It is not okay to exploit artists!

Every so often I get a call from some organizers telling me about this fantastic opportunity to perform until…

 “Unfortunately, we don’t have a budget, but you’ll get a lot of exposure”

Or the dreaded…

“It’s a ticketed event and the performers are required to pay”

via GIPHY

Why do organizers think that it’s okay to exploit the performers by not only NOT compensating them in some ways, but even worse – asking them to pay to perform?

Those who’ve been around me know how I feel about that. “Performers probably put in more effort than the organizers themselves to enhance the quality of their show. Asking them to pay to perform is shameful”

Few things make me angrier than people trying to take advantage of artists. However, that's a rant for another day.

Asking someone to work "for the exposure" or “pay to perform” is not only insulting, it's false advertising. If you can't even offer a small stipend or a fair exchange of goods or services, you should be clear about exactly what you're looking for: a donation.

Being an artist all my life, I have stood up for better treatment of artists and recognizing them for their talent and effort. Be it a photographer, or a busker or a dancer, I have fought hard with every organization that I’ve been involved with to not only treat artists as volunteers, but also offer a fair exchange of goods or services in return. It is quintessential that we recognize and respect them for their effort and talent that they bring. After all, they are adding value to your events and enhancing the quality of your show.

It is not cool to be asking performers to make a 2-hour round trip commute, pay for costumes and props, pay for gas and parking, take hours out of their days preparing for the act, pay for studio rentals, and then ask them to PAY TO PERFORM. Especially, when the event is charging $$$ per ticket. It doesn’t feel great, and like I said earlier, it’s insulting.

Let me get this straight, you want me to diminish the hard work, time, money, resources I’ve put into developing my art, so I can help you make YOUR event successful. Do you not see the irony?

At Live2dance, we work extremely hard to build our brand. Our performances involve a lot of hard work, sweat, blood, tears and hour of practice. We perform at various events across the city. Some for-profit and some not for profit. We do not expect these organizations to compensate us for our efforts, because we understand how difficult it can get for some organizations to cover up their costs, let alone pay their performers. However, some organizations who truly realize the value of their performers insist on paying us in exchange of goods and services. We get gift cards, donations to our preferred charities, bouquets, cards or a token of appreciation very often. Those are the organizations that we truly enjoy performing for.

I am not trying to set a precedence here by standing up in support of artists who are asked to perform “in exchange of exposure” or are required to pay to perform. My goal is to bring my perspective on front of these organization and make them understand what it really takes to be an artist.

It is thrilling to be asked to perform. Yes, that’s true, but it’s also hard work that brought that opportunity to us. Our consistent, vigilant practicing, performing, marketing, strategic networking, etc.

It’s not about the money. It’s about principals and treating performers right.

So next time you reach out to me for a “great opportunity” that I wouldn’t want to miss and will get me exposure, however, it requires me to pay to perform, I’ll be directing you to this page. Hopefully, you’ll get my point.

14th Feb will never be the same again

Today I’m angry. Today I’m mourning. 44 brave soldiers of the CRPF have been killed in an absolutely abhorring, cowardly suicide attack by Pakistan backed, Pakistan trained, Pakistan funded, and Pakistan armed terrorists of the Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed.

44 families have been devastated. Mothers have lost their sons, kids have lost their fathers, wives have lost their partners and this nation has lost their patriots. I am aghast and can’t describe the aftermath in words. My stomach churns and my heart wrenches when I think about who is going to make that phone call to the mother who just spoke to her son in the morning and to the kids who dearly wait for their father to visit them every holiday, and to the wife who dared to marry an Indian soldier. Who will call them and break the news that your son/father/husband is never coming back?

They are going to have a million questions: why was the national highway not secure? Why did we not have any knowledge about a car carrying 350kg of explosives? Was somebody sleeping on their job? Or was somebody sharing this information with the terrorists? Why did the intelligence agencies undermine the scale of the plot when they had specific intel? Apparently, Jaish-e-Mohammed was putting up open threats in the forms of posters in that area. Then why wasn’t action taken to beef up security in the state? These questions will need to be answered. Every life needs accountability. But the biggest question now is - How will we avenge the death of our braves? How will we go and look their families in the eye?

No attack of this nature, on a highway or otherwise, can take place without the support and facilitation of people within. Then how did our intelligence fail to catch on the warning signs?

