Free gigs?

[jtlownds]

A while back, there was a rather heated thread about playing free / cut rate gigs. I should have posted this in that thread, but I can't find it now. My own philosophy is that "I don't play no free gigs", unless I'm doing a benefit for some worthy cause. I sure don't want to start another pi$$ing contest over this subject, but it reminded me about a story I read about the great tenor Enrico Caruso.

Back in the early 1900s, a charity organization in New York City approached Caruso and asked if he would do a benefit performance for them. Caruso agreed, and the show was a great success. They brought in $10,000.00. After the show, while the organizers were congratulating themselve over the success, Caruso presented them with a bill for $10,000.00. The organizers were dumbfounded, but, reluctantly wrote Caruso a check for $10,000.00. On receipt of the check, Caruso then whipped out his own checkbook and promptly wrote out a check to the organization for $10,000.00 with the explanation that "Caruso, the singer, gets paid, Caruso, the man, is generous."

I allways thought that was a great story, and thought that you guys might enjoy it.