A group of professional musicians say they dropped out through strict common dancing after talking about paying for performances on the program’s spinoff show.
The band, which performs traditional South Italian music, said they were excited when the enthusiastic producers approached them about appearing on the BBC’s collaborative show Take Two.
However, when they asked for a fee to compensate them for one day’s work, the BBC producers said in emails shown to their parents: “We have no money in the budget to pay for contributors.” Instead, they were offered a free lunch and were advised to “mention your group’s name as well as a decent amount of screen time” which would help increase the band’s following on Instagram and Facebook.
“Hopefully, when things get back to normal and the art is finalized[ly] Recovered, taking part in it [recording] Because such an event would be beneficial for you, “the show’s creators told them, who wanted to perform with professional dancers Nadia Baichkova and Graziano di Prima.
Band member Cassandre Baloso-Bardin said the band had requested the BBC to agree on a comparatively lower rate with the musicians’ union for session work, in addition to the required practice hours. They didn’t listen back several days after that, only the show was told they had dropped out.
The actor told the Guardian that he was tired of expecting musicians to work for free. He said: “The days of ‘it will give you exposure’ (all musicians will be familiar with it) are over. What exposure? Why? , Without being able to produce it … they want us and our skills, but they won’t pay for it. “
Baloso-Bardin said not being able to perform live during the epidemic forced some of his band members to fight for their lives: “Like other musicians, our jigs have been canceled since March. We did not raise funds to be able to produce our latest album. We’ve made a few YouTube videos but haven’t observed any of our actions that seem unfair to our followers, most of whom are as harsh as us.
“We don’t know when our next gig will be, and many members of the band are either frustrated or on the basis of public credit. And the current Covid allowance for self-employment (20% of your income), when 56% of musicians earn less than £ 20,000 a year, is reduced.
He sternly pointed out the difference between the high salaries paid by hosts, judges and dancers and the attitude towards music guests.
He said: “Outwardly, people might think: Wow, you made it, you got a showcase strictly! Is it for your skills, not getting paid for your expert labor? Is it your whole culture to be used for entertainment without any financial remuneration? Turning around? Making it is looking for a voice to fight for your industry, even if you have to stop baling. “
A BBC spokesman said the decision to remove the band from the show was for editorial reasons, rather they wanted a fee. They said: “As we did with many artists, we discussed the proposed performance with Immortality for It’s Two to Two which in the end was not for editorial reasons.”
No budget was found after the producers repeatedly told the band, yet a BBC spokesman insisted they could be eligible to pay. They said: “If they performed, they would be paid for their presence.”
