To the creatives

[Skanky Vamp]

For people that rely on creating- whatever- as their profession. I came across this little story some time ago and it stuck with me. I was thinking of it again today and thought, you know what, others might like it.. so here it is.. There once was a man from Nantucket... wait, wrong story... this is the correct one:

A woman in Paris spots Picasso in a cafe. She begs and pleads him to sketch her…he finally relents, whips out his pad and draws a sketch of her.

She’s delighted. “How much do I owe you?” she asks.

“$5,000,” he replies.

“$5,000!” she exclaims. “But it only took you 2 minutes!”

“No madam,” he replies. “It took me my life”.

This is what your clients are paying you for… not your time, not your ‘effort’ – rather, your WEALTH of experience, knowledge, information and networks which you have built up over YEARS of study, practice, failures, successes and experience.
​

Anyway.. it really struck a chord with me, so I thought I would share.

 

[The Bronze]

It's a very creative way to justify fleecing the poor woman!

 

[Lyri]

Fleecing her? No, he didn't. He did exactly the right thing. He's sitting in a cafe, minding his own business, probably relaxing and enjoying whatever he's ordered, and this random woman comes out of nowhere and demands that he sketch her right then and there, 'begs and pleads until he relents', as the story describes, which means he said 'no' more than once and she wouldn't take that as an answer.

Hmm.

He wasn't a performing monkey. I hate all those people who see artists or musicians in 'the real world' and demand that they draw something for them or sing something for them. They're people, not objects to be used for our pleasure. I have numerous personalized sketches from artists, sketches that I paid for and lined up to get at certain events, but I would never go up to someone in the middle of a cafe and demand that they draw something for me. That is a sense of entitlement that I don't even have words for.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

He used to pay his bar tab by scribbling on a napkin and handing it to the bartender.

It's good to be Picasso!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Fleecing her? No, he didn't. He did exactly the right thing.

Not only that but most people invest countless hours and/or (tens of) thousands of dollars to learn their craft. They shouldn't be expected to give it away for free to whomever wants it.