These photos have nothing to do with this post. Just the living room captured with my camera this morning.
I’m thinking on my feet here.
I had to do a bit of negotiating yesterday with the theater. At the end of the phone call, I brought up the daily fee for my services and I was quoted a very lowball number.
Ummm….no.
I tend to give theater companies a bit of a break because I know that budgets are tight. But this particular number was way too low. So I responded with a number that was twice what they were quoting (yet still less than I can get elsewhere) and added that I wouldn’t work for less. I was told they would get back to me. I went into the living room and told Don and he wholeheartedly agreed with me. Unlike Don, I don’t have a union representing me. It’s me, myself, and I.
Here’s the interesting thing about placing a price on your expertise: I think many of us tend to undervalue our skill set and don’t always feel comfortable in any sort of negotiating situation. I speak for myself when I say that, for years, I tended to undervalue my work. That doesn’t include those times when I accepted a low salary simply because I needed the experience and I was building my resumé. I did that deliberately because it was about beginning a career.
And it wasn’t an issue when I was teaching full-time and coaching on the side because the combination of both salaries was more than adequate. However, since I’ve been freelancing for the last 14 years, I’ve had to learn to be firm when it comes to quoting a price for my work. It hasn’t been easy. I tended to be self-effacing and insecure and that carried over sometimes into an almost apologetic price quote on my part or a willingness to accept less than I deserved. When you freelance, you are often faced with no work on the horizon, and any offer of work is all too easily grabbed like a life preserver. That can end up biting you in the tush if you’re not careful.
It took me a while, but I am now proud of where I draw the line. I’ve also come to the point where I can do it without any sort of emotional attachment. I think of it this way: I’ve been working in the theater for well over 30 years. I’ve been coaching for almost that long. I’m really good at what I do. If you want me to help you out, you have to be willing to pay.
And let’s be honest here, no job in the theater pays all that well. It’s all relative. You have to love working in that medium, you have to love working in the arts. Without that love, you’ll always be frustrated because you’re never going to earn big bucks.
The theater was doing what they have to do, trying to work within a budget. I absolutely understand that. In the end, they agreed to my figure and everyone is happy.
I see the same thing happening in the blogging world, which, let’s face it, is a bit like the Wild West. As more and more bloggers start to do sponsored posts and/or work with certain companies, there are lots of discussions about just what to charge. Because bloggers can be taken advantage of quite easily, with the assumption that they’ll work for free just for the opportunity to attach their blog name to a product. I have turned down many, many offers like that. Are you kidding? You want me to write a post for you, for free?
Blogging takes time and energy and lots of thought and planning and quality photos, so a good camera has to be invested in, and editing and editing again. If the blogger wants to grow a readership, then time is spent on that, as well. I could go on and on and, as you know, I’m not as invested in SEO and social media outreach – those things do take time and lots of it – though I do care about ad income. I will say that bloggers need to be paid for those services mentioned above, just as I am paid for my coaching work. Since very few blogs are viewed by paid subscribers, the content is free. Imagine. The reading audience gets to read fresh content, see beautiful photos, learn new things, and all they have to do is click on the post. All of that is supplied free of charge.
Would a magazine allow that? Absolutely not, nor should they. Would I allow that when it comes to my area of expertise? No and no.
But blogs are free. And that’s really wonderful. That’s what we love about the Internet. However, we have to be aware, as readers of that lovely free content, that a blogger’s time is also to be valued and honored and compensated. So, though frowned upon not all that long ago, ads are now a matter of course. And though sometimes it seems that all we see is sponsored content, remember that bloggers are trying to wrestle with creating a living wage in the wild west of blogging. And they deserve that.
If I added up the amount of time I spend on writing posts for this blog and my book blog, the hours I put in on a daily basis – taking photos, writing posts, editing constantly, replying to comments, researching, corresponding with readers, and in the case of the book blog, buying and investing in books that I review and share with my readers – if I totaled that all up and then compared it to my ad income? I can’t even go there. Much too disheartening. Depressing, even. If I earned, on a daily basis, the same amount I can charge for my theatrical work? Goodness, I’d be thrilled. I’d be beyond thrilled. I could earn a living with this blog.
