The price issue is interesting. My perspective is that in the big city (say maybe Toronto, or even somewhere like Kitchener/Waterloo Canada) the going price for performance during weddings and such can be generally much higher, or at least the disparity between low and high much greater than in rural Ontario. There's some seasonal adjustment too. Is this the case elsewhere?

I've been impressed with the prices people command in the city, but not impressed with the overhead travel/parking/rental/etc costs, so maybe it's a trade off situation. Part of the cost of living in the boonies is a lower accepted rate of pay for the arts.

IMHO. Mooh.