You see, I pick up a bad feeling in this thread, towards musicians who do get paid, who DARE to feel they SHOULD get paid too.

What a load of bullshit. If you are picking that up from this thread then I think your interior fantasy life is overpowering both your intellect and your integrity.

Why aren't you picking up the thoughts that are actually in this thread? Thoughts, to be blunt, like:
"you don't get it, Lizzie"

"What kind of twit castigates other people for their personal and artistic choices?"

"Volunteerism is important and rewarding"

"I can actually pursue the music I want to play if I don't have to worry about making my living from it"

And, from almost every semi-pro musician here, "When the venue is a making-money situation I get paid."

You, Lizzie, and Big Al for that matter, are astonishingly offensive. How can you live with yourselves? Why do you think that normal people should put up with your rudeness?