INTERVIEW KOBENA
OWUSU-ANSAH
Kobena Owusu-Ansah, gigging musician
Yesterday I had the honour of talking with Kobena Owusu-Ansah - an advocate for the fair pay of musicians. I was asking him his views on this - a topic he feels so passionately about and something that the Music Society itself is pushing for amongst students at the Unversity.
Kobena, why is the fair pay of musicians so important to you?
Well I suppose it comes down to the fact I am a musician myself, and have experienced the highs and lows of performing in a number of ensembles. It is something I love to do and am proud of. I guess that's why whenever I hear of musicians being EXPECTED to provide their services for free, it angers me a lot. This is a lack of respect from their talents. It seems that lots of the issue boils down to this really.
Many might argue that musicians should perform their music for free because its a hobby - "play for the love of the music”?
I am fine with musicians playing for free if that is their choice - I’m happy for any musician who is in a position where they are able to do that, though I doubt many can afford to, just as long as they aren’t getting exploited. Because remember, if I get asked to perform at a party, I still need to pay for petrol, pay for maintenance of my instruments, and ultimately spend a lot of my time getting there, waiting, performing and going home.
I have been asked to play at many weddings for free or next to nothing and nearly every time it is I - the musician - who is the only one not getting paid. Even the DJ who sticks in a CD and presses play for an hour or two is getting paid (and more than I usually do too!). I love music and I love performing it, but theres only so far it can go as just a hobby - and I do rely on it for money. Playing cheesy pop songs at a wedding.. [sigh] lets just say it can get a bit tiring!
Is it not worth doing these free gigs in exchange for exposure?
[laughs] I was waiting for that to come up! Haha, exposure.. the greatest enemy of the working musician. Its true that playing at a wedding can be good “exposure” for more weddings or parties, but that's not reliable and it's not as if this is something you “give” - exposure isn’t some object you can just hand out! Yes, it is important but there's a stage where it can get a bit silly. For example; if I have got enough of a name for myself that people come and ask me to play for them, does it really sound like I need exposure?! Also there are many venues that host “band nights” - but don’t pay the bands!!! That is just as bad, if not worse - it's literally exploiting the musicians!! The whole night hinges on the musicians and they are not even paying them!!
What advice would you give students?
I would say respect yourself. Know that you and your music are worth something. Don’t oversell yourself, but don’t undersell yourself either.. Even as students - especially as students - you should get money for doing this and it is great experience. But also, work together - it can sometimes take just one musician who will play for free to make those musicians striving for respect and fair pay to be forced to do the same!
Ryan Allen
Senior Reporter
SOME GREAT NEW MUSIC TO ENJOY..
an acoustic singer from Hitchin, UK - he's destined for great things.. Check out "When we were on Fire"
this four-piece act from Washington DC have a really good sound - listen to "Coffee"
saucy, funky soul - listen to "What I Did" by this band from LA!
Taken from our 'Track a Day' on the music soc Facebook and Twitter
4