But I do this because I love it. Truly. I love blogging. And most bloggers blog because they love it, as well. It’s fascinating, watching blogging evolve, seeing how it has changed. Bloggers are coming to terms with the same issues that a freelancer, such as myself, has to deal with. What is my work worth? What is my time worth? What is all the time I spend editing photos worth? What about the gas I put in my car to travel someplace, take photos, write a post and share it with my readers? What about the photo editing software I’ve had to invest in? Or, in some cases, the cost of running a self-hosted blog? What is my name recognition worth?
I don’t have the answers, but I do know that my initial impulse in writing this post was to talk about negotiating fees and claiming my worth as a professional in the arts. And then it morphed into a realization that blogging now involves a similar claim of worth.
It’s got me thinking, that’s for sure.
Happy Tuesday.
Bravo to you Claudia! So glad you refused that first offer…and glad they came back to match your price. Many of the blogs I read have to do with stitching and/or knitting and most of those are ad-free…just folks putting up pictures of things they’ve made, etc. It has gotten to the point now where I hardly notice the ads on your blog. I read what you write and enjoy that very much along with the pictures you post. I love the fact that you post daily (though I am not always able to read daily) and I know it takes a lot of work/time/commitment. Periodically I have thought of starting a blog. A number of friends have asked me to. But honestly? Working full time, cooking dinner every day, daily chores, etc. all do not leave that much free time for me. And that free time? I’d much rather spend it reading or sewing or knitting or watching a movie or show with my husband, etc. So, again, bravo to you for taking the time, making the commitment and providing us all with something so enjoyable. Thank you!
You’re doing what you love as well, Vera. That’s what is important.
Claudia, I so agree with you on standing firm on getting paid fairly. As women, we are conditioned to monetarily de-value ourselves. Congratulations on holding firm. I wish that I had learned that lesson while I was still working.
I wish I’d learned it earlier, Carolyn Marie. It took a long time.
Amen!
Thanks, Snap!
I love this thoughtful post, Claudia! It’s all about confidence and empowerment…I’m still trying to get there. Thank you for making me think, too!
You’re welcome, Linda! It took a long time to get there and I still have my moments of waffling on that sort of thing, but in the end, what do we have to lose?
Good morning Claudia. This is a very thought provoking post. First, let me say I’m glad the theater agreed to your daily rate. I’m sure that you are worth much more than you charge. I have a small blog. Only 99 readers and I don’t actively pursue more. If more readers come, well, wonderful! :-). I also don’t advertise on my blog, although I have absolutely no problem with bloggers that do choose that route.
The way I tend to undervalue my time and talents is in my knitting and crochet. Many times I have people ask me to make them something in particular and I have a very difficult time charging them for the product. Most expect it for free! And when they do offer to pay, they are shocked when I suggest a price, which usually doesn’t even cover materials, let alone my time. However they will go to a store and buy something inferior and not blink a eye. I guess if it’s homemade it must not be worth anything.
So I choose to donate most of what I make to different charities and only give my things to people who truly appreciate the time and effort involved in the finished product.
Sorry, I guess I went into a “mini rant” here!
Blessings,
Betsy
I am always dumbfounded when people expect someone to make them something handmade for free. Time, the cost of the materials, the expertise required to make something – all of that should be taken into account. I want to shake them! I wrestled with what to charge when my sister and I had an active Etsy shop. Cost of yarn, time, postage, wrapping, design….it was tough. We had to stop that voice in our heads that said, “oh, that’s too much to charge…”
You can rant any time, Betsy!
You know, my mom would say this about cooking for her family. She didn’t mind a bit, after working hard in my dad’s business all day, to go into the kitchen and still whip up a great meal for us, but we kids and even Dad would just waffle down the meal in no time and be ready to move on to something else while she was still eating her salad. She would lament over the time it took to figure out meal plans, how to cook what we’d like, preparation, presentation…only to have us be so indifferent and want to just leave the table asap to get on with our ‘important things’ to do, like watch TV (note the sarcasm). And then, insult to injury, she had to clean it all up afterward, and then put all the clean dishes away, joining us in the living room an hour or more later. As I got older, I totally saw her point and realized we were all so rude, the rest of us. Poor mom. She got no salary from a home-based business, she didn’t get a lot of help with the housework or errands, she diligently picked us up at school and never made us wait for her, she washed and ironed our clothes (back in the day when everything had to be ironed), she took us to doctor appointments or piano lessons. I mean, the woman did EVERYthing and we were awful in our lack of acknowledgement or gratitude. I tried to make up for it later but I do think Mom went thru long periods of feeling unappreciated, justifiably so. And, yes, I never knew what her lovely crocheted afghans entailed until I bought the yarn myself for something I really, specifically wanted her to make. And I remember when I got married, how ‘disappointed’ I was (can’t believe I’m saying this) when my elderly auntie send me a large boxful of crocheted potholders, edged pillow slips, embellished dishtowels, etc. This was a time when I thought handcrafts were boring and common. She was on a fixed income and that box of lovelies was a big investment in time and money for her. I of course treasure all of it now and realize she was an artist. I see those same potholders for sale and wish she could have made some income off of her beautiful work in what we have today with Etsy et al. We live and learn, some of us, and I regret I learned a lot of stuff too late.
