Please Stop the Exploitation

I have heard my sisters ask me why I don't charge my choreography sessions or why I charge a very low fee that is considered to be even below decent.

I don't know. Maybe it's just me and my willingness to share my talent.

Back then, I didn't mind if I had to ride taxi cabs and spend a lot of money just to get to my sessions on time. I didn't care if I had to stay up late at night to devise a concept only to revise it the next morning and the next weeks. I didn't bother at all when  my back starts to ache just to mash some music up for free. I didn't mind if I had to go home late at night with an empty stomach and tired coming from an intensive dance practice. I didn't mind not catching on enough sleep and rest just to help others out with their dance. I didn't care being looked down to by know-it-all dancers who are all stuck in the predictable and common. I didn't mind the fact that most of my clients do not pay me. I didn't care if some of them pay me an amount that does not even match all the expenses I incur for the entire time I spend with them.

But right now, it's too much. How could I ever allow "clients" to treat me with disrespect? Who do not show up when I am only a few minutes late? Who think that they are paying a lot when what I'm getting is not even enough for my fare? Who believe that they are the most creative people on earth and who think that nobody else is better than them? Who do not realize how much I am sacrificing just to teach them a good dance routine? Who do not know that I have work to do and some personal things to attend to? Who cannot appreciate the time I spend with them and the holidays that I give up just to polish their dance?

PLEASE STOP THE EXPLOITATION. I am human too. I get tired as well. Just like all of you.