昨天，接到一個突如其來的工作。
yesterday, I got a call of a sudden job inquiries.
大約在下午一時，我收到一個電話，她是我的一個朋友介紹的，希望找4位Dancers即晚在一個活動演出一首舞蹈。她表示她沒有很大的要求，Dancers們可以跳回平日的舞蹈，目的能炒熱氣氛即可。
Around 1pm, I received a call, who is referred from my friend, requested to have 4 dancers dancing in an event at the night of the same day. She said she didn’t have any preferences, just danced something common to arouse the atmosphere is ok.
對於表演藝術工作者來說，這種突如其來的工作是我們不太願意遇到的。
As a performing artist, this kind of job is something we don’t want to have.
對於大眾來說，一個舞蹈演出、或音樂、戲劇等類型演出，十分簡單，因為表演者應早已有「一兩套拳」，可隨時應付演出，但其實一個演出，並不簡單。以舞蹈為例，就算舞者早已有排好的歌曲和舞蹈，還有很多要注意的地方：
To the general public, a dance performance, or a music, drama performance, is simple. Performers should have one to two “routine” in hands to cope with a sudden performance. But I want to say, a real performance, is not easy. Take dance as example, although dancers already have the choreography, there are still a lot to concern:
人數：由於每次的演出人數都不同，舞者需花時間重新編排每一分鐘、每一秒的走位
舞台：每個舞台都不同，舞者亦需因應舞台重新編排走位
服裝：因為場合，舞者需搭配不同類型的服裝
對像：因應不同對像，就算同一個舞蹈，都需要一些相對的小修改。如果是年輕人的派對，可能要預留部份時間做互動。如果是商務場合，可能一些比較性感，或玩味較重的舞步亦需修改。
No. of performers: as no. of performers varies each time, dancers need time to re-arrange the dance pattern for every minute, every second.
Stage: every time the stage is different, different format, different size, different materials, different situation. Dancers need time to review if there is any steps or pattern not fitting to the stage and re-arrange.
Costume: due to different type of events, dancers need to change the costumes and may even buy a new one.
Target: dancers need to re-arrange the dance due to different audience. If it is a young party, dancers may need to spare some time for interaction. If it is a formal business event, dancer may need to remove some steps which are too sexy or pondering.
其實我不太想接這工作，因應我覺得有點冒險，因為當客戶需要找人作即場表演，很多時候代表了一件事：他還未清楚自己的需求，很多時會一改再改，甚至影響演出的效果，我很著重演出的效果，如果我沒有信心把工作做好，就算錢再多，我也不會接的。不過，這次是朋友介紹，我把決定留給Dancers們 (我負責接洽工作，並不跳舞)。最後我們決定演出。
Actually, I didn’t want to take this job as it is too risky. I knew that a client call for performance in the same day means one thing: He is not sure what he really wants, and would change and change and change the details, resulting in negative influence of the performance. I care the result of a performance so much. If I have no confident to make it good, I will refuse even though there is so much money. But, this time the client is referred by my good friend and I give the decision to the dancers. (I don’t dance and only do the agency job). And they decide to do it.
結果，我擔心的事出現了。
So, what I worried happened.
我們在演出前5小時決定演出，4小時前客戶臨時把Dancers減做3位，3小時前客戶更改歌曲，當然，我很想拒絕他的要求，不過Dancers們不希望影響我和客戶未來的合作，願意配合，他們利用2小時的時間修改舞步，配合新的歌曲。然後演出的時候，客戶希望將其中一次的演出轉為Free Style部份 (本來我們是一首歌跳兩次)，幸好這次的Dancers都有跳Free Style的能力，否則我又要跟客戶討價還價一番，最後，全賴一班專業的Dancers，這次演出尚算順利，客戶滿意之餘，亦因這次我們叫做幫了他們大忙，大大增加我們未來再合作的機會。
We confirmed the performance 5 hours before it. 4 hours before, client changed the number of dancers from 4 to 3. 3 hours before, client changed the song. Of course, I can refuse his request, but dancers said they could do it and didn’t want to affect the relationship of me and the client. They spent the remaining 2 hours to fit the request. Finally it’s 30 mins before performance, client requested to change the second dance to free style dance (initially we dance one song two times). Luckily, my dancers are professional. They did what the clients wanted. Everything were fine.
