Agree. It's bad form to charge musicians money to play. Instead of charging musicians money to rent a place and to provide food and drinks they may or may not want, to me it makes more sense to find a business to host it. I have yet to go to an open mic in my area where the business required me to buy anything.

At La Casa Dolce, you can waltz in, bring your laptop, use their free wireless all night long, listen to all the open mic singer/songwriters, and not spend a dime. I usually buy drinks because I'm thirsty! Most every musician at least buys a coffee or something. The business makes money because people buy stuff while there, but they don't have to. The performers don't pay anything to get in. Everyone gets to hear great music. The people who host the event probably get a few bucks tossed their way from the business, but they provide the PA and the setup and teardown and they deserve it.

Now, to be honest, I'd pay 8 bucks to play if the event had a boatload of local business folks who were searching for new talent to play at their establishment. But to play in front of other musicians? Naw.






Richard MacLemale
Music = http://www.richardmac.com