*Air-tistry*

by Jack Porcello

First, apologies for my hiatus. Summer was especially busy this year. Between traveling and keeping up with local contracts, I found very little time for much else. My wife is just beginning to recognize me again.

Much of my work this summer came as a result of clients being left in the lurch. Many of those were due to the fact that an entertainer agreed to a free appearance, but then a better (paying) offer came along. Now stuck in a situation where an event had been advertised, the client was put in the position of scrambling to find another performer as well as funds not previously budgeted for entertainment. Unfortunately, I had to turn away several of these as I was also busy. However, the clients I was able to help out will most likely remember me in the future.

Now, some may say that these are clients that you don't want to remember you, as they will be looking for handouts. My experience has led me to believe otherwise. Fact is that they were able to find the money to pay me. Therefore, they have access to funds, however limited, for my services. Perhaps they will approach me next time asking for a free appearance, but as they have had contact with me they know my policies on this matter.

Regarding those policies, mine are quite simple:

1) I will only offer free performances for agencies whose work agrees with my faith and principles.

2) I will offer no more than four free performances per calendar year.

3) I will offer only one free performance per agency per calendar year.

4) I will only offer free performances during certain (off peak) times of the year.

5) I will not work for free at an event where another performer is being paid.

6) I will only offer stage presentation services (as opposed to festival, or "factory" services) at free appearances.

7) I will have promotional mention in advertising for, and promotional representation at, the event.

The first of these policies is the one I believe is of most importance. Unless this policy is met, none of the others matter. In fact,once the first one is met, the "free" performance becomes one of great value to me. If the organization I am offering my service for free to is one that I wouldn't hesitate to write a check for, I am able to view the appearance the same way I would view a paying gig.

If I can see any performance as "just a freebie," chances are I may grow to resent it. The fact is that any agreement I have made to perform is an opportunity to demonstrate my reliability, integrity, professionalism, and talent. Were I to dismiss an agreement because it was "just a freebie" and a paid gig is offered, then I am damaging my reputation. It may be with a small, seemingly insignificant aspect of the market, but it may have lasting impact.

The most common situation I have encountered in the past few months is that an entertainer agrees to a gig because it seems like a good idea at the time. Little or no research is done by the entertainer into the agency asking for the freebie. Because the agency does not represent a cause or service that the entertainer is excited about, it is easy for the entertainer to lose interest. Sometimes it isn't even paid work that takes priority in the eyes of the entertainer in these cases. Bitterness begins to grow in the heart of the entertainer, towards him or herself for taking the job, and towards the client for simply expecting what was agreed to. As the event grows near, the entertainer loses all interest and cancels the appearance. Then my phone rings.

My advice would be to limit your free work to what you feel comfortable offering. Number of performances per year, type of work offered, length of performance per appearance, and so on. In many cases. I am only on the stage between 10 and 15 minutes when offering a free performance, as opposed to my regular 40. If you do them, consider your free performances carefully. Only do ones that you really want to, for agencies that you can really get excited about. Once you have made an agreement, stick to it. Following these guidelines can make a free performance into one of you most valuable experiences, and will keep you from feeling taken advantage of.

See you next month (hopefully)! For more information on storytelling with balloons, see the "Air To The Kingdom" website at www.airtothekingdom.org or email me at info@airtothekingdom.org.