Will Fly

The money comes from the paying audience at the club

That is the fundamental point I was hinting at. I don't think you can tell the paying public that artist A is pretty much on a par with artist B but artist A has travelled 200 miles so you've got to pay more to see them. I think they might stay at home in droves. We can only pay you out of the money that people pay to see you. As Will says, if that isn't enough, don't take the gig.

As someone who does more booking than being booked, if someone told me they wanted more because they weren't going to enjoy the gig, that gives me two reasons not to book them.