I agree with Don Mason here completely. The corporations are required to provide an entertainment budget for the places and expect to pay for events of all kinds. Those folks who think they are doing a good deed by playing free are not really doing what they think. And often they are rank amateurs who couldn't get a real paying job.

Don is also right about the time involved. Lets see, one hour of playing - oh yea, you got to drive to and from the site - for me that is at least an hour each way pending on traffic and often runs 90 minutes on the return drive at traffic time. So, that one hour gig is really a 4-5 hour adventure for the day. Don't forget setup and breakdown time.

We had an Ad here that wanted performers to "audition" for her before she would book them. A real scam - that is all she ever did - free entertainers for as long as there was someone stupid enough to fall into the trap. Most of these AD types don't last long around here though.

Anyway, now most of my gigs are folks who call me and I don't really have to make many calls until an AD leaves - then it is like starting all over at that place. I have never made personal visits because the ADs are seldom available - nor have I sent CDs or other materials. Once I sent a CD and could never get booked and later found out they were playing CDs sent by entertainers rather than book them.

Deane