* I WON'T play for clubs where the place is involved in drug distribution.

* I won't play anywhere management doesn't treat the help fairly.

* I won't play for a list of individuals I consider to be involved in unethical business activities. Some of those are college presidents, mayors, corporate leaders, etc.

* I won't play for "for profit" nursing homes.

* I won't play for places in financial trouble; at least not on long term contracts.

What about you? How much does personal opinion/ethics play in your choice of where you'll work?


Russ

That is an easy answer..

I won't play a venue, that I am uncomfortable at...for several different reasons..

If I am not "right" for the room...music type..

If they disrespect my stage partner...in the past, I worked with an afro American girl for about 3 years...and I could not believe some comments I over heard...I packed up a couple times..

If there are safety issues with equipment or personel..

Like Russ..if I see mistreatment of personel...I just seem to speak up..when I see they are not fair..

When I am lied to my face...trust and intedrity is a must..if I work with or for you..you better be honest..

Among my reasons for not playing a venue.....pay scale is not an issue....if it is an up front disclosure...but again lying to me after the fact...is a No No..

Fran, I completely agree with your list and reasoning.

Man, if I keep adding to mine, I'll have no place to work )LOL)!


R.

I won't play where there is smoking!
I won't play for jazz fans.
DonM

Don,

Amen, to not playing at Venues were there is smoking.

Me too!

Ron, in Port St. Lucie, Florida

(See "Horror" story about a music partner below).


R.

I'm selling some older equipment to raise money for a favorite charity.

Some of the old equipment sat for years in bars where there was smoking.

* All the instruments where there was white binding is all very yellow (UGH!).

* On all the old amplifiers, there is an ugly brown outline around the speaker area.

My long-time music partner developed tongue cancer. He never smoked, but was in smokey bars 6 nights a week. After they removed most of his tongue, they installed a "G" tube for feeding. They removed lots of skin and muscle from his left arm to patch his throat, so he could never platy guitar again. With less than 1/2 a tongue, he never could sing or even talk because of a trach tube.


Terrible way to die.

Patios around here allow smoking. I've quit playing them.


Russ

Captain Russ,

Thanks for sharing your story re: Your long-time music partner.

I think one of the worse gigs currently is on some of the cruise lines Piano Bars.

I have never played cruises, but I am amazed at the cloud of smoke that surrounds a piano player on a cruise ship piano bar.

Especially, some of the older model Carnival Cruise ships that have their typical small piano lounges.


Ron

I agree with all the stated reasons ...

As for cruise ships, we have been on a number of cruises on Norwegian lines and they do not allow smoking 'inside' the ship except in designated ares ... see the following:

We want you to be comfortable on board, so public areas throughout all our ships are smoke-free. If you smoke cigarettes, you can do so on your balcony, in the casino or in the Cigar Bar (where available). If you prefer pipes or cigars, you can smoke in the Cigar Bar or designated smoking lounge. Also, you can smoke cigarettes, pipes and cigars outside on open decks (just not around food venues, sports decks, kids’ pool areas and other designated nonsmoking areas). Smoking inside your stateroom will result in a $250 cleaning charge added to your onboard account.