Talent Fee

So recently a production entity staged a one night concert involving three bands. The arrangement is such that every customer will be charged a ticket. The proceeds of the ticket sales shall be distributed pro rata to each of the members of the bands that performed as his/her "talent fee."

After the show,  every band member, received his/her share of the talent fee - EXCEPT me.

I did not receive anything. Not even a drink. Not even a small meal to feed my hungry guitarist stomach -  and I will tell you why --  I waived my talent fee.

I do not play for money. I enjoy sharing whatever little talent that I have with people I love and care about. Such a little talent is my gift to humanity. The so called "talent fee" or any monetary compensation for my art is the very last thing in my mind.

However, for being part of the project, I had a very small tiny request to the organizers - my guests (guitar technician, P.A., girlfriend, and a very small number of friends) will not be charged a cent to be admitted, which is of course was granted.

The problem is this -  after the show I am told that I had a talent fee all along. That it was applied to credit my guest list, "as if"  to purchase an admission. I was further told that "if my guests have bought their own tickets, the price would have exceeded my talent fee." It is therefore correct and justifiable to conclude that I should not receive any talent fee at all.

This is downright  insulting.

Let me just clear a few things out before I move on for good.

First, I am not playing for money, my art is free. However it insults me to hear that the reason I do not have a talent fee was not because I WAIVED it, but instead, such talent fee was applied and credited to pay for my guests' entrance.

And I don't have to be told that "that If they had paid for their own tickets, it would have exceeded the talent fee I should receive." I told you, I do not care about the money.

The thing is, if I had known my guests will be charged anyway (thanks to my T.F.) I would not have accepted the gig. I have so much things to occupy my time with.

Or, if I had played nevertheless, I would have purchased them their own tickets out of my own pocket. At least they get real  tickets (instead merely being put in a guest list), they would have gotten their free beer, drink, or whatever other benefit.

This is not an issue of money. This is my issue of not liking how my compensation for the gig is construed as if I was the one who owes the production entity some big favor for bringing in a few people to watch our band play. Mind you, my guests are the very reason I agreed to be part of the project in the first place.