Musicians/Floor Cleaners

["T.W. Hartnett" <hartnett.t@apple.com>]

Earlier, someone was pointing out how club owners would pay someone to 
mop the floors, but often expect playing to be reward enough for the 
musicians.

A problem with this comparison is that the results of the floor cleaner 
are virtually guaranteed.  With a mop, bucket, and soapy water, the 
cleaner will produce a clean floor.  That is his job.  If at the end of 
the evening, the floor is not cleaned, he doesn't get paid, or is fired.

The job of the musician is not so well defined.  For many musicians, it 
is to play music.  If the music is played, then the musician should be 
paid, goes the theory.  For many club owners, the job of the musician is 
to generate bar sales.  If sales do not go up (or don't go up by a 
certain amount), the musician has not done his job, and doesn't deserve 
to be paid.  If you can pack in the hard-drinking crowd, most owners 
don't care what you play, and vice versa.  Those are the realities of 
then intersection between art and commerce.  If you're not the sort of 
musician that brings people out in thirsty droves, it would be wise to 
consider other, non-monetary reward systems.  Playing live in the Zone of 
Commerce isn't for everyone, which is no slight to those so disposed.


Travis Hartnett