Re: [Harp-L] money

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

> Business is business..

 Exactly, When I was a small child, I would go to the corner store and 
get an ice cream cone. I always paid for it. When I got married, there 
were flowers and liquor on the groom's list of things to buy...so I 
did. When family members died, I had to pay for the funerals. I don't 
recall ever getting a free ride. I don't recall ever being a dead-beat.

 Put it this way. Let's say you need to go to the doctors. Let's say 
there's a diploma on the wall saying the saw-bones graduated. Do any of 
you ever remember getting a 'deal' because the doctor was 129th out of 
a class of 130 instead of 38th out of 130 (or 11th)? How about you buy 
a refridgerator, and instead of lasting 15 years, it only lasts 10? Did 
you only have to pay 2/3 as much for it? No I don't think you got THAT 
break.   This may be an over simplification, but what the hell club is 
SO high and mighty that they can't get off their tight ass and toss 
some chump change to the band. While 'I' (personally) feel we need BOTH 
types of venue (those where you are paid AND those where you play for 
tips/free/bennies), this seems to be getting out of hand. If you're a 
decent player, you should get something.

 I'm not saying the bars/clubs need to shell out big bucks. Just 
'Something' .Something commensurate with the situation at hand.

 Once a place finds out they can get you for nothing or next to 
nothing, they will do it. Isn't there a problem now with the food and 
beverage industry in that many refuse to pay an honest wage, get away 
with paying under the minimum set by law, refuse to put anyone on for 
40 hours because they WON't pay benefits, have waitresses working for 
tips only. Meanwhile, I don't think they would appreciate it if they 
had to trade in THEIR new Volvo for a 10 year old Chevy that breaks 
down all the time and costs the poor employee every meager dime they 
make just to get to that crummy job in the first place.

> .if the club/bar has the cash register on while you
> play a fair wage is required.

 Amen amen, I say unto you/

 Right. If you're not making crabs playing these joints, how the hell 
are you going to be able to afford to promote yourself.

> While I believe that self promotion and a
> following is a great negotiating tool I also feel that the venue owner 
> bears
> the main responsibility of getting seats filled.

 Right. What ever happened to the VENUE doing some of the leg work. Is 
the current attitude "Well, since we're NOT paying you, YOU have to do 
all the leg work and PROVE you are worthy of playing at our 
place....for which, remember, we're NOT paying you". How ludicrous.

>  If the roast beef special
> gets advertised to bring in the crowd so should the entertainment! Too 
> many
> people associate trying to make money as a negative for a musician "if 
> they
> really love the music". That's a bunch of bull..chronic "give-it-away"
> musicians spoil the club owners and hurt the musicians earning 
> potential.

 Right.

> Bottom line: amps aren't free, mic's aren't free, harps aren't 
> free.yada
> yada yada. You don't have to be a superstar to expect to get paid if 
> you are
> in the mix of food and drinks being sold FOR PROFIT!

 Right.
smo-joe
> Warren Bee
>
> __