "Exposure" That stuff doesn't pay bills. Never has. Every time I've done anything in the past for "Exposure" it's only been an solution to a means that benefits somebody else and not me. I don't get recognized for my efforts and work and I'm not remembered. It's not because of the music I play . I play great music but I'm forgotten about by the end of the event. I never get any prospects from these events or really benefit from them in any way. I usually have to shell out money to even do anything for them. I've decided that it's important to stop doing these things for "Exposure" My feeling is that if I need exposure, I'll do photography. However, without the backing of the COC, I do not believe that I will do another gig in my town again.
I'm caught in a twisted web. (and it sucks) COC undervalues my work and believes that it's not worth anything because and they told me direct " The only way to get any shows in this town is to do some Exposure shows" I said no and I'm going to continue to say no. I'm not joining the COC in this town as long as the marketable services are going to be oppressed with their monopolies, surcharges and taxes that are just not collected anywhere else in my state. You would think this wouldn't be how a COC would act toward you but it's what's happening. It made no sense to me that they DID pay me the first time they used me.
I've decided I'm just going to continue on doing what I'm doing. With my day job at the school system and my other job with the Military , It's not like I don't have a lot to do. Frustrated yes. Down and out ? No I can't get down and out over something that never really was in the first place. It's that moment right when you think you are starting to make an impact and something else comes along and impacts you right back.
Just thought I'd come by here say Hey to you guys let you know what kind of no good I've been up to.
