[Dixielandjazz] Payment Terms

[Steve Barbone]

Elazar asked about late payment, some 30 or 60 days after the gig.

My 2 cents is that you can't get everybody to pay you before, or at the time
of the gig. Our Showboat Casino gig payments were always 30-45 days behind
the actual gig, paid monthly, or sometimes twice a month. Once you got past
the first month, it wasn't all bad as it rolled along at about 16 gigs every
month for 15 months.

Some corporations also pay 30 days after the gig.

However, you can get most people to pay at the gig by sending them an
invoice 30 - 45 days in advance. E.G., I was paid for tonight's New Year's
gig 3 weeks ago. What I do is use the gig date as the invoice number,
#123106 also putting the date mailed on it, and state that payment is due at
the gig. Works for all Retirement Home gigs, all state and local government
gigs, all party gigs, etc.

If I know that a Corporation pays 30 days late as a rule, and I can't speed
them up, I add $50 more into the gig price.

Cancellations are another matter. I rarely ask for a deposit because I know
most of my clients and they do not cancel, except for "Acts of God". I got
cancelled once 2 years ago because a Corporate client found a cheaper band.
OK, I promised never to work a gig with them again and wrote a note to the
president to that effect.

Last week, a gal from that corporation called me. Asked me to work a 2 day
gig, 100 miles away. Excellent pay + room & board. I declined and felt good
about it. The best revenge is living well, working only for people you like,
and only when you feel like it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone