Not bad. Perhaps the largest amount I ever got for exhibiting and talking about my artcar at a major event attended by thousands for which the artcar is a draw (is selected as the aspect of the festival photographed for promotional and coverage news stories) was around $325 and that was for ALL DAY plus three hours and that is the exception.
Artscape our largest festival one of the largest in the nation does not donate anything most places around $50. And yes I am a nationally known cartist having won top award at largest most important event. And yes I do not demand funding but accept it trying to work in whatever I can do for those who want me.
My costs are considerable- time, materials, transportation, gas, mechanical.....

Again note. I know that one has to make a living (I make debt but thats ok) and that is fine. You should make a living wage.

I am impressed that you were able to cut fees.

Wonderful-just so savings was past on to the audience not just to the venue.

I am also not saying that the musicians are the only problems as there are other parts of the food chain.

Drink distributors, venue operators, food producers and on it goes...
I would also blame the audience that does not shop around and pays too much just because they can.

Therefore I think the solution is to open the books. Is the audience getting the best deal possible? Are you playing at a venue where the greatest number of people given expenses can attend. If I played at a venue I would ask them to keep their prices down to reasonable and affordable then I would know that the audience would be as big as possible.

All is also not lost when you cut back. Other strategies can be employed to compensate. You could do more performances, do different styles of performance.

Human greed can mess up any food chain. But if it is located excessive profit taking can be fixed.

Also remember....you can stress out the market by keeping costs to what it can bear. When that happens everything stops.

Conrad