I was just wondering why he felt he had the right to tell you to pay for the use of it ...
Sorry about the mess posted before. My IPad connection went screwy and I couldn't delete that post
Anyway I don't know if the Caterer was the owner of the Venue or was just trying to shake me down. It was in North Jersey LOL !. Kickbacks are a part of the business. I guess they pay to have it tuned so they want to pass that along. You could use that logic for the restrooms too I guess, and the chairs, tables, electricity. BTW its GOOD to play a piano rather than let it sit idle, but try to explain that to them.
I've posted this before but I played a corporate event in Atlantic City for years and never realized the host had to pay a fee to the hotel ( yes it was one of the Donalds in the early years ) for me to play. The last two years I did it they wanted a cartage fee to move my equipment up to the room. I just showed up, loaded my R&R and went up to the gig. Never heard anything more about it.
I've played in all the upscale "Wedding Factories " in North Jersey and as bueatiful and expensive as they are the entertainers usually get treated like dirt. I've joked that I've seen the dumpsters and backdoors of the finest places.