Are gigs worth your health?

Creatives are stuck in a tough equation: low-paying gigs, high emotional cost, and everything rides on relationships and reputation. If you bail—even because you're sick—it’s a ding to your name. Even if the gig is only paying $50.

You want to get called back. You want to be on the scene. You want the exposure, the connections, the joy of sharing your art.

But the creative world doesn’t offer the same grace the corporate world does when you’re ill. There are no protections. No sick leave. Just a silent, high-stakes game of reliability.

I caught a cold and have a festival gig tonight. I’m technically recovered—but the 3-hour drive, late set time, and energy demand will likely push me into a relapse. I’m still choosing to go. Why? Because I’m semi-headlining. And in this world, you don’t bail on a festival slot unless you absolutely have to. Not if you want another invitation.

The truth is: relationships are everything here. Even when they’re not fair. Even when they’re not built to accommodate the human body. That’s the unspoken contract.

I don’t have a universal answer. But more often than not, I choose reputation over rest—unless I’m contagious or absolutely knocked out. That calculus is brutal. But it’s real.

Still, when I zoom out, I wonder: is it really worth the pay and “exposure” in the long run? There must be more sustainable ways to share art. Healthier rhythms that don’t hinge so heavily on one-off gigs and reputation roulette.

Honestly, this kind of situation makes a strong case for some kind of stable income alongside the art. If your livelihood depends on unprotected, reputation-based gigs, a cold can derail your income for weeks.

So where’s the line? How sick is too sick to show up? When do we protect our bodies over our names?

I don’t know the answer. But I’m starting to believe sustainability—not just visibility—should be the goal.