from the Lenox, MA contra dance. We settled on $300 guarantee for the band for just about all our dances unless we're getting a band with a major following. We use a mix of local and not-so-local bands, and the number of performers in the bands can vary (i.e. the Russett Trio sometimes has a fourth person, etc.). So a trio makes out better than a quartet, obviously, but that's their's to resolve. And we tend to guarantee the caller $100. For performers who travel quite a distance we add in some extra for gas money. And then we take a share. The way we've resolved this is roughly this way: We count the gate (less the money that is a constant for our cash box.) We subtract our fixed expenses (hall rental and insurance) We subtract our performer guarantees (typically $400) And then we look at the balance as cash to distribute. From this we take a share equal to the performers (i.e. typically around $100) What is left from this we divide equally into shares, one for each performer and one for the dance. If we have a slow night where we can't make our guarantee, then we have some reserves to pay it out, albeit with a check shortly after the dance. If we have a great night, the band and callers make extra, and the dance gets some too. With this extra we help to pay for a community double dance and potluck in December (which draws slightly fewer people than a regular dance but we have two bands and two callers); we offer the second dance free for dancers new to contra dancing; and we're building a pool to purchase our own sound equipment because the sound is an issue sometimes with some bands. It's a workable system. We have a cash sheet for doing the math and recording the money and other data. I'd add it as an attachment to this message (Chris... do attachments work with this?) If the attachment doesn't work, and you'd like to see it, write to me directly stevmoor(a)mac.com and I'll send it to you. Stephen Moore Lenox (MA) contra dance On May 13, 2008, at 8:29 AM, Dave Cain wrote:

in Chicago we pay local musicians $50 each, $200 max per band. Local Caller gets $50. If there is an out of town musician that sits in with a local band, not advertised, they get $60. If they were listed on the schedule they get the out of town rate, which is $80/musician, $320 max/band, $80 out of town caller. Plus we give $30 for travel expenses. Any gate over band/caller expenses stays with us. On average we operate at a loss, with difference made up by grants and contributions. We haven't seen any predictable difference in attendance between different callers, or bands, local or out of town. jeffrey