FESTIVALS WITHOUT BORDERS

WITH ROBERT BAIRD

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS 2023

It’s that time of year again: make up a list of New Year’s Resolutions. These are usually the things we didn’t accomplish in 2022 or perhaps deciding on a new focus as we move forward in the calendar into what we like to think of as a “clean slate”. This year, given the experience of the pandemic, perhaps it is time to consider our New Year’s Resolutions, not only as things we’d like to change in ourselves, but to purpose our organization with new goals (or just reviewing current practices to ensure they’re still viable.) So, here’s my list of New Year’s Resolutions for a Festival World of 2023.

1. Focus on Ethics

Our Festival will focus on business ethics in 2023 to ensure that we are demonstrating a commitment to and providing a shining example of the highest ethical standards in everything we do. Our leadership will focus on this and hold us up to these standards.

2. Accountability

We will hold ourselves, and others, individuals, suppliers, any company with whom we do business to a commitment to follow ethical practices and reflect well on our ethical guidelines. We can set the bar higher for everyone.

3. Integrity

We will incorporate such principles as honesty, trustworthiness, and reliability in everyone and in everything we do. This means consistently doing the right thing and striving to hold everyone to a higher standard.

4. Respect for Others

We will foster ethical behavior and environments in the workplace, respecting others as a priority. We all deserve dignity, privacy, equality, opportunity, compassion, and empathy in our workplace.

5. Honesty

Honesty is definitely the best policy. Honesty in all matters fosters an ethical climate. Partial truths, omissions, and under or overstating don’t help anyone. Solutions depend upon receiving and dealing with bad news and good news equally.

6. Respect for Laws

We include our community in our ethical guidelines and we enforce all local, state, and federal laws.

7. Responsibility

We expect everyone in an organization to have ownership, i.e. responsibility for their work.

8. Transparency

We will ensure that information about our hiring and firing practices, wages and salaries, and promotions are available to those interested in the business’s success. We will have clear policies on every aspect of our organization.

9. Fairness

Everyone will have the same opportunities and be treated the same. If our organization makes anyone feel uncomfortable or places corporate benefit before equality, common courtesy, and respect, it is not fair.

10. Environmental Concern

Our world is facing extremes of climate traced to environmental issues and we need to be aware of and concerned about any environmental impacts our organization might have. We pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible.

Happy New Year!

Robert Baird is President of BAM! Baird Artists Management Consulting in Toronto, Canada and an acknowledged expert in international touring including visas, withholding and taxation. He offers free advice to artists, agents, managers and venues and has an international clientele. He served for many years on the Executive Board of Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) and is a former Vice-President of that organization. He can be reached at: P: 1-800-867-3281 E: robert@bairdartists.com or for more information go to: www.bairdartists.com

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