Indeed John, but the reality is that a lot (even a majority if you include the small ones) of clubs are just 20-40 people (some are content with even less) often paying less than £5. Quite a few still only charge a couple of quid on the door, or just ask for donations. There may be 400-odd clubs in the land, but you can only expect to play a handful every year. Even the ones that love you to bits will only have you on a two, three or even four year cycle, because there are so many good artists out there. There are now nothing like enough gigs to support the number of people who want to play them on a 'decent' salary (16k). Some artists who have a day-job will charge well below the 'pro' rate, but most 'pro's who have day jobs (yes, I know - but most do!) charge the same as us full-timers - and anyway there's no rule saying anyone should get anything, so I have no problem with anyone working for anything - high or low. But £450 guarantee for a solo artist? I wish! Tom