Your post highlights the problem with threads like this, Mick. You speak from the viewpoint of the professional musician - one who hacks a living from playing. And, quite rightly, you want every penny you can get from the profession, because you like to eat, buy clothes, raise a family, etc. Quite rightly, you get pissed off with those who take advantage of that - particularly bar owners and their ilk.

Therein lies the problem, because many, if not most of the other people who've replied to this thread, are not in that situation - their music is not mainly for money - and therefore their viewpoint is different. Now, if Lizzie had addressed her exhortations to those in the profession, the points she raised would have been seen, I'm sure, as absolutely valid. But - and here's the but - this thread was a spinoff from a thread about a festival apparently ripping off musicians, and Lizzie didn't check her facts properly before launching her homilies about Cinderford. Which obviously got up the noses of many people whose view of such events is different and perhaps better informed. From the Cinderford thread arose this thread, in which all musicians are undervaluing themselves to the general detriment of the music.

Now, I've been on both sides of the divide. I spent a few years playing to live. I did all the things you do - noted all expenditures on equipment, clothing, dry cleaning, petrol, car servicing, telephone calls, rehearsal time, etc. I had an accountant, and he made sure that the band weren't taxed to perdition. When I decided to change tack, for reasons which I've stated above, I had the freedom to do what I want with my music, which is why I go to sessions and open mics and the like for free and for fun - and why I still play in a band, part-time, which charges good money for what we do - also for fun! So I can see all sides.

As for being hard-nosed, I'll tell you a story:

The trio I played with for many years (1950s rock'n roll) did a private party for a wealthy client and, the deal, as ever, was cash on the night. When we'd finished playing and had packed up, our bass player asked politely for the cash - to be met with several excuses. There wasn't the cash in the house; he'd forgotten' he'd have to post us a cheque as his cheque book was somewhere he couldn't remember. The bass player listened calmly to this and then said, quite firmly, that if he didn't get paid in cash that night, he'd drive his 4x4 into the guy's conservatory windows. The client then miraculously paid the cash, and the bass player then divided the money between us as per. But - before he drove away, he deliberately reversed his 4x4 into the conservatory windows - as a lesson to be learned for the future. There never was any outcome over it - for whatever reason - but that's what I call hard-nosed!