Zuki,

You don’t need to apologize for anything. If you went out for $5 even, that’s no one’s concern but your own.

You wrote:

“The folks there deserve music as much as anyone.”
“Look at it this way. I know some who work all day (GC, etc) for $8 hr - $64 a day? I count my blessings every time I turn on the keyboard folks. Life is short.”
“There is nothing more gratifying than blessing people - no matter what the cost.”
“I will continue ALWAYS to play for $50 if it is my calling.”

The remarks of a true humanitarian!

Hammer wrote:

“but those folks are about my most appreciative crowd. They appreciate anything being done for them.”

Good for you, hammer!

Gas prices:

Keybplayer thinks that “somebody has to take a hit and it shouldn’t be you” ….and….”you are a service being rendered to the public.”

Sorry, Keybplayer, but that and $1 will take you two blocks on the subway!

Uncle Dave says: “This gas BS is going to change many people's thinking.” He’s absolutely correct and Donny is living in some kind of a dream world. Sure, people are still living the high life…on credit cards! When they max out sometime this year, you’re going to see the changes that Uncle Dave talks about. Stand behind some shoppers in any retail store or supermarket. See how many people you see paying with cash. I’ve noted sales as little as $5 being paid by plastic.

Yes, Donny, “people waste money all day long on what THEY LIKE.” But, they will waste money only as long as they have it. By the end of this year, our current recession will almost guarantee that no one has it! Then you will see what Uncle Dave is predicting.

Chas writes about the “damage to the industry” by charging low prices. Chas, the industry couldn’t be more damaged than what it is, relative to what it used to be. Have you not noticed elementary players who were laid off from their day jobs and are now playing in various venues the instrument they stopped playing 30 years ago…and doing it for peanuts…and putting the better players out of work over economics? Or the local high school amateur choral club getting experience in the nursing homes working for nothing? Or the AD’s who just want to fill a slot with a “body” and has no demands reference quality of performance?

Now, you folks who advocate raising their prices to pay for gas. Are you joking? Do you really think AD’s care what you have to pay for gas? Do you think they’re even going to take the time to listen to your drama. And…..do you really think the service that we render is not the first to be retired in hard times?

Further, it’s not about what you charge, it’s about what THEY can afford. And it’s also about...you can be replaced with a monkey (courtesy of your local organ grinder) and a tuna fish sandwich and no one would even notice!. “Quality” and “professional” do NOT cut it anymore and you can‘t bank on this for leverage like in the old days.

As for bars and restaurants, I learned early on the simple formula of how much to ask for. You ask for as much money as you’re drawing in. If the owner could make almost the same $’s as when you’re not there, you become dispensable. If there’s a severe shortage in the night’s receipts when you’re not playing, then you’re sitting in the driver’s seat. No magical formula, just common sense.

I never went out for $50, but if it was offered to me and it was convenient, of course I’d do it. I see it like this. I’m not doing anything anyway, the $50 will be gravy money for a tank of gas or a good dinner, but, most important…..I will be spreading joy and taking a group of people out of the harshness of their situations for a happy and vibrant musical hour! To see what it means to these folks cannot be put into words for any amount of money!

Lucky