Gypsy,

Don't know what if any group you're hooked up with, but thought I'd pass along what the group I belong to does.

Throughout our year (Sept.-June) we set up "house concert" workshops with musicians on the circuit. Sometimes this is the Sunday afternoon after they've done a legitimate concert for about 200 or 300 people on Saturday night, sometimes it's just a one-hour workshop before a one-hour concert.

Other times, it's just a performer we know will be in the area -- maybe doing a gig 40 or 50 miles away -- who is willing to do it.

We usually pay the performer the entire take from the Sunday (workshop) session -- 15 to 20 people at $20 each. Most seem to like it and it's another way we can learn from some of the best (Rick Fielding did one for us, as have quite a few other top-notch Canadian performers) and gives them a little extra cash too. Everybody wins.

Good luck,

david