Navigating the Freelance Musician Minefields
Ahhh... the joys of being a freelance musician! My wife and I are both freelancers, and we have tended to try to steer clear of all shenanigans that go on in a field with limited work opportunities and more than enough egos to share around with lots left over...
... anyway, it does mean that in some ways, we are always oblivious to the happenings of the groups and networks around us... mostly, we just aren't interested in the political cut and thrust that others seem to revel in... indeed, I'm always faintly weirded out by the way that people behave differently in private, and then to each other in public. Quite saddened as well...
Luckily for us, we can always pretty much stay clear of it... as we are a self contained musical ensemble unit... and unless my wife leaves me (hopefully not... but if that is the case, then there are larger problems than just work!!!)... then we only need to just invite guest musicians who we like, and that is that.
We don't need to ask or recruit in a political/strategic manner... we just do what pleases us... and in the end, I think that is more honest anyway... as well as just being more satisfying for us (and hopefully for the guests!).
At times, I think it can leave us a bit exposed... by staying clear of everything, and not "picking sides"... it can mean that we aren't supported if we are being pressured... but it can also just mean that we are overlooked in preference for someone who is "on the team". That said, I'm pretty sure that most of these "teams" at their heart are marriages of convenience (haha... unlike our marriage?).... and in the end, the loyalty only goes so far before self-interest kicks in.
The reason that I'm thinking about this recently is the fact that there have been some interesting changes in power/position in our community... and with any change, there is always the chance that things could turn badly for those who aren't on the ball...
My wife and I did talk about this earlier in the week, and we did eventually come to the same conclusion. We do what we do... and we are not beholden to anyone... the people, groups, and institutions that like what we do and like who we are... well, they get what we are about.
And I think that people do notice that we just come in, do the job well with enthusiasm and ownership, and that we often go beyond what is "required".... and they know that we don't take part in any of the non-musical funny business. Hopefully, that all counts for something...
This has always surprised me though... that I've always been hesitant to ask for help or favours, but in the times that I have asked, people have been seemingly been happy to pitch in! Likewise with asking guests to play for us... as we are still in a start-up phase, we can't pay the ginormous sums that some of the really financially backed groups can... but they do seem to really want to come, and seem to leave with a good experience!
... and like I said, in the end, we are our own self-contained musical unit... we run light, and are able to be a tight and flexible ensemble based around this core indestructible unit. So, as long as we have an audience... we will always be able to do our thing!
Hopefully... but there is always that nagging feeling that we might not be able to stay out of everyone's way!
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Yep, just do what keeps us happy and everyone else can do whatever they feel like they need to do!
Can't please all the people all the time, heck can't even please ourselves most days finding time to do what we wish.
While I always try to be civil regardless of how I feel I'm always HOW CAN I (or anyone else for that matter) TRUST YOU if I encounter this (I try very hard not to encounter it these days).
I think people do appreciate when you just do your thing and stay aloof from the molasses, but that will also get you in trouble by people lacking the imagination to not play that game or who are just straight up control freaks desperate for everyone to validate their narrow minded views XD But that's the joys of everything.
I've done freelancing before, not music, but it seems to be literally everywhere, even encountered in homeschool groups when I wasn't working, like seriously?!
Keep on trying to stick to what makes you happiest and realest :)
Yeah, I think that that is the best way to go... if people are happy playing that game and are okay with it, then they can go and do that. But it sort of makes me a bit sick, so I won't do it... but I do realise that I'm in a special position (at the moment at least...) of not needing to!
I don't think anyone ever needs to act like that and the danger is when people pretend that they "have" to play that game to "succeed" I guess because refusing to play gives the delusion of hard mode.