Today is the beginning of 365 days of the end. The end to my stake as a TwentySomething and hopefully to the attendant TwentySomething drama.
How do I feel about that? Mixed.
Today is also the day I begin my 365 Day Photo Challenge to shoot and post at least one photo per day to chronicle this iconic year in my development.
Happy Birthday to me.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
More on Harsh Economic Realities
Blogger The Cloudcutter said...
Sounds a lot like home!
Re the magazine, how many words will they expect for this pittance? And will that include pix? If so, don't take it! You should get extra for the pix and ask them to pay you per word, it will work out better for you.
There is an additional fee for photos, though I am not sure how much. The word limit is 500 words per story with the expectation that features would be longer.
I didn't think it would be so bad but damn! Thirty-five bucks is really embarrassing!
Sheer Almshouse's Response
Isn't it just so sad? How long have they exploited our labour as a people and made us feel that working for naught is the de facto way of life for the poor and humble? Maybe that is a common current shared by us who have been colonized in recent enough times and felt especially by those of us who used to be forced to work for free. Furthermore a sliding local currency makes it even worse.
I will try to negotiate for a better deal, but the likelihood of that happening is slim in times like these when magazine sales are down. I really just need to pitch to bigger publications... aim high and see what happens thereafter.
My ex did it... he pushed himself so hard and for so long sending his working to newspapers until some of the MANY "No's" turned into paid work. Now he is arguably the most highly internationally published Jamaican photog/writer.
He's just that kind of guy.
Furthermore, a lesson that I have yet to learn is that I need to be going for gigs that pay in hard currency. Our local currency is anything BUT hard. It's as mushy as the food you give to a toothless geriatric.
Sounds a lot like home!
Re the magazine, how many words will they expect for this pittance? And will that include pix? If so, don't take it! You should get extra for the pix and ask them to pay you per word, it will work out better for you.
There is an additional fee for photos, though I am not sure how much. The word limit is 500 words per story with the expectation that features would be longer.
I didn't think it would be so bad but damn! Thirty-five bucks is really embarrassing!
Sheer Almshouse's Response
Isn't it just so sad? How long have they exploited our labour as a people and made us feel that working for naught is the de facto way of life for the poor and humble? Maybe that is a common current shared by us who have been colonized in recent enough times and felt especially by those of us who used to be forced to work for free. Furthermore a sliding local currency makes it even worse.
I will try to negotiate for a better deal, but the likelihood of that happening is slim in times like these when magazine sales are down. I really just need to pitch to bigger publications... aim high and see what happens thereafter.
My ex did it... he pushed himself so hard and for so long sending his working to newspapers until some of the MANY "No's" turned into paid work. Now he is arguably the most highly internationally published Jamaican photog/writer.
He's just that kind of guy.
Furthermore, a lesson that I have yet to learn is that I need to be going for gigs that pay in hard currency. Our local currency is anything BUT hard. It's as mushy as the food you give to a toothless geriatric.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Harsh Economic Realities
Fact: my little brother just got a fancy schmancy summer job as a honour student of the nation's premier university (as Ivy League as it gets without the lizards) and he just bragged to me that he is being paid nicely. Just how much is nice in Jamaica for a university senior? The eqquivalent of USD$410 per month.
That saddens me deeply. It also brings home the fact that the struggles here are plentiful... and the earnings little.
I had a meeting with one magazine that offered to pay me $35 per story- and I will take it because I believe in the publication and I could use the outlet. Fact is, that labour is very cheap in Jamaica. It may be the only commodity that trades so cheaply. So people who produce the goods, can't afford to buy them...isn't it ironic?
That saddens me deeply. It also brings home the fact that the struggles here are plentiful... and the earnings little.
I had a meeting with one magazine that offered to pay me $35 per story- and I will take it because I believe in the publication and I could use the outlet. Fact is, that labour is very cheap in Jamaica. It may be the only commodity that trades so cheaply. So people who produce the goods, can't afford to buy them...isn't it ironic?
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