Bartering For Skills with Ourgoods
Bartering:
To trade goods or services without the exchange of money.
A tagline to a newspaper article caught my eye: “Uninsured Can Exchange Talents for Care.” Lincoln Hospital, in The Bronx, is offering artists in that borough of NYC a chance to get health care; they get credits for each hour worked that can be used towards a variety of medical treatments & prescriptions. Their program, Lincoln Arts Exchange, is modeled after the Artist Access program at Brooklyn’s Woodhull Medical Center.
Bartering is nothing new. It is used in markets across the world, trading goods. Services may have taken a back seat, but the idea works for me. I have no “goods” to barter, but I do have a “service,” and that is my art, whether it’s a performance (Storytelling or Interactive Theater), workshop, or Editing/Copy writing service. With money tight, if I can exchange some of my time and energy to get something I need…bartering is a great idea.
When I ran my theater company (The Brothers Grinn: 1994-2006), I rarely paid for rehearsal space (until the need for an abundance of NYC members of the company). I bartered with a few places (Two churches and a couple of other locations), offering them either free group performances or solo workshops for weekly rehearsal space. This was a huge savings for a company that was young and toured an average of 120 performances a year. We had no “home” space to perform/work out of but the spaces I found worked for us on many levels; the money I saved that way was put into many things the company needed (costumes; sound equipment; insurance; etc).
What Creative Service Do You Have To Barter?
Health Care, rehearsal space, food…what can you add to the list? I’ve only just started a very small section of what could be possible if more would open their minds to the idea: Artists have something to offer.
Jan 24, 2012 @ 16:59:44
Great post! It’s so important for Creatives to apply the same outside-the-box thinking to logistics as they do to content. If you’ve got something great to share with the world, go find an unorthodox way to share! Not everything costs money.
Jan 24, 2012 @ 17:01:07
Thanks Sara. Yeah, this is thinking outside the box for now, when it used to be the norm hundreds of years ago.
Jan 24, 2012 @ 17:10:07
I love this idea of bartering, and I think in some ways I have done it but not to the best of my ability. Something to think about.
Check out this post by a friend of me about revolutionary ideas towards getting people to come to theatre http://mixedbloodblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/revolutionary-access-chapter-1/
Jan 24, 2012 @ 17:17:22
Very cool share, Lisa. Thanks.
Jan 24, 2012 @ 20:00:52
I bartered my Dream Coaching… taking a client through the process — and I received reflexology sessions in return. It was wonderful!
Jan 29, 2012 @ 19:09:55
Lots of great things can be bartered. Thanks, PeggyLee
Jan 24, 2012 @ 20:45:00
Glad to see the well organized Barter program for the Hospital. I think The State Arts Councils could get long signed petitions from artists thru their Arts Councils from all over the USA, making this possible everywhere. An important way to support the artists bring creative inspirations to all ages. Tough times. are here for awhile. I think it might need to start with forms filled out by those who need heathcare and what their skills are etc. This could create a data base for the all important numbers to show the need in each region.Feels like a win win. I’m in Virginia – who’s in the other states that would want to propose it. We could choose a month and date and present the same request on the same day all over! Artsist always have a big heart, donating their talents for fundraisers for NON – profits that serve community, to help others who have lost everything to a storm, etc. I have 60 musicians perform for 2 hours to raise money for two families who lost loved ones in a fire. WE do alot with our artforms – but sometimes its not $ we get in return. Some help in fair trade would be sensable, plausable and honorable!
Jan 29, 2012 @ 19:10:37
Totally agree with you. Keep up the good work
Jan 30, 2012 @ 10:06:55
I sent the article to a regional Arts museum to see if they thought they would want to start the ball rolling and they are meeting about it next week with their board. I’ll update you when I here if it is a go etc.They have a staewide profile so if we set thedirection and outline of how to and where to I think It might happen – but realistically it might take a year. Since health issues are never ending this is still a hopeful thing – which when you think of the potential doors it will open to meeting people at the hospitals that might want to have you do something at their school or event etc. it has much potential.
Jan 30, 2012 @ 10:16:27
I am excited that you’re taking this along. Please keep us informed of how it goes.
Jan 24, 2012 @ 22:08:37
I have bartered my handmade greeting cards for haircuts. My hairdresser puts the cards out in her shop for sale to her clients. I am trying to expand this, but am happy that it has worked so far.
To take it to the level of medical care is a fantastic idea , and should be expanded if it works. !
Jan 24, 2012 @ 23:28:33
Very cool! Bartering is still relevant to today and you’ve shown us some ways it is still active! Like it!
Jan 28, 2012 @ 17:05:30
Good idea! A lot of the world’s biggest deals are actually a barter of sorts. I don’t know what I can add to your list as it hadn’t occurred to me to barter my art. However, I agreed to edit a friend’s manuscript in exchange for him editing mine. He proposed this and I was very flattered that he, a professional editor, would value my editing that highly. I’d say that’s a barter though I suspect I got the better deal.
Jan 29, 2012 @ 19:11:21
As long as all parties are satisfied…:) Thanks Penelope