Gary, actually, the Dubai job is ideal for me. The host never talks or even looks at me. I'm an infidel.

It's all done by a manager. Even if there are only three people in the dining room (and that's often the case), the host never acknowledges my presence.

Often, there are actors, other musicians (most way more well-known than me) and other internationally known people in the group. Generally, they're paid a ton of money for, say an appearance at a mall opening or something like that. They are invited evenings for dinner.

Same thing in the States. This fellow and a party of 12 frequents one of the places I work. They go to a private patio where they can be secluded but hear the music. They spend $3,000 on dinner and wine and tip the waiter (never a waitress) and me $500.00 each.

At the residence (a well-known horse farm), I'm the warm-up act for some of the finest entertainment in the world (I play for dinner), and occasionally, I get to work with some of these folks.

These acts include folks like the Neville brothers, playing for a party of 100 and similar acts.

On my part, not much in the area of entertainment. It's kind of like the restaurants. My job is to not get in the way.

I tell people I play 2nd fiddle to a ham sandwich (an expensive one, but a ham sandwich, non-the-less) LOL.

As far as pay in restaurants, you're right, my rate for 3 hours is $150.00. But, I get all the advertising, P/R and web work for the three restaurants the owners have (About $175,000.00 annually) and always score one big account a year from the visitors....most are 6 figure accounts (film work, mainly. I've had some for more than 15 years, and add to them annually.) That's why I do these kind of jobs.

Then, there's the private functions hosted by restaurant regulars. Those are $150.00 an hour. Plus, occasionally, I get to assemble a bigger group for, say, a corporate annual meeting.

My point is, for all of the above, I never open my mouth. I watch my volume, play the appropriate music and BS my way into the spot as the cool jazz dude they think they have to like.

Said I wasn't good at entertaining...never said I wasn't VERY GOOD at marketing.


Russ