makeup artists, propmakers, costumers, etc.
Kali Black
Some of you have already seen the emerging web presence for CambionFX,
those who haven't can check out the site at ww.cambionfx.com.au or the
facebook page at www.facebook.com/cambionfx and while you do, please
consider the following proposition...
I would like CambionFX to become a force in the field. I want to run it
on a decentralised, co-operative cloud model, where skilled artists all
work together to get ourselves and each other work, exposure, skills
development, and all that good stuff. The idea is to develop a diverse
talent pool under the name CambionFX, so that no matter what a job
needs, we can source the right person for it.
There will be a database that we can all access privately for contact
info, skill sets, etc. with optional searchable public profiles, and the
next version of the website will have a portal for CambionFX affiliated
artists to log in and post to the blog.
So what about fees, I hear you ask. Well, that's the great thing. Such
small fees as are necessary for the running of such a venture, I am
attempting to structure for maximum mutual benefit. If, each time you
get a job as a Cambion FX artist, you put the cost of a cup of coffee or
two into the account, that should easily cover all hosting and web
monkey costs. Any surplus will be spent on EOFYS parties for Cambion
artists.
If you get anyone to do any admin tasks for you, negotiate a fee with
them. There should always be a payment, even a token or in-kind payment,
because we want to give value and validation to each other's time and
work. Ultimately, CambionFX is business, and making money off your
friends' free labour is a nasty piece of exploitation.
Print promotion will run on a basis of as you can, when you can. When
you have money and/or time that you can put into printing and
distributing posters, flyers, brochures or business cards, do it so we
can all keep attracting work. If you want to run print materials
specifically highlighting yourself and your skill sets, using the CFX
name & logo, you are entirely welcome to do so with the understanding
that you will still pass jobs and queries on to other artists as
appropriate.
If you pass a paying job on to someone else better suited to it, they
pay you a finder's fee from 5% on a sliding scale depending on the job's
return. This way, we all like finding each other jobs, as well as
finding our own, and also the percentage is never a hideous glaring
deduction from any paid job that is passed to you. Percentages might
change depending on market pressure, but that's one of those
arse-covering possibility statements, rather than any real liklihood.
When you pass a job on to someone else you get first knockback on any
assistant positions attendant to that job. If you take one of said
positions there is no finder's fee. Likewise, there is no finder's fee
attracted by giving assistant positions on your jobs to Cambion artists.
If you take a job under the banner of CambionFX and require assistants,
you are expected to draw them from the Cambion pool wherever humanly
possible.
Unpaid jobs don't attract a finder's fee, but I strongly urge everyone
to think at least twice before accepting unpaid jobs, as I fiercely
believe that your professional gigs *are* your exposure. The only time
you should work pro-bono is for love, learning, or charity. If you
encounter an unpaid job that will make you happy, further a cause you
are passionate about, or enable you to develop new skills, then by all
means take it, but never take a bland or meaningless job "for exposure"
because it's a gigantic ripoff and you deserve better.
Unpaid jobs through CambionFX are expected to cover material costs,
otherwise they can fuck right off. CambionFX is not about artists paying
for the privilege of working. Ever.
Artists set their own fees. I urge you to examine market rates and set
your fees towards the high end of the competitive average. This both
values you and your work, and also strangely enough gets us taken
seriously as professionals--and remember, we are aiming to become a force.
Stuff that will get you kicked out and snubbed is abuse, failure to pay
finder's fees, taking unpaid jobs that don't cover material costs,
bullying, refusal to share jobs with more qualified artists, failure to
coffee fund the web presence, failure to contribute to print advertising
if reasonably able to do so, exploiting other Cambion artists, abusive
or threatening behaviour towards Cambion artists or clients, or damaging
the professional reputation of CambionFX or any Cambion artists. I think
that just about covers it.
The few things I will retain exclusive control over are the screening
and acceptance of new artists into the pool, ownership of the business
name, bank account and website, and the coffeefund account, all matters
largely of convenience and legality. You will technically be a sole
trader, so you will need your own ABN.
So, having read through this long-winded and intermittently ranty
proposition, if you thrive in a workshare environment and are interested
in pooling and expanding your skills in makeup, propmaking, special
effects, costume, set design, or related areas for mutual benefit and
prosperity, send a list of your skills, interests, and any relevant
experience and/or training to camb...@gmail.com
If you have no formal training or industry experience, but still want to
play, query anyway. Hell, I'm largely self-taught so I'm not going to
overlook other self-taught artists for want of bits of paper.
Because I am still knee-deep in the setup process and generally hella
busy, I ask that you give me a couple of weeks to get back to you. I
promise I will get back to every Awesome Grrrl who queries, I just can't
promise how quickly.
Love,
Kali