What do other club organisers feel about performers asking for a guaranteed flat fee or a percentage of door takings, always meaning 'whichever is the higher'. As a club organiser, I have had this put to me recently, by the agents of two very well known performers, both of whom I would like the members to see. However this 'percentage' thing causes a problem. On our six-weekly guest nights I charge members a bare minimum entrance fee. Non-members, those who've only come to see that particular guest, pay a commercial rate. We're only a small club (55 max.seats) and members will occupy 40 of those, so a percentage of door proceeds will not be very high. We're not short of brass and in both cases I've explained my pricing policy to the agents and willingly offered the flat fee, but been turned down. One asked 'how much more could you offer'(above the guarantee) and the other was insistent that I charge everyone £10 for entry.
I can understand that performers will wish to maximise their earnings and charge more for a gig with an audience of 200, than for a small club of 50 folks. However, it sems to make a mockery of the 'guarantee' figure if the artists are not prepared to perform for that, particularly at small folk clubs, where most of them learned their craft. I've not experienced this before. I book good, nationally known artists who come for an agreed fee, with no conditions. Is it only the 'premier league' ones who operate in such a prescriptive manner? Also, such policies may obviously prevent some venues ever being able to book the folk 'stars'.(Unless you catch them on the way back down!)

Any comments from organisers, performers or others?

Regards
Andy