clinton - a lot of people who perform are under contract one way or another - and if they wish to continue to perform in that venue had better leave their audience happy - and believe me - when the guy who cuts your check hears a complaint from a person you refused a request you had better have a good explanation! Or if something you sing offends someone, or they think you're too loud - or not loud enough...

MANY performers have little to no artistic control over their own performances - or even repetoire; but need the money - or are willing to put up with that for the occasional times when they DO have artistic control or soemthing along those lines.

Example - When I sing at the Dickon's event I do in november and december - I try to weasel out of doing modern christmas carols - we have a troupe of people who work hard at creating a Victorian atmosphere and "Gramma got run over by a reindeer" pretty well puts the kibbitz to that! BUT - the word came down from on high - "do it! - Keep the patron happy". So - I had a choice - sing what the person paying me wanted - which was the inapproprate requests - or stop doing the gig. since 90% of the time I enjoy the gig and it also pays for my Christmas season - I chose to sing what they wanted.