I guess most of this forum has no interest in helping a fellow musician have fun. I was just looking for someone who wanted to hang out and jam, enjoy a few beers and play some music. I really feel quite alone in this town playing ITM and I’m just reaching out. Since nobody is really interested in that, I’ve changed the title of this post.
P.S. Wow…you pipers really ARE a surly lot!
The gig will be at Scarlett O’hara’s from 4-8pm. I will be getting paid $100
So $50 each for a 4 hour gig ON St. Patricks Day. Are you nuts!!!
It should be $500 each!
Tommy
I DID promise free booze!
Hmm… I’ve never attempted a $500 bar tab before… perhaps THIS is the year! 
“Hi, Mr. Bar Manager! See those bottles of Midleton up there? Yeah, the ones with all the dust on 'em. Why don’t you bring 6 of them over to my chair. That’ll compensate me just fine.”
Yeah you should atleast get $50 an hour. But, hey, getting payed to play is awesome!
hmmmm…
sounds like it’ll be a solo gig…
surely you could find a bodhran player who’d do it for the free booze… 
Sometimes…the opportunity to perform in public is priceless.
Will they have green beer?
St. Paddy’s day is perhaps the biggest day of the year for Irish Musicians in the States. Because the music is in such demand, it is also the day where the highest bidder gets the tunes. $100 and a free bar tab for four hours doesn’t even come close to getting my attention or quenching my thirst.
But hey, that’s just me.
I just love playing in public. This is all about having a good time for me.
St. Paddy’s day is perhaps the biggest day of the year for Irish Musicians in the States. Because the music is in such demand, it is also the day where the highest bidder gets the tunes. $100 and a free bar tab for four hours doesn’t even come close to getting my attention or quenching my thirst.
But hey, that’s just me. >
Yes, and you are the most reasonable person You know!
… but it’s my choice not to be that way. 
But seriously, the more non-pro people out there who accept zip for gigs, especially on Paddy’s Day, the fewer well paying gigs for the pros. I know this scenario first hand and it has long been a big pain in the arse for me and others pretty much all over the US.
But if the audience can’t discern one from the other, what difference does it make? 
WHAT???
That’s just bad publicity for Irish traditional music. It’s exactly this situation that gives Irish music a bad name. People find it hard enough to listen to a good player… for them to have to listen to a bad player is just not a good idea.
Pat.
If it were up to me I would shop around for a better paying gig. Problem is that I’m on house arrest and I can’t. The only reason I have this gig is because I desperately want to play in public and since I work at the bar I can officially be “on the clock” and therefore bypass the restrictions against me.
p.s. St Augustine is not exactly a hotbed for Celtic Trad and I probably won’t be the only musician playing more for fun than money.
But if the audience can’t discern one from the other, what difference does it make?
The difference is that the professional musicians rates are being lowered by those who are willing to perform in public for very little or free booze.
It’s a pain in my arse too. Too many venues all over the world hire mediocre musicians because they’ll do it for shag all because they don’t need the money. The bar managers then think all musicians are crap and will work for beer and when the good bands try to get a gig they’re laughed at.
I know we could all moan about our wages but at least for other professions the are standards. Just because I own a pliers, I can’t go pulling teeth and undercutting someone who spent 8 years in school to be a dentist.
My rant for the day.
Tommy
Frankly my dear,I dont give a dam !!!
RORY
One consolation is that the bar will get just what it paid for.