Honest question: who feels like they learn a lot from panels other than already privileged people?

(Don’t @ me + please read thread)

I’ve been thinking about this for a while and I’m wondering if dissemination of info in some combination of small-group, peer2peer, open-source, and/or anonymized way would be more conducive to giving marginalized people a place to discuss and especially ask the questions.

One time at a conference I attended a panel on commissioning. Got there early and room was already packed. Listen to an hour of vagueitudes and at the end someone asked a hard hitting question - how do we actually come up with a number to ask for/charge - and wow did it get WEIRD

By and large, at every panel I went to at this conference the people who would take up time asking questions were cis white males. There were many demographics in the room, but I don’t think I need to explain systemic fears of speaking up or looking unknowledgeable by asking

If you are at an institution and are reading this and you conduct panels: Should you put marginalized people on it and strive for a very balanced representation across the board, AND pay them a bunch of money for their time and expertise? YUP.

But the fact is, if you are reading this you’re prolly not, and if you’re like me you probably know some things and might have some personal answers but also have a lot of questions.

I can’t say I know everything but I have always been open in sharing what I do know with my peers and ESPECIALLY my students. Did my 16 y/o composition students know how to write a bio? YOU BETCHA. I’m trying to set up the people I care about to rise and shine, baybee

Anyway, certain things like money in the arts have always been a huge elephant in the room and I can’t help but wonder why financial literacy, etc. is not being taught by institutions or orgs

We’re all just sittin in a room (but not Alvin Lucier style) and have too much time to ask the existential questions, and I think this is about a good a time as any to address the equity of how we connect, learn, share, and disseminate as artists.