Freebie gigs are not a big talking point here. But, there are times I don't mind them at all. I have two coming up for people who have connected me with a couple of really good clients. One of them sheepishly asked me if I would do him a favor and play a house party for his anniversary. NO PROBLEM. He had previously connected me with a client that is worth an average of $2500 a year.

The wife of a bartender at the local Elks hooked me up with a very exclusive assisted living place which now contracts me for 5-6 gigs a year at top dollar. She asked how much for me to do a party at their house on a Sunday. I gladly said "ZERO dollars".

Genuine community service freebies are okay with me to...like helping to raise money for a local needy family.

Then there are the guys that ask for freebies for the sake of all the "exposure" you're GOING to get. That's where I draw the line.