From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 13:49:42 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Free shows



On May 19, 2008, at 6:07 AM, John Dudley wrote:

> Bob,
> I also had the same thing happen years ago for a charity dinner dance. 
>  I asked if the caterers were giving their services - NO.  The band -
> NO,they had to be paid as they were members of the Musicians Union. 
> Decorations and gifts for the ladies - NO.  I asked why they expected 
> me to provide entertainment for no fee.  Answer: because there will be 
> some important people present.  Needless to say I told them politely 
> what they could do - get the local Drama Society  or a Church choir to 
> help out!
>
> John Dudley

John, (et al),

   If someone were to give a reason like this, wouldn't a better answer 
be: "There will be important people there? Then all the more reason 
that you should hire a professional entertainer like myself. After 
putting all of that money into your event, you wouldn't want it marred 
by an amateurish show, would you?" If done without a sarcastic tone 
(which would be extremely difficult for me at that point) it would put 
you in a positive light while pointing out the error of their logic. 
They wouldn't be doing you a favor by letting you perform, you'd be 
doing them a favor by performing a professional show - and you wouldn't 
even charge extra just because of their important guests. Isn't that 
big of you!

   We used to have a used car dealer here in Richmond who's motto was 
"Dapper Dan, the Used Car Man. I'd give 'em away, but my wife won't let 
me!" I think I'll adapt and adopt that motto myself: "Puppet shows: I'd 
do 'em for free, but my wife won't let me!"

Christopher

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