Ego vs. Income

[Stephon]

I’d appreciate some feedback/input on a dilemma I’m having–a couple of months ago I premiered my Swami Yomahmi geek show at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Audience response and feedback were good, much to my gratification.

Today I received the following e-mail from a patron, forwarded by the festival director:

[quote]“Would you happen to know if the Swami Yomahmi is available to come by a goodbye party for someone. . .and do his little shtick from the Renaissance Festival? If yes, I need to know how much the Swami’s services might cost.”<hr></blockquote>

My first reaction was, “Great, someone wants to book my show!”

My next reaction was,“ ‘do his little shtick’? I spent hundreds of dollars and scores of hours writing, building, and shaping this show. It is my craftwork, not ‘shtick’. Fuck you!”

Now, I stand by my second reaction, and I'm also turned off by "available to come by a goodbye party"--I wouldn't be dropping in to have a drink and maybe do a couple of card tricks, I'd be there as a professional performer doing my job.

Am I over-reacting and allowing some schmuck’s ignorance to stop me from booking a paying gig?

What do you think? Should I do the show? Blow the guy off and not respond? Quote him an outrageous price and consider my wounded pride salved if he accepts it? What?

(One thing’s for sure: if I do take the job, that “little shtick” crap alone is gonna cost him an extra $75.)

Thanks.

[martin ewen]

Stephon
In my opinion
"I need to know how much the Swami’s services might cost."
Is the point of his correspondence, and yes you should be pleased.
The other, offhand stuff about 'shtick' and 'available to come by...'
is just hamfisted positioning in initial negotiations.
(sort of, Oh by the way I'd like to employ you.)
Don't get reactionary, start the way you wish to carry on, give him a quote.
If you ignore being drawn into revealing your preciousness you win.
(you have every right to be insulted I reckon)
It will cost him an extra $75 which seems reasonable but don't tell him that. Tell someone who employs him (or his wife if its a private thing)after your show while you have their goodwill at hand, just mention it in passing, ' He could have saved you $75 if he hadn't called it shtick.
Charge what you normally would plus $75 for Personality digestion services.

One positive is that to go to the trouble of getting in touch with you via an old employer they have revealed more desire than their offhand comments can disguise.

[ 11-11-2002: Message edited by: martin ewen ]</p>

[Steven Ragatz]

Stephon,

I wouldn't read too much into the language into the quote that you posted. Without any other information, I see no reason to feel diminished or undervalued. As Martin pointed out, the fact that the client went to the trouble to track you down through your employer gives you a strong negotiating stance. Ask what you want to get for your show for the given venue. Blow them away with a brilliant performance and show them just how effective shtick can be!

Steven Ragatz

Q: What's brown and shticky?
A: A minstrel show.

[Pyromancer]

From a yiddish library I found on the web:

shtik - a routine or behavior, especially an actors

Another glossary quotes
A shtik naches - a great joy or
Grandchild, child, or relative who gives you pleasure; a great joy

And it translates

Shtik - Piece, bit: a special bit of acting

Merriam Webster on-line says:

Main Entry: shtick. Function: noun
Etymology: Yiddish shtik pranks, literally, piece, from Middle High German stücke, from Old High German stucki; akin to Old English stycce piece, Old High German stoc stick -- more at STOCK
1 : a show-business routine, gimmick, or gag : BIT
2 : one's special trait, interest, or activity : BAG &lt;he's alive and well and now doing his shtick out in Hollywood -- Robert Daley&lt

Personally: yes, I do think you are overreacting if you manage to get the money for the gig that you want to have. I actually think your ego may be playing games with you by getting you so overly upset about the words chosen.
What I read in this post, is that your contact is using your stage name to ask if you can come around and thereby is playing along with your game, indicating respect to the stage character you showed at that rennaissance festival.

I have never seen your act, though...

[ 11-11-2002: Message edited by: Pyromancer ]</p>

[Stephon]

Thanks Martin, Steven, and Pyro for the feedback. While I am no detractor of shtick (a director/friend gave me a ball cap several years ago with the title "Shtickboy", which I wear proudly), I guess I was put off a) by the descriptor "little" and b) the idea that my entire show could be rendered down into shtick (Pyromancer, while those definitions are fine for pieces of business in a show, try thinking of your show in it's entirety as just shtick. And little shtick at that).

As it turns out, this fellow never even saw the show, but wanted me because he's a big fan of 2 other stage shows I am part of. Obviously, this is very complimentary.

Ultimately, the point is moot--he wanted to perform in his living room, and given that the show requires some off-stage amplified business, a broken water balloon, and a significant amount of fake blood, the whole thing wasn't a match to begin with.

Thanks again guys for the dose of perspective.

BTW Steven, got to see you perform at the MotionFest public show--Wow. I really regret that my schedule didn't allow me to attend the workshops this year. Would've liked to introduce myself after the show, but didn't see you.

Cheers.

[Cybele]

Steph... I can't imagine how you could stand for such an insult! I would have replied RIGHT AWAY and given him what for! Anyway, calling it "little shtick" was COMPLETELY inaccurate. It was CUTE little shtick.