When we're trying to bring key presenters, international presenters to come to buy the company, every single dollar matters. In fact the original request was for much more than $8,000. If my memory is correct, the original request was for $25,000. For budgetary matters, it was cut down to $8,000. Of course, we'll take it, right? We're not going to say no to $8,000.
We invested a little more because Paris was such an unusual promotional platform for the company. We said it's better to invest, even though we don't have the financial means, because we believe this is going to be key. In fact it was, because we managed to get all those potential tours going.
You know, dance companies and artists work so hard. Do you know the average salary of a dancer in Canada is $14,000? Part of that salary is for guaranteed weeks, which are part of touring. If you cut touring, not only do you hurt the image of Canada abroad, but you will also bring the dancers--they're already below the poverty line--even further down.
When Les Grands Ballets Canadiens is considered one of the hot companies internationally and you're in demand and you have all those potential contracts, it kills me to tell the presenter in Venezia, “I'm sorry, I cannot commit now because I don't have the money.”