I’m on my 5^th request this month for a charity performance, just a couple of songs. Who’s asking…show coordinators, charity board members, a friend of a friend. Who are they asking? The seasoned Artists whom make there living at performance. Problem is………… they want the artist to work for FREE.

My favorite line is, “It would be a great opportunity for (insert artists name here). Excuse me!!!!!! Who is the great opportunity for, the cause, the coordinator but rarely the Artist. Most performers being asked have been in the business for decades. My question is, “How is it a great opportunity for the artist?” Somebody please tell me!!!

This is a call for honesty. Even though I know that honesty in show business is a rare commodity. Too many people in our business stretch the truth, bend it, embellish it -- or, too often, abandon it completely.

One of those times that I scream out for honesty -- honesty, for Pete's sake! -- is when I, as a personal manager, get a call for one of my clients to donate his/her time and talent to help raise funds for a particular charity.

I'm not asked if my client would be willing to do some of his/her act FOR NO PAY. I'm not asked if my client would mind giving up his/her own time to rehearse with musicians other than his/her own. I'm not asked if my client would mind blocking out two or three days, including travel time, from his schedule in order to get to the charitable event. No, I'm not asked those things or the many other inconveniences my client and I will have to support in order to do so for no payment at all.

Writing a check is easy and fast. It’s even more generous when the artist contributes, “Just a couple of songs.” Hours and hours and hours go into just a couple of songs. There’s the business communications regarding the event, Press Releases, head shots, phone calls, emails, parking passes & ground & air travel scheduling and so on. There’s the producing process, scripting, lighting, intros, entrances, exits, sound check, etc. Then of course, the show process… song selection, band rehearsal, audio recording, a musical director (Who also many times is asked to work for free) and on and on…..oh yeah, that’s right, “Just a couple of Songs.”

I’m getting off the subject. “A great opportunity for the artist.”  On a rare occasion, it can be and it is a great opportunity. Let me tell you when. When you’re a budding artist, when the artist is new in town, when news coverage is guaranteed, when it’s the Tonight Show, when it’s a new venue or circumstance, when the song’s being recorded for national distribution, when the PR becomes ink or a feature story, and most importantly, when it touches your soul and you’ve shared pain and progress with the specific charity. That’s when it’s a great opportunity!

 It’s NOT a great opportunity when a celebrities name is put on a flyer! Most of us don’t mind if you ask. It’s just hard to digest that it’s a great opportunity for the artist when it’s simply not. The next time I suggest trying to pose your question this way. “I know it will be a lot of time and work for you and it will be greatly appreciated by the charity, I’ll smell like a rose, and I know your talents will help us make money.” Give it to them straight. The statement, “It will be a great opportunity for __________, is simply misleading most of the time.

Let me reiterate. This town is filled with amazing talents, most of whom have done their fair share of charity work, willingly, professionally and unselfishly. The city of entertainment is loaded with Good Will from local celebrities. I know many, many artists and managers/agents feel this way but most won’t state their feelings. I felt compelled to do so, on behalf of those who would have liked to. The new year is just that-NEW. Let’s try and change or restate our question or request. Ask, but ask with honesty & appreciation and not some fairy-tale “It’s a great opportunity for so and so.”

This article hopes and is intended to clarify. It’s a simple call for honesty.