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However, we (The Mudheads) pride
ourselves on the level of professionalism and entertainment that we
offer and so we would not say that we are ‘cheap’. However, we are
also not extortionate (certainly better value that the teen moppets
that get paid five thousand quid to turn up at a shopping mall and
mime to their latest mind melting single that’s for sure).
However, you can imagine my surprise following
an evening of unrestricted rock & roll enthusiasm that left the
punters suitably appeased and like the viewers of Russell Crowe’s
Gladiator “Entertained” by the spilling of West Country blood, when
the Landlord pressed nearly half the agreed amount into my greasy
outstretched palm.
Now I am a man of peace and love, I am not
known for acts of savagery or wanton thugery. However, we have bills
to pay.
“Ere! This aint what we agreed” was probably
not the most eloquent phrase ever to leave uttered from my lips, but
it did express my surprise at this lapse in his fiscal judgement.
“That’s all I pay mate” was definitely not the
response I was hoping for.
However, as he was surrounded by a herd of his
biggest (drunkest) mates I decided that diplomacy was going to
result in less bone breakage for me than giving him a mouthful.
I gently, but firmly pointed out the error of
his statement and that we were a good deal of money light at this
present moment in time.
Have you ever heard the expression “The lights
are on but nobody is at home”, well that was what I was greeted
with.
Then he leaned over the bar and pulled out
another 20 quid from the till and placed it in my hand and gave me
one of those stares that suggested that I ought to cut my loses and
run.
As I was making the best dignified retreat I
could muster he called after me “Great night lads, we’ll have you
again”.
This credit crunch has an awful lot to answer
for I can tell you.
I suppose the question is…is this happening to
anybody else out there, and if it is, how do we put a stop to it.
For my part, I am going to get into the habit
of printing off the e-mails that have the agreed price in and take
it along with me to gigs…you never know, it may help!
The only other way, should you get ‘stiffed’ by
a venue is share this info with the musical community. Then we could
all avoid said venue like the plague.
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