Asking a question in an open internet chat forum about earnings in an industry among the cream of the crop isn't exactly the equivalent of walking up to someone and asking them how much they earn.

So your indignation over the question being asked here seems misplaced, alanabit. Why did you automatically assume the original poster had malevolent intentions just for asking the question?

If I were someone who knew they really had the talent to make in this business, and I was just starting out, I'd sure ask what the top acts were making a night in a context like an open internet chat forum where there may be people who know the answer to the question.