Okay. The Highwaymen (remember them?) performed at a small college in West-central Illinois in 1965 for $1,500. The Mitchell Trio (minus Chad, but with John Denver) charged $2,250 in 1966. In 1967, Judy Collins charged $3,000.

Points to remember:

1. This was the total paid to the booking agent, NOT to the performer, and has been noted there are expenses such as lodging, transportation, meals, and so forth -- and the college was most definitely NOT on a major traffic route. There wasn't even an Interstate highway in the area until twenty years later.

2. These performances were mid-week; the performers were snagged when they were between higher paying venues.

3. As I remember, PP&M wanted $15,000 for a performance at that time.

4. NONE of them gave anything less than a very professional performance. (And if Judy Collins happens to stumble over this thread -- the college was a few miles west of McMurray.)