Local Musicians Deserve More Than Applause — They Deserve to Be Paid

COMMENTARY | By Wane Hailes | The Courier Eco Latino

There's a question that needs to be asked across Columbus.

Why do we celebrate our local musicians until it's time to pay them?

Every weekend, restaurants, clubs, festivals, churches, nonprofit organizations, civic groups and private events rely on local musicians to create the atmosphere people remember. Their music fills seats, keeps customers in the building longer, packs dance floors, sells tickets and often becomes the very reason people attend in the first place.

Yet when the performance is over, the conversation too often changes. Suddenly there's not enough money. Suddenly they're asked to "work with us." Suddenly they're reminded of the "exposure" they're receiving, as though exposure can pay a light bill or buy groceries.

Let's ask a few honest questions. Would anyone ask the caterer to provide the food for exposure? Would the sound company be expected to donate thousands of dollars' worth of equipment because it would be "good publicity?" Would the decorator be told, "We'll pay you when we can?" Would the photographer or videographer be expected to hand over the finished product and simply hope a check eventually arrives? Of course not. So why is it acceptable to treat musicians differently?

Being a professional musician isn't a hobby. It's a profession. People see two or three hours on stage. They don't see the years spent mastering an instrument. They don't see the rehearsals, the transportation, the equipment maintenance, the sound checks, the advertising, the insurance, the replacement of broken strings, worn drumheads, damaged speakers or expensive instruments. They don't see the investment required long before the first note is ever played. Professional musicians are business owners. And businesses deserve to be paid.

What's even more frustrating is that musicians often perform in venues where they can clearly see the business being generated. They watch people paying admission at the door. They see tables full of customers ordering food and drinks. They watch the cash registers ringing throughout the night. They know the entertainment is helping create that revenue because many of those customers came specifically for the music. Then, when it's time to settle the agreement, the conversation suddenly becomes about how difficult business is or how little money was made. That disconnect is one many musicians know all too well. No business owner expects to give away their product while everyone else gets paid. Musicians shouldn't be expected to either.

Recently, questions have surfaced about whether some local musicians who performed under agreements have received the compensation they say they were promised. Those questions deserve answers. If contracts were signed, they should be honored. If disagreements exist, they should be resolved promptly, professionally and fairly. But this issue extends far beyond any single performance, promoter or venue. It speaks to a mindset.

For years, Columbus has wondered why some of its most talented musicians eventually leave for Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham and other cities. Maybe the answer isn't complicated. Professional musicians go where they're respected. They go where contracts mean something. They go where talent is viewed as an investment instead of an expense.

If Columbus truly wants to become known as an arts and entertainment destination, then supporting live music cannot stop with applause. Appreciation isn't measured by standing ovations alone. It's measured by honoring agreements, paying people on time and recognizing the value artists bring to the local economy.

Our musicians don't simply entertain us. They create memories. They strengthen our culture. They bring together people of every race, age and neighborhood. They give Columbus its soundtrack. That has value. Real value. And real value deserves real compensation.

Applause is wonderful. But applause doesn't pay the mortgage. It doesn't replace a broken guitar string. It doesn't repair a saxophone. It doesn't buy drumsticks. It doesn't keep gasoline in the van traveling from one performance to the next. And it certainly doesn't feed a family.

It's time for Columbus to decide whether we truly value the people whose music fills our restaurants, festivals, churches and community events. Because if we genuinely appreciate our musicians, then paying them what they've earned shouldn't be negotiable.

Respect isn't demonstrated when the music starts. It's demonstrated when the check clears.