First up, apologies for being a bit quiet in here lately. I've had a ridiculous number of gigs, videos to make, and just to make things interesting, I've been battling a chest infection as well. Apparently my body has decided that 29 years of gigging isn't enough punishment. 😂 Anyway, something happened the other day that got me thinking, and I'd love to hear how the rest of you handle this. I turned up to a gig, ready to work, only to discover I'd been double booked. Two entertainers, one venue, one timeslot. So I got sent home. My agent has told me he'll invoice the venue for the full fee, which I completely agree with. If the venue makes the mistake, the musician shouldn't be the one losing money. We've kept the date available, turned down other potential work, travelled to the gig and fulfilled our side of the agreement. But here's where it gets interesting. What happens when it's the AGENT who makes the mistake? In the 29 years I've worked with my agent, I've been double booked quite a few times. And not once have I asked him for a cancellation fee. To be fair, he's never offered one either. Part of me thinks I've been far too accommodating over the years. But another part of me has always looked at the bigger picture. This is someone who provides me with a lot of work, and I've never wanted to damage a good working relationship over one lost gig. Then again, if I made a mistake that cost someone else several hundred dollars, I'd expect to take responsibility for it. Maybe I'm too nice. Or maybe it's just a case of playing the long game and knowing which battles are worth fighting. And perhaps there's a reasonable compromise here. Rather than expecting the agent to pay the FULL gig fee out of their own pocket, what about a cancellation fee? Maybe 50% of the agreed amount? That way the musician isn't left completely out of pocket, but the agent isn't being punished quite so heavily for what might have been an honest mistake. So here's my question to the group:

I've got a rare Friday night off, so I thought I'd throw something out there to our members in different parts of the world. I've noticed something interesting over the years when it comes to tips, and I'm curious whether it's the same elsewhere. Here in Australia, tipping musicians isn't really part of the culture like it is in some other countries. But when it does happen, I've noticed a pretty consistent pattern. When I play in more affluent areas, I rarely receive tips. Yet when I'm playing in working-class, blue-collar areas, people seem far more generous. And it's not just the tips. I generally find those gigs much more enjoyable too. The crowds are more responsive, more willing to have a laugh, sing along and actually engage with you. There's something refreshingly genuine about those audiences. In the wealthier areas, I often find people a little more reserved and harder to connect with. Not always, of course, but often enough that I've noticed the pattern. You'd think people with more disposable income would be more inclined to throw a few dollars your way, but in my experience, it's frequently the opposite. And before anyone gets upset, I'm not suggesting wealthy people are all miserable tightarses. Some of them are perfectly pleasant tightarses. 😂 I'm genuinely interested in hearing what others have experienced, particularly those of you in countries where tipping musicians is much more common. Do you find working-class audiences more generous and engaged? Or has your experience been completely different? I'd love to hear how this varies around the world.

Thought we'd try something a little different this week! If you've got a gig coming up this weekend, let us know where you're playing, what sort of gig it is and what part of the world you're in. Pub, club, wedding, corporate gig, private party or a three-hour acoustic set in the corner while everyone watches the football. 😂 And if you're NOT gigging this weekend, let us know what you're up to instead. You never know, there might be another Pro Muso member just around the corner who could pop in and say hello! So, who's playing where this weekend? 🎸

I want to hear from players who DONT use Ipads while gigging or busking. How do you remember words and the order of verses without muddling them up? Is it a connection you have to the song? is it the story in the song you remember? What mental tricks do you use to remember lyrics? I'm fkn terrible 😆