Vicki,
I can so relate to what you wrote in your response to Claudia. I think that the young, immature selves act like that and if we are fortunate, we grown into much more thoughtful adults. I know (hope) that that has been the case with me. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
What I enjoy most about your blog, Claudia, is how rich in content, both photos and words, your posts are. It is very evident that you spend a lot of time getting the content just right. You approach each topic with intelligence and insight, and you are able to question yourself and your readers as well. All in all, a very inviting and thoughtful blog. It’s no wonder your blog is one of my favorites.
Thank you so much for those kind words, Wendy.
I’m glad you stood up for yourself…but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from you! I can only imagine how difficult it would be to set your own price for your services. I like your rants as you call them….they are always thought provoking and enlightening! ;)
I don’t know if this one is a rant, maybe more of a thought-provoking piece?
I do think this “art” is becoming easier for younger women. We were never really shown or taught or understood how to value what we do ~ our worth. But I think we have helped to blaze a few trails so those behind us can do so. I think that when I was working, I believed that the idea that someone actually asked me to head a project or move up to a new position was a reward in itself. And I know that others of my generation felt that way, also. Younger women don’t understand that, which is wonderful!! But as we were moving up, so many times we were just so happy that we were doing so,,,, I think we forgot, too many times, our worth in the process. And that is likely what aided in being devalued when it came to salaries. Blazing trails is never easy, I guess. So happy that you will receive what your work is worth. We have come a long way…………which is grand, but there remains yet a long road ahead.
I think it is becoming easier for young women, too. I hope it is! Hopefully, we are seeing a generation that is more aware and completely open to claiming their worth.
Good for you Claudia..I’m sure they were just testing you to see if you would accept such a low fee..thank goodness you have the courage to speak up and get what you deserve..As far as making money from the blogs I have no problem with it..much better that I can come here and enjoy your posts than the cost of doing them causes you to stop..
I didn’t always have that courage and then I would be so unhappy with myself for giving in.
I don’t own a blog. I came to blogging late as a reader. My initial understanding was that someone could start a blog as an online journal, doing it for themselves first…and if anybody wanted to visit and read, the more the merrier. It’s interesting to get your perspective on it as a blog owner, not a reader. I have noticed over time that some blog owners will just give up because trying to maintain the blog becomes too much of a leash, and the early tug to journal is all but ‘killed’ because of the pressure to come up with enough posts to now satisfy their ‘audience’ who have become almost rabid in wanting new content. As in with so many things, we as humans can wind up overwhelming our fellow humans and make too many demands. We can suck the life out of something. I think readers get onboard the train and then get pissed off when the train stops and starts. I don’t know if I’m making any sense. I just think as readers we must not have such high expectations of the blogs we decide to visit. Just take away with us instead what we can of that post, that day, enjoy it but don’t be disappointed if we don’t see another one for a week. If you subscribe by email, you know another one will come one of these days, so just sit back and relax. Don’t pressure the blog owner! The blog owner should be allowed to post easily and with freedom, when she/he feels a need to journal. Naturally, if the blog is associated with a business, the blog owner is probably going to post very frequently to talk about their wares or whatever they do or offer; but that’s a whole different kind of blog, in my opinion. Frankly, if ads help you, Claudia, I don’t mind them. I feel it’s the least, as a reader, I can do for what I get in return. I don’t feel manipulated when I read sponsored posts, or posts with ads; I know why the blog owner is doing it and sometimes all of that has been really helpful for me.
