Music and entertainment has value. It seems the question here is whether it should be taxed by fees of various kinds for the right to engage in the activity in certain places of business. There's no question that an establishment has the right to operate their venue as they see fit. While I understand that there are those who can afford to pay to play and do so. I find it perplexing that a venue or anyone would want to force someone who has something valuable to offer for free to pay for the right to do so.

Do you ask your plumber to pay for the right to work on YOUR plumbing? How about your dentist, must he pay for the right to play around inside YOUR mouth? These guys offer a service as does any entertainer. Why should an entertainer be any different than any other skilled laborer in asking to be paid for their services? If a singer or songwriter or player offers their service for free then to be taxed for their effort is a slap in the face. The entertainer offers what skills they have, entertainment. If you don't like their style for one reason or another then by all means explain why you'd just as soon not have them as guests anymore. Just as you would explain to a mechanic why his repair job did not fix your car problem. Now if you never paid for the labor in the first place but was relying on the goodly nature of this repairman to help you out for free, it seems to me, asking this laborer to then pay you for the right to service your vehicle is more than a little rude. Especially if the service offered provides what is needed. Offering someone a glass of tap water for driving to your place of business and providing a service that has taken years of effort to maintain and develop is nothing more than being cheap. Excuse me, a few cents worth of carbonated water with some sort of sugar flavored solution in it is not going to break anyone. I am continually amazed at how many venues with open stages choose to not compensate a thirsty musician, who gets up on their stage and sweats out fifteen or twenty minutes of musical entertainment, with more than a glass of tap water. Okay, if the guy gets up and is generally obnoxious, show him the door but if, on the other hand, there is value provided, rewarding it is the only proper thing to do. How else are you going to attract those whose talents can benefit your business?


You shall reap what you sow. End of rant.