That crap about not doing free shows is just that!!

One other point: Give quantity discouts ! I wanted to stay near home to take care of my wife Carol's medical conditions better. The owner of the boat had a limited budget but MANY STEADY gigs to offer. I lowered my fee that I got if I was doing a college concert etc. That led to a ten year gig----five months a year (every other day) on a stemboat on the Mississippi River. Was home every night with NO MOTEL BILLS. (Did drive 160 miles over and back each day I had the job.) Got our son through college with nobody oweing anything. On the off day I'd do other gigs in the midwest. Only had to take jobs I wanted to do. Took many for nothing. Quoted high for things I halway would've rather not done---and often did those jobs as well.----The other seven months a year I hooked up with an agency that set me up doing shows in schools in the eight counties around Chicago. Played a coffeehouse in Chicago that hardly ever paid anything for 37 years. It was my second home ans spiritual base. I'd've done that for nothing if they hadn't offered to pay me to do it. (But I never told them that.) ;-)   There were several gigs where that was true. I just loved the people.

Art Thieme

Art