Most creatives cringe at the words “I’ll pay you in exposure” and rightly so. Exposure technically doesn’t pay bills and there is rarely a guarantee that the said exposure will be useful in the long run, however I’d like to share with you some of the few times being paid in exposure has actually been more beneficial than being paid in cash.
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Creatives trying to break into the entertainment industry have to come to terms with the fact that the key players in the industry are a very tight-knit community who do their best to limit who they grant entry, everyone wants to become famous so the gatekeepers feel like it is their job to thin the number of people struggling to make it in and secure a seat at the table, what that means is that they pretty much control who gets in and who gets out, a good way to get in their good graces is to show them what value you’re able to offer them, this could be anything depending on your skillset.
My bosom friend and producer Po (who is coincidentally the keyboardist for a Nigerian Highlife band called the Cavemen) did a Favour for one such gatekeeper and almost started to regret not charging her for his services, shortly after he was called to produce a song for Efe Omorogbe (2baba’s manager), Sound sultan, Rugged man, and MI Abaga. You might not be familiar with these names but these are icons in the Nigerian music industry and the collaboration with them boosted his CV as a producer, upped his price, and opened more doors to bigger opportunities.
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Even outside the entertainment industry, my mother is one of the biggest reasons why I understand that money isn’t everything on the road to getting what you want and achieving your dreams. My mom graduated with a degree in Zoology and spent ten years teaching afterward, as we grew older our needs increased and the meager salary could barely cater for us and so she decided to switch careers and go into television and media. No TV station was willing to hire someone with Zero experience so she ended up having to volunteer for six months, spending an exhausting her savings on transportation in the process. I remember wondering if it wasn’t madness back then. She is currently one of the most respected executives at the station and her sacrifice has paid off big time.
Finally, it is worth noting that not every opportunity can be bought and not every service can be paid for, Some of the people who can take you to the next level in your career cannot be paid to do so, you can however barter your services with them in exchange for their help.
I always say that if all a person can offer you is money then you should take it, but if they can offer you anything other than that then it might be worth considering.
What are your thoughts on this subject?