24/01/2025
I have listen to a lot of instrumentalists (employee) complaining and calling out band owners (employer) for not being able to take good care of their players and giving them the benefit(s) they deserve. Some even complained that they have not received Christmas bonuses from their employers (band owners) not to talk of get together parties and so on..........
This is my view on this issues.
I think this is a 2-way issue from both parties i.e THE INSTRUMENTALISTS (employees) & THE BAND OWNERS (employers)
FOR THE INSTRUMENTALISTS:
I think as an instrumentalist (employee) before you start working for any band owner(employer) the first thing to do is to know and understand the STATUS/NATURE OF YOUR EMPLOYMENT/ENGAGEMENT in the company, whether you are a CASUAL EMPLOYEE or a PERMANENT EMPLOYEE because there is a big difference between these two types of employment/engagement.
In the secular music industry, the distinction between casual employees and permanent employees often depends on the nature of their employment contracts, job security, and the benefits they receive. Casual employees like session musicians and event crew (ndito ekpamo 🤣🤣) enjoy the freedom to work for multiple employers (band owners) and on multiple projects/engagement but lack long-term stability, job security and benefits while Permanent employees, such as studio managers or label staff, benefit from job security and benefits but may have less flexibility. Both roles play critical parts in the ecosystem, balancing creativity, logistics, and continuity.
I came to realized that 80% musicians in Akwa Ibom State are CASUAL EMPLOYEES and they don't even know 🤣🤣🤣, funny I guess
this happens in 2 -ways:
1. No Memorandum of understanding (Mou) between the two parties(Instrumentalists and band owners)before they start working together.
FOR EXAMPLE:
A band owner will just call a player and said "oh my guy please arrange 4 guys with yourself I have gig on 31st Feb. 2025 at ikot ukap🤣🤣" the only question that player will ask is "my boss how much are you paying" and that's all. The next thing is they will all go, deliver the job and that end the news waiting for the next call from another boss or so.
2. Through the ATTITUDE of some of the musicians.
FOR EXAMPLE: An instrumentalist will be so flexible to a point that he will accept offers from 5 different employers to work for them and he doesn't even have the capacity to manage them. When it comes to festive periods when the demands is very high and gigs will be clashing, he will now result to who pays higher and how many days gig an employer has in a stretch without making proper arrangement for the other employer he disappointed . This attitude tells your employer that you want to work as a CASUAL STAFF and he will gladly keep it that way with you (sia Abasi imaha ntun🤣🤣) because he knows that you won't be getting those benefits you deserved from him since you decided to work as a casual employee.
N/B:
"AS YOU DRESS SO SHALL YOU BE ADDRESS."
Now After the festive periods and lots of disappointments from these casual employees, they will come back to blame their employers for not throwing get together party and giving them Christmas and New year bonuses( Amos 70 : 70 => Eyen mi k'utunno ke Abasi imaha ntun🤣🤣).
N/B:
I'm not supporting these employers but I'm just stating the obvious.
Like I said, the main difference between a casual employee and a permanent employee lies in the nature of their employment arrangement, job security, and benefits. Here's a breakdown:
CASUAL EMPLOYEE
Employment Basis: Works on a temporary, irregular, or as-needed basis.(They will only call you when your services is needed).
Job Security: No guarantee of ongoing work; employment/engagement often ends after each shift or project.(you can see with me that some of these employers only remember you only when they have gigs)
Hours: Flexible or irregular work hours, depending on the employer's needs.
Benefits: Typically not entitled to benefits.
Pay: Casual employers are often paid higher rates to compensate for the lack of benefits. This is where casual employees are being cheated by their employers maybe because of their lack of awareness or its just the agreement between the two parties. As an employer in our today's economy where prices of things are going up everyday what can #5,000 naira do to your casual employee that you know very well that he won't be getting any benefit from you. Some employers even pay their casual employees below #5,000 naira 💔💔🙆🏽♂🙆🏽♂. (I will talk more on this on the next episode about the employers)
Flexibility: Can choose when and where to work, often employed in multiple roles or by different employers.(this reminds me of a very good friend in this industry that can take up 2-4 gigs in a day i.e very early in morning he will connect sound to one of his employers, from there he enters church around 9am and play choir piece🎹, then move to the burial ground around 10:30am and play bass guitar 🎸for another employer, then by 1:30pm he rounds it up with traditional marriage for another employer🤣🤣🤣. I love him so much) Mention his name and get #500 recharge. I call him KING OF FLEXIBILITY💪
PERMANENT EMPLOYEE
Employment Basis: Works on a long-term or indefinite contract with a regular schedule.
Job Security: Enjoys job stability and consistent work.
Hours: Fixed hours as agreed upon in the employment contract.
Benefits: Entitled to benefits such as paid leave, sick leave, health insurance, etc
Pay: Receives a regular salary or wage, which may be lower compared to casual employees but includes benefits.
Commitment: Expected to dedicate their working time solely to the employer.
Watchout for the next episode
