I am, among other things, a musician. So a crazy thing happened today. People got upset. Blame was hurled like a mobile home in a tornado. Here's how it went:
  A really great lady, also a musician, started a page on Facebook a short while ago. The idea was to provide a public space for musical performers, and songwriters, mostly local, to post their recordings and share their music. It really took off. Within a very short period there were hundreds of members and posts. The thing has morphed a bit and now includes announcements, invitations to perform, etc. This well meaning lady posted on the page an idea for an event; a "battle of the bands". The idea was that all participating bands would pay an entry fee of $200. The bands would play at local venues, judges would determine winners cash prizes would be given and the emerging champion would be featured on a local TV program and would get to perform at a local festival.
 Immediatley musicians took offence. "We won't pay to play" was the battle cry. Lengthy scripts followed, accusations were hurled.
  I myself pointed out that we are professional musicians. We get paid to play. Asking us to pay for a chance to get paid was a slap in the face. She countered with a metaphor concerning the lottery and how it "takes money to make money". That turned out to be gasoline on the fire.
  Another lady, a talented singer, came to the first ladies side and advised that the posting musicians were being disrespectful and "needed to chill".

   I suspect you have already taken a position. That's how it goes.
Everyone felt disrespected in the end. No one intended malice, but everyone was a victim. And a beautiful thing (the Facebook page) got ugly. That's the real shame.

I'm going to private message her tomorrow and suggest we open a forum and figure out how we can do a show where musicians play music and be fairly compensated. This can still be a great thing.

We just all need to pull the same end of the rope.

Peace.
          George Eitel