Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
THE economy of our country has not been good to all and sundry. Only a few people seem to be making it under these difficult economic conditions. Business has not been good. The economic environment has frustrated many and forced them to abandon their plans and look elsewhere. Some have even skipped borders in search of a better future in foreign lands. To many Zimbabweans it seems the grass is greener on the other side. Teachers, nurses, doctors and artists alike have packed their bags in frustration and left with most of them swearing never to come back again. It is in such an environment, a dark future, that most ordinary Zimbabweans and artists find themselves today.
To many people, the arts in Zimbabwe don’t pay and the situation is worsened by the economic environment. Many who have tried to commercialise their works have found the road very murky and exhausting. Audiences are not there. Art buyers are there. Most of our people have not adopted the culture of taking their time off to partake in recreational activities like watching performances in theatres. The little spending money that some get is spent mostly on alcohol. Most of our young people today will rather go to the bars or arrange some party where they buy booze than attend to a performing arts show. Never mind the likes that your adverts hit on social media platforms, those likes will never turn into audience numbers on the day of the show. And those likes will never turn into cash. It is now that most of us realise that we should have made hay while there was still sunshine. The situation needs creativity and innovativeness. When opportunities come it is wise to grab them and make the most out of them by investing well whatever you get in monetary terms, this is exactly what the director of Khaya Arts Future Dube is doing with his team.
I have not interacted much with Future but the few moments I exchanged talk with him l have grown to respect him. He is one guy who has a vision. To him money raised during the shows should not be squandered without positive purpose. There is need to invest some proceeds and create various streams of income. Future believes that performing arts companies should invest in asserts that will help them to cut costs and in the process give them revenue. A thriving arts company must have basic equipment. Khaya Arts has heavily invested in sound equipment. This doesn’t only make it easy for the company to do their shows that require sound but the equipment can also be hired out to raise the much needed money. Future’s conduct when dealing with his clients is very professional. It is good for business because being a good service provider means you are recommended for other jobs.
One area that Khaya arts has also done well is investing in their own transport. The company is cutting on its transport cost when traveling to different gigs. It can be tormenting to think of transport costs especially when you have shows lined up in different locations. Transport costs can be exorbitant under such circumstances as those in the transport business take advantage of you. It is a wise move for performing arts companies to invest in transport. Their fleet can also be hired out if the opportunity arises. Transport business can be another stream of income for the arts company. It is important that artists learn from their needs to identify other opportunities that can bring in income. One source of income is not healthy in an economy like ours. Khaya Arts is doing well in identifying other streams of income. Khaya Arts’ main business is performing arts and they have not lost sight of that. Performing arts is what makes them who they are. But they should be applauded for putting and effort in growing their business activities. Future Dube knows that we need to run for our money.
For some they might think there is nothing new in what Khaya Arts is doing but it is good to always remind each other and arm each other in the art of conducting business. Many artists and art companies have been in the creative industry for years and they have been making good profits and squandering them and have nothing to show in terms of assets. Artists should learn from such individuals as Future to think about the coming dry seasons and plan for them. They are many people who have travelled that road and invested in business ideas associated with their art works and stand out as shining examples. It is good to see other companies following in their footsteps. Artists should invest the little that they get. Growth comes only through investing and not just spending. It is time artists did away with excuses that they are no opportunities, instead they must create them. A successful artist is the one who has a business mind and is very innovative and creative.
Thabani H Moyo writes in his personal capacity. Opinions raised here are his.