可能有人會覺得我太不懂拒絕，但我的想法是如果我們能力許可，我會盡量配合活動，否則大家都沒有意思，加上客戶的態度十分好，我們亦願意幫忙。但有時，有些客戶太輕視了表演藝術的價值。
You may ask why didn’t I rejected his request. What I concern is, I will try my best to fit the overall performance if it’s under control of my ability. It’s meaningless for all parties to make the performance bad. And the attitude of client was good. I wanted to help. But sometime, client is not very good.
我不知在外國是怎樣，我只說在香港的情況。我們經常會遇到一個情況，例子：客戶希望找10位舞者跳一隻5分鐘的舞蹈，開價$2000，我回覆他價錢太低的時候，他會回答：「跳舞這麼貴的嗎？其實不需要排得很好，把你們跳過的舞步放進去，隨便跳兩下就可以了。」
I don’t know the situation outside Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we usually get some cases like: clients request to have 10 dancers with 5 mins’ song, budget HKD$2000. I reply that the budget is too low. He answered: “Oh dance performance is so expensive! Actually I don’t need a very professional dance. Just causal is ok! I can’t pay so much.”
當然，我絕對理解不是每一位客戶都了解舞蹈行業，故我希望講解一下，讓大家都認識更多。一個舞蹈表演，由了解活動、選取音樂、找Dancers、排練、準備服裝、化妝、現場排練到演出，所花的時間比想像更多。舞者要記住整整5分鐘的舞步和走位，沒有1秒的停頓，如果是認真對待的話，單單排舞的時間可以花至少10個小時。不要說技術層面，假設你要出席一個活動，一位女仕都要花數小時準備外觀吧。所謂台上一分鐘，台下十年功，這不止是說表演者要花很長時間去鍛鍊表演技巧，而同時也在說表演者需要花很多時間準備每一個表演的細節。我可以說，這些全都是Dancers們的血汗錢。
I understand that not every client knows much about dance industry. I would like to tell more here: one dance performance may go through the process of understanding the event, clients need, choosing music with editing, looking for suitable dancers, rehearsal, prepare costumes, make-up, stage rehearsal and performance. The time needed is much more that what you imagine. Dancers need to memorize all the steps and pattern for 5 minutes, from second to second. When we take it serious, it may take at least 10 hours for just only the rehearsal part. Imagine a lady attending an event, she also need a few hours to prepare her outlook.
Chinese always say (Translation): one minute of performance on stage, take ten years of hard work off stage”. It’s not only talking about technique training, but also the preparation of each performance.
一個表演不只是台上的幾分鐘，而是台下的無數心血
A performance is not only the few minutes on stage but also countless time in the studio
我都曾遇過不少低估了舞蹈表演價錢的客戶，在相互了解後，雖然未能合作，但都會愉快的結束談話，但部份客戶卻態度奇差。其實不止表演藝術，其他藝術性的服務也遇到同樣情況。在香港，我曾聽過有攝影師被要求以$500的價錢為一個3小時的活動攝影，他的意思是：「其實只是拍照，有誰不懂？我這個活動是大型活動，我是給你機會！」如果有一個客戶以同樣的說話對待你的專業，你也會氣憤吧！
I often meet clients who don’t understand much about dance. After conversation and understanding, we usually have no bad feeling although the performance can’t be dealed. But sometime, attitude of clients is bad. I am sure not only performing arts, other kind of art service gets the same situation. In Hong Kong, I heard of a photographer being requested to have 3 hours shooting of an event with budget HKD$500. The client said everybody knows shooting now. He is giving a chance the photographer to promote himself. I believe you will be angry if someone do the same thing to your professional.
