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Re: BORROWED PLAYERS

Wendy Spencer wrote:

> Did I blink and miss something here?
> When did it suddenly become okay to expect a band to pay you to play with
> them?  Were we not only just a couple of letters ago reminding ourselves
> that we are an amateur movement?  As I understand it, this means that we are
> playing for the love of it, not for what cash we can milk from it.

Unfortunately Wendy, we live in the real world - not the morally correct one.

> Don't get me wrong - I appreciate what you said about not expecting to be
> paid by lower grade bands, but there appears to be an assumption that
> playing with a higher grade band means that there is money for the taking.
> This all contributes to the bands with big sponsorship effectively killing
> off those bands which have to struggle for every cent/penny they get.

I have done many dep jobs in the past with all sorts of bands. I have charged
from nothing to a few free beers with lower section bands but asked for
reasonable expenses from bands that can afford it. I never charged an
extortionate fee, just enough to cover expenses and a few beers afterwards. I
think that you will find this the norm, although there are players of course who
do charge ridiculous fees.

>   I can't help thinking about  six members of my own band who travel to
> rehearsal each week, making a 400km round trip.  We have had players undergo
> surgery and play in a contest a week later.

Yes- many people have done that I think. Don't forget that everybody starts at
the bottom - you have to work you're way up to the top bands. That can't be a
crime though.

Monkey, in understanding of your point but living in the real world.


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