I don’t want rocks thrown at me but, for my handful of fave blogs, I’d probably be happy to pay a modest subscription fee. You’re absolutely right. I pay for a magazine at a store and I pay for subscriptions in the mail. Newspapers, magazines, this & that. Why not a blog? I just never thought of it in that way.
Anyway, I think you were wise to stick to your guns on your theater fees. If you accept less than what you feel you’re worth, it sets a bad precedent all the way around, for your reputation as well as your psyche. I did that…once. I was out of work, I was single, I had a mortgage payment. But the job offer, despite the business being located where I wanted to move…the position was just uninteresting, their benefits were lousy and then, on top of everything else, the reduced salary? Yeah, I was desperate but something made me boil over and say, you know…NO. Just no. And the right thing did come along the very next day.
I have accepted less than what I’m worth in the past and I never felt right about it. Maybe, with age, comes wisdom, along with a “I don’t care what they think of me. I’m asking for what I deserve.”
I think that we, as women, have been socialized to undervalue our skills. It is definitely something I have struggled with. I do not do free sponsored posts either. As you so eloquently stated blogging is hard work. Why would I give my space and time away for free. I think what I make per hour for writing my blog might be considered in the slave labor range, but I do it out of love. I hope that blogging will continue to evolve and like other mediums garner more respect. xo Laura
Me too. And I agree: definitely slave labor for the amount of time we put in! But we love it and hopefully, things will change for the better. We’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot more road to travel.
Well, that was timely. I was having a discussion with one of my co-workers before work this morning about people who oversell themselves and then can’t actually do the job. I have always been apt to undersell myself which isn’t the right approach either. Fair pay for fair work, I say.
I cannot imagine the amount of time and effort you expend on your blog – it takes me ages just to write a birthday card!
Well yes, the opposite is true, too! I’ve seen that, as well.
I am glad you held fast and got your price. As a copyeditor I struggle with this, especially as I often work for friends. I think women, especially of our generation, can be skilled professionals in our fields at one level, but often find it hard to speak for our professional worth at another. This has a lot to do with those subliminal messages of our background and education that have worked kindly for us in some ways, but just not in terms of speaking up for our worth. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh and I absolutely appreciate that access to your blog is free for me and that the ads allow this.
You are very welcome, Sally.
My thoughts on blogging are the same as Vicki’s above. My understanding was that blogging was like a journal and a way of sharing one’s thoughts with like-minded people. When pictures were added, I assumed it was part of the blogger sharing their life with interested readers.
I would not be in a position to pay for a subscription to a blog; and when a blog is very heavy with sponsored product reviews — more than with interesting posts about their lives — I feel manipulated and betrayed to a point. I stop reading.
I understand that blogging has evolved, and all readers benefit from the beautiful pictures and lovely styling. But to me that takes a back seat to the individual life and interests that are being shared. I want to know the person (as much as one can through the internet). I am interested in the person and what interests them.
Off my soapbox….
I’m so glad you stood firm with the theater company, Claudia, and received what you asked for. I do believe you are so talented and worthy of such respect for what you do as I’ve read your accounts through the years. Sometimes I can picture you sitting in a theater or a back room with the actor(s) and going over their lines, pronunciation, intent … wish I were a fly on the wall!
Kudos to you, Claudia!
If a blogger doesn’t need ad income, great. Not everyone does. That kind of blog is a hobby (in the best sense of the word) and a journal. Mine is also a journal of sorts. But there are all sorts of blogs out there, not just journal-type blogs, and many of them are businesses. And why not? If a blogger can be compensated for his/her time, so much the better.
Blogging has changed a great deal since the early days. I was there, not as early as some bloggers, but believe me when I say it is very different now than it was seven years ago and yet, some aspects of it are very much the same.
I always subscribe to the idea that Content is King. Content, whether it is of a personal nature or whether it is more of a magazine-style blog, has to be something that draws the readers in and different readers will like different blogs. But whatever kind of blog it is, it takes a LOT of work. And remember there are all kinds of blogs out there, food blogs, decorating blogs, political blogs, religious blogs, DIY blogs, Journal-type blogs, news blogs, fashion blogs, photography blogs..I could go on and on. They are all blogs.
