Gosh where do you want me to start?
Basically not paying what was agreed too, would be the biggest thing, or seeming to communicate that our bar tab was free and then billing us at the end of the night.
I just learned if someone ripped me off then we didnt go back, hard lessons to learn. I think over time the biggest thing is to get a clear understanding of what you are going to be paid, and make sure what you are going to be billed for. Some places have pretty good food, make sure its part of your deal before you eat or drink anything on the house.
You just have to approach it as a business, I actually at one time had some little contracts made up, but most places the owners wouldnt sign them, so I do it on good will these days. We only have two venues that pay us these days, the rest of our gigs are individuals that we have developed a relationship with over the past few years. Most of them just want a good party, so we dont even deal with venue owners that much anymore and the ones we do we know very well. The videos I shared of our last gig, two groups of people wanted to have a birthday party, so I steered them to that Moose Lodge, just reservet the room and the bar gets the bar tab. Works great for us, cause we arent begging everyone to come see us. Everytime we do one at that Moose Lodge afterwards, the bar manager wants to hire us, but they wont pay what we ask, so we just keep doing what we are doing.
"A winks as good as nod to a blind man"
