Hi Richard, your scenario doesn't sound like anything I've ever come across. I've only ever seen one side selling CDs in all the festivals I've been to around the country, and the idea that we perform for financial considerations is quite amusing!

I'm just back from the wonderful Upton festival, where over 50 dance sides take part every year. The only inducement on offer to us is that we are allowed to pay for camping without buying the full weekend ticket :)
Oh- and that a jolly good time is had by all!

I would agree with Flora- why not ask the sides why they no longer go? It could be that the 'jobsworth' mentality spills over into other things and stops it being fun to go there.