Thanks for a very thoughtful post today, Claudia. Since I retired last October, I am offering my services as a trained sewing instructor. I thought long and hard about my price list and came up with what I think is fair. Some will not want my services, since they think I should work up classes for them at less than minimum wage. I have no intention of giving my time away for free. If I don’t teach classes, I’ll be working on my own projects instead. At age 60, my time is my most precious commodity!
Amen. You go, Debra! Your time is precious, your experience and expertise is worth whatever you are charging. If the consumer doesn’t want to pay it..they can move on to someone else.
Claudia, you were 100% right about standing your ground re your coaching fee. And I bet experience was the only way you could have learned that. The one thing that is truly great about getting older, in my book, is that eventually, we really DO figure some things out. Many things that we couldn’t have handled or solved in our 20s and 30s – many things that never would have even dawned on us then – become clear, or easier, or even ‘OMG-forehead-palm-I’ve-got-it!’ as we proceed along into our 40s, 50s and beyond. More and more I find myself thinking “Gee I wish I’d known this when I was 20…” Live and learn, huh? Maybe that’s Life Big Lesson, I don’t know. Anyway, enjoy your day…
I think it is Life’s Big Lesson, or at least an important lesson. You reach the point where you figure it out after banging your head against the wall. I also think we reach a point where we cease to care what someone might think about us. I certainly have. No time for that, anymore!
Claudia, I am glad it worked out for you. It is a good feeling when we stand up for ourselves and not be taken advantage of. Doris
Thank you, Doris.
A book on this very subject is Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I put off reading it for a while because I thought it would be the same old thing and I wouldn’t like it. But she said some very interesting things about claiming our worth as women employees. It is worth reading….
It’s on my list, thank you.
How timely your post is…I just read an article about Colleen McCullough’s obituary. Wait until you read this from an Australian newspaper. Shame on them.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/30/colleen-mcculloch-well-celebrate-a-woman-for-anything-as-long-as-its-not-her-talent
Oh my god. I just read it. Shame on them, indeed, Melanie. Appalling.
A really interesting post Claudia. I think we as women tend to underestimate our value anyway. At least our generation was often raised to be home makers and that was it. I’m so glad things have changed. I can see this in blogging as you can. I have been asked to do many blog posts or guest posts for a product for free. I am not interested in anything like that. I really blog for the love of it alone. I don’t even have much in the way of ads on my blog…nothing that pays me much at all. So it’s for the love of it for me. I know others need income from their blogs and I get it. If they can do it and still be interesting to me, then I’ll continue to read them. If they get so sterile and lose the personal touch, I’m probably gone. That’s my feeling about it, but to each their own. I’m glad they realized your value and will pay you and I’m even more glad you know your value and stick to your guns.
hugs,
Linda
I think you got us all thinking with that one and as usual, you’re right on..If you don’t value your work, no one else will.. It’s obvious that you love blogging..and you’re probably a fast typist as well :)
Such an interesting post Claudia – very glad you stood your ground and they realized your value to them. Hope you manage to get to the city without driving difficulty – it does sound like an interesting job.
Blogging, oh dear blogging. We love it mostly, some days though we say we’ll give it all up, but we keep on. . . . . . what the heck would I do with all those photos anyway!!!!!!
Thanks so much for the well wishes dear friend – and make sure you take care of your back!
Love and hugs – Mary
Good post! As a fellow blogger, I hear ya. People are always saying to me, “I wish you would post more often.” If they only knew the thought and time that goes into all of it…….my goodness! I marvel that you find something to post each and everyday.
Just this morning I got a text from a gal that wanted to order 3 dozen decorated Valentine cookies from me—-3 days before. It isn’t like I have nothing else to do!!! I know when I quote her a price, she is going to have a fit. I don’t know if I even want to go to the bother of texting her back. People expect you to work for free anymore if you are doing it from home or JUST making cookies. My goodness—I guess I went off on a little bit of a rant there. ☺
I am absolutely a capitalist, which to me means to me: one should be compensated for their work. I get many emails asking me if I’d write a post for a certain commodity and I refuse all. I don’t need the money and I don’t want to DO it. I’ve rejected 2 this month alone. I do what I have to do because I HAVE to do it; I don’t do what I don’t want to do because I DON’T want to. It’s that simple. But then I’m much older than you and probably a bit more crotchety! (I don’t know if that is actually a word but we’ve used it through the years and it seems appropriate.) But never, ever devalue your worth!
xoxo,
Connie