03/03/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17yLieUXPj/?mibextid=wwXIfr
THIS NEEDS TO BE SAID……This is for all businesses, organizations, etc that want to commission & engage with professional artists…Kei te hōhā au!…As a full time Artist for the last 25 years, ive created work for Big global companies through to many businesses, agencies and Iwi organizations here in Aotearoa, one of the biggest hōhā and costs of being an artist isn’t materials or long hours etc — it’s our TIME that gets TAKEN FOR GRANTED!
TIME spent preparing ideas, Time spent bringing our years of experience to the table, Time spent rearranging our calendars & lives for your projects, so we can give our best – because as Artists, our mahi is a reflection of US!
Too often that time is treated like it’s disposable…Projects get cancelled last minute.
Emails go unanswered…Details aren’t communicated upfront…Budgets suddenly “change.”…or artists are offered the ol “exposure payment” instead of real value.
KĀTI RĀ!
And yes i state 50% deposits down first etc, but sometimes some jobs, kaupapa, & partnership colabs have different context etc..
I’ve experienced all of the above and more in my time – and it needs to Stop! For the sake of all artists!
Most of us artists are VERY INTENTIONAL about what work we take on and WHO we do it for – I heard a saying from a friend recently - “IF IT DOESN’T ALIGN…DECLINE!” Koina!
Ive declined many opportunities in the past, holding to my values and not getting enticed by “Shiny” products, promises of global exposure or big budgets…but their Kaupapa didn’t align with my values or who I am..
Behind every piece of work or kōrero is years of experience, learning, and sacrifice. When you engage an artist, you’re not just booking time — you’re drawing on a lifetime and whakapapa of knowledge, pukenga and experience!
I’ll finish with one of the most pono statements ever when it comes to commissioning an artist these days….
“YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”
Nō reira, E ngā ringatoi – Tū pakari i tō ake Mana!
