I work in the arts. A few months ago I responded to a call out for people to give a talk about their work to people who want to break into the field. I was then put in touch over email with a theatre company that runs an evening course for learning disabled adults, and we arranged a date when I would come in to give my talk. The date is tomorrow.
Last Wednesday I spoke to the person running the course and found out that he doesn't know anything about my work, hadn't even googled me, and that the course is about acting (my work has nothing to do with acting).
I emailed him the talk I was planning to give, to see what he thought. He said it wasn't suitable and could I 'show some videos' and then do a practical exercise for an hour. I don't have any videos to show, and he said the practical exercise I suggested wouldn't be suitable because it's about language, and most of the students are not comfortable with reading or writing.
The thing is, my entire job and field is about writing. So I don't know what else to do.
I suggested over email that I was the wrong person to do this session. I asked if there was anyone else to step in. The man emailed back saying he was sure I'd be fine and he could meet me an hour early to talk it through if I liked.
My dilemma is:
I feel really strongly that I don't want to do it. I hadn't planned to spend hours preparing something completely new, and will have to turn down paid work to do it tomorrow. I don't have time to turn up an hour early because of childcare commitments. I don't think the students are going to benefit from me giving a talk about my work, or, quite honestly, from my trying to cobble together something else at short notice. And I just don't feel like I signed up for this. While I want to help people break into the industry, one of the reasons it's so hard to break into is because there's a culture of people working for free!
But I know if I don't do it I am going to mess up the course. I will definitely be letting them down. And may well gain a reputation within the wider industry for being difficult/ selfish/ flakey, which is very difficult if you're a freelancer.
If i'm going to say no, I have to do it asap. Like, give them a call this morning.
AIBU to bail? What would you do?
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AIBU?
To bail on this commitment - need to make a decision urgently!
51 replies
notheretoargue · 09/10/2017 10:03
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