"I'll keep this short and to the point: The reason that club owners continue to fuck over musicians and bands with money is that there are some constituents in our business that feel that it is OK to play for nothing, or close to it, just because they don't need the money, or for exposure, or to undercut the competition, etc. What they do NOT realize is that they not only hurt their colleagues, but also themselves, in the long run.
CARDINAL RULE: IF YOU ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PROFITING FROM THAT SERVICE, THEN YOU DESERVE TO BE PAID, ADEQUATELY I MIGHT ADD, FOR THAT SERVICE. AS A MUSICIAN, YOU ARE ANOTHER VENDOR FOR THAT BAR, RESTAURANT OR CLUB, AND THOSE VENDORS DO NOT WORK FOR FREE, NOR DISCOUNT THEIR PRODUCTS TO SUCH A MENIAL LEVEL FOR "EXPOSURE", AND THEY AREN'T IN THIS FOR FUN. MUSIC IS FUN FOLKS, BUT IT IS ALSO A BUSINESS, AND NEEDS TO BE TREATED AS SUCH!
Let's get real: Each musician on a gig deserves at least $100 at the end of the night (we are NOT talking weddings/corporate here, which is, of course, much higher). If this cannot be established before hand, WE SHOULD NOT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
If we don't COLLECTIVELY get serious about this, individually AND as groups, the day WILL come when we are EXPECTED to provide entertainment FREE OF CHARGE, because (as the club owners will paraphrase) "it will be good for your act to build a following and get exposure". FOR WHAT? TO PLAY FOR PEANUTS OR FREE AGAIN< SOMEWHERE ELSE??? Of course, if it is a charitable benefit, where time is donated, that is a whole other story. But, ANY establishment that profits off of musicians needs to share the wealth and pay up, as they do with ALL of their other vendors. If you are a bandleader, you must insist on this from the club owner or agent. If you are a sideman, YOU must insist on this from the bandleader. Of course, this will not win any popularity contests, but we ALL must start somewhere."
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