The country is in pain today. Every eye is moist. This is one of the dastardliest attacks. 42 brave soldiers! Many of whom were returning from their vacation.  I am unable to fathom the fact that they had just bid goodbyes to their families promising them that they’ll be back soon. Cowards! Evils! Monsters!

This should be a turning point for us. We tried surgical strikes after Uri and clearly that hasn’t deterred Pakistan for such ghastly terror attacks. We need to deal with Pakistan with a harsh blow. A blow that strikes them hard. I don’t know what the response could possibly be, but I rely on the able leadership of PM Narendra Modi to avenge the death of our soldiers.

What’s still worrying me is that, in our country unfortunately, we still have a brigade of people that wants to engage with Pakistan. That brigade must now look at the colossal cost we pay for their thought of compromising with Pakistan and for their thought of forgiving Pakistan. I say, no more forgiveness and no more engagement. That country has made us cry for way too long. It’s time for them to pay the price! I sympathize with the citizens of that country and our fight isn’t with them. I have nothing personal against them, but when it comes to showing solidarity towards our fallen soldiers, I want that nation to pay the price.

Uri - Viewpoint of an Army Brat!

My first blog post of 2019, and I’m writing it with High Josh (enthusiasm). Just got back from the theater after watching much awaited film – Uri, and boy, does it hit the right notes in your body or what? I left the theater with additional pride, spine a bit more erect and chest out. Not only because I am a proud Indian Army kid, but because I am proud of the decision to conduct surgical strikes across LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. There have been multiple cowardly attacks on India by terrorists infiltrated into our borders via Pakistan, but this one particularly hit me very hard. Our soldiers were asleep for God’s sake. At least show the courage to have a face off with them. I remember crying under my pillow for days after Uri attack. There was a need to send a response back to Pakistan, and the message went out loud and clear.

The portrayal of Vicky Kaushal as an Army officer is spot on. I can say that because I saw glimpses of my dad in him. That built, that uniform, the heaviness in his voice, his relationship with his family, emoting vulnerability, and strength. It’s as close to reality as it can get.

The movie has no heavy-duty loud mouthing of dialogues just because it’s a war movie. Neither does it have any unnecessary drama. There is not a single shot of Tiranga (India's National Flag) through the movie, and yet the nationalistic pride and patriotism is all over it. There are many goosebumps moments in the movie and some highly emotional scenes bound to bring involuntary tears to the eyes. Paired with heavy background music, amazing VFX, smart action sequences, brilliant direction, and the requisite of some fist pumping dialogues, this movie will leave you with a high dose of adrenal, love for your country and ultimate respect for Indian Army.

My particularly favorite scene was the dinner party hosted for Vihaan at his sister’s house. It wasn’t a very relevant scene, but it was beautifully shot. You could tell that the makers of the movie have done their homework. All the officers looking dapper in their suits, cufflinks, lapel pins, a perfectly folded handkerchief in their suit pocket, holding a glass of whisky and laughing loudly. Ladies with gracefully draped sarees, brooch pin, a glass of drink in one hand and a clutch in the other, looking as sharp as their better halves. This particular scene brought back so many memories to me. Army parties like these were a weekly affair for us. All the ‘Army brats’ of the cantonment would get together, feast on tasty snacks (mostly roasted peanuts or cheese with pineapple on a toothpick), play games, watch TV and stealthily sneak into the kitchen to get a peek of the desert.

I’m not sure why we were called Army brats, but we would take immense pride in being called that. I think it refers to any child who has grown up with a parent in the army, has never lived in a place more than 3 years, made new friends with every posting & stayed connected with most of them, lived in cantonments, and would know atleast a few people who have served in the highest battleground on earth, Siachen (In our case, it was our dad and his troops). We are that breed of kids who are raised in and transferred from one cantonment to another. Our upbringing in a unique way differentiates us from other kids. This is also the reason it is easy for one army brat to recognize another one easily. For us, home is the army and everything it stands for. We are raised with immense pride, fearlessness and courage; imbibed in us by our lioness moms (mostly because our dads were barely around). That is the reason why you saw Col MN Rai’s brave and proud daughter shouting his regiments war cry at his funeral, then raised her hand to salute him for the last time as she burst out in tears. That moment is beautifully recreated in Uri, and is bound to choke you up. The movie hits a bull’s eye.

You might like the movie for different reasons, but one thing’s for sure. Next time anyone asks you “How’s the josh?”, you’ll involuntary end up saying “High Sir!”