What’s With All the Drama?

We can do better (and no, this is not a political post)

The author, singing at her weekly church gig

Recently, a singer I know was faced with some drama.  🎭.

And by that, I don’t mean the kind of drama you find on the stage. I mean more like this kind: 🫖

The singer in question had been working with a vocal ensemble for a few years, when, out of nowhere, the Powers On High suddenly started raising alarm bells that the group was not “up to snuff”.

Now, there was objectively nothing wrong with the group. 

It was, however, apparent from the communications that ensued that the Powers On High were expressing subjective preferences that had not previously been communicated.

Ah yes, my favorite. Telling someone that they are not meeting an arbitrary standard, with no notice, and no guidance or resources on how to meet said expectations. Delightful.

The singers were, in a word, utterly blindsided.They were then told that they could give a probationary performance to prove their value - in a TOTALLY DIFFERENT CONTEXT FROM THEIR NORM.

Now, no one is surprised to hear that the product of so many unfair last minute changes, plus all the unnecessary stress and pressure, was a gig that was less good than their norm. After said gig, the singers were not explicitly given the boot, but it was heavily implied that they might want to show themselves out.

First of all, CUE THE RAGE. I was so pissed when I heard this story.

Second -  whatever issue(s) might have been here, it was clearly not about the Artists. The Powers On High had something going on, and by playing the old bait and switch and gaslighting the Artists, they were able to get them to essentially do their dirty work for them. 

Now, as much as this all sucks, the crazy thing is, as this story unfolded, I was like, oh yeah, this is exactly like an experience I had.

A while back, I was told that certain (objectively reasonable) pre-show metrics needed to be met for a gig I was working on. Which, cool. Orgs can set whatever metrics they want. However, this was the first time I was hearing about said metrics - and it was literally one week out from the gig.

YOU CAN’T THREATEN TO PULL THE PLUG LESS THAN A WEEK OUT FROM A SHOW FOR A FAILURE TO MEET BRAND NEW REQUIREMENTS, PEOPLE

There was no support, clearly, from the Powers On High, and I knew it wasn’t about me - so I pulled the plug on the gig myself - as the org clearly had no interest in respecting my interests.

I’m guessing that if you’ve read this far, you’ve been subject to this kind of BS treatment as an Artist, too.

So, I’d like to start the discussion here: What can we collectively do as Artists to improve the overall environment that we all operate in, while simultaneously communicating our own value as Artists?

Certainly, contracts and getting things in writing are an essential and non-negotiable first step. (Hat tip to Gilad Paz there)

As my business coach Michelle from the Speakeasy Cooperative always says, a rising tide raises all ships.

So, let’s be the tide, friends. What can we do to raise our collective ships, and voices?

I’d love to hear from you.