對一些人來說，可能一張照片就只是一張照片，一段舞蹈就只是一段舞蹈，但其實藝術的價值沒有那麼低。君不見一張好的廣告照片為品牌帶來多少成就？君不見一段差的舞蹈對一個活動帶來多大的破壞？
For some people, a dance is just a dance, a photo is just a photo, nothing special and doesn’t worth that money. I may say the value is not that low. We know a good advertising photo can bring much profit to a company. We know a bad dance can even damage an event.
對一些人來說，你將藝術掛鈎上金錢，太庸俗了，太膚淺了。我想說的是，很多藝術工作者願意自掏腰包去完作自己心中的藝術作品，但不是自掏腰包為你工作。藝術工作者也要生活，既然用自己的藝術專長滿足你的工作要求，收費其實很合理。
For some people, art should not be related to money. It’s too commercial. I may say artist can spend their own money just to finish his art work, but not for clients. Artists also need money to live. It makes sense to pay for an artist working for a client using his profession.
對一些人來說，藝術工作者的價值不值那個錢。我想說的是，每一種藝術，在自由市場下，都有這個市場約定俗成的定價。為何蘋果電腦值這個錢？為何這個療程值這個錢？都是市場定下來的，表演藝術工作亦然。
For some people, a performance doesn’t worth that money. I may say, every art, under the free market, has its price. Why does an apple cost that price? Why does a treatment cost that price? It’s decided by the market. It’s the same for performing artists.
表演工作者同樣需要生活 Performing Artists also need to pay for house and pay for food.
也有人會在表演過後，覺得演出不乎合他的要求，然後將洽談好的價錢扣回。我想說的是，你到餐廳吃飯，覺得不好吃，你會有同樣的要求嗎？誠然，每個行業都有害群之馬，但請不要一竹篙打一船人，因為一次不好的經歷擴散到整個行業大做文章。至少，我對每個工作都很認真，直到今日，我都未收到一次投訴。
Some people may find a performance not fitting his requirement and reduce the dealt price. I may say, will you do the same thing in a restaurant? I admit that there’re always bad performers. But I don’t want someone to say bad to the whole industry just because of one bad experience. I am serious to every job. I do not receive any complaint up till now.
市場是自由的，表演藝術工作者有他的定價，客戶也有他心中的價錢，在每個行業都一樣的。雙方談不攏，就不要合作算了，卻不要事後說三道四，破壞整個行業的口碑。
Under the free market, both performing artists and clients have their expected price. It’s the same under every industry. If it can’t be dealt, forget it. Please don’t say something bad to the whole industry.
不過以上的例子，其實都只是極少數出現的情況，我相信絕大部份的客戶都是友善的。同樣道理，也有一些表演藝術工作者，利用客戶對行業的不了解，收取不合理的價錢後，卻交出不合格的功課。我希望每一位表演藝術工作者，做好自己的本份，認真對待每一個工作，不要破壞整個行業的生態。
Of course, most clients are good and something above seldom happen. Also, there are some bad performers, using the advantage that the clients have no knowledge about performing arts and ask for high fee without provide a good work. I wish that every performing artist please respect your professional. Take every job seriously. Don’t damage the whole industry.
我知道每個人有自己的立場，自己的角度，以上的只是我本人的角度，我希望大家都能分享一下這方面的事情。你有否遇過無理的客戶，或你有否遇過極不專業的表演藝術工作者？歡迎分享。
I know everyone has his own position and direction. It’s welcome for everyone to share what you think. Have you even met some ridiculous clients or performers? Please share!
(對不起，為了保護客戶私穩，我並沒有貼上任何關於那個活動的照片)
(Sorry I didn’t post any photos about the event to protect my client’s privacy)
(All photos from Pixabay)
謝謝你能抽空閱讀這篇文章，我平日喜歡分享香港的故事，希望大家多多支持，我會繼續努力！
Thanks for spending your time to read my articles. I like to share stories of Hong Kong. I wish you may support me and I will keep going!
