I think that doing good business is really a matter of expectations-when you are clear all around on what you expect from one another, then when there are problems, you can work them out,friends or not--If expectations aren't clear,there will be trouble, friends or not--

We once owed a favor to musician Friend "A", who asked us to play for an end of the season party for a dance company at the home of Performing Arts Acquaintance "B". A year later, Acquaintance "B" called and booked us to play the same party(a Saturday nite, in Wedding Season,we had an afternoon gig in another state and, we really had to scramble to tear down, travel, and set-up, and we turned down last minute offer, to boot) at the end of the gig, there was no money. "But, you did this last year, and so I assumed you'd do it this year, after all, we're friends!"

We never got any money, and, though we ended up playing for free, the company members and sponsors hated us for asking to be paid. The lessons were: A) in the "Peforming Arts", everyone is a "friend", B) no one gets paid unless it is budgeted in the grant application, C) If you book our band, sign a contract!