Would you pay to entertain at a town fair?

[pampam]

We have been asked to dance at a local fair. We danced last year at this fair and had to pay to get into the fairgrounds. We did not charge them anything for our services.

We danced at another fair, and they asked how much we charge (We don't charge anything, but they gave us a $50.00 contribution which we appreciated. ) They also asked us how many wristbands we would need to get into the fairgrounds. They were most gratefull to us for coming and showed it.

We are not professional, but we are quite entertaining and reasonably good dancers.

This local agricultural society has all year to have fund raising opportunities such as yard sales, pancake breakfasts, demolition derbys, winter carnivals, etc. and I personally feel it would be nice to be given free admission into the fair, considering we are the entertainment. Am I being too sensitive?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

LOL - if you are providing an unpaid service, your admission should be free.

 

[Nancyg56]

You had to pay an admittance fee in order to enter to perform a favor for them? Makes no sense to me. What on Earth would they have done if you had chosen not to pay the entrance fee?

 

[agnes!]

They need to pay for your entire group to enter the grounds, otherwise it ain't happening. For them not to do so is just downright cheap.

agnes!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I belonged to my studios dance company for several years. We would perform all over area as well as places like WDW, Universal Studios, and the 2000 Olympic Games in Austraila. I think we received free admission into all of the places that we performed - except maybe WDW. However, we were able to perform at the park but in order to 'play' in the park we needed our ticket.

I don't think you are out of line asking for the dancers to be admitted for free.

 

[merekc]

My guess is that it was an oversight on the planners part. They probably don't even realize you were charged. A small detail that was lost in the shuffle. I would address it with the person requesting your group perform.

 

[merryweather20]

If you are a for profit dance school then they may consider allowing you to perform as advertising.

Sometimes they are also dealing with people who also qualify for free admission under another program, as a volunteer, a benefactor, a seasons pass holder, or as an exhibitor for something else, and are waiting for you to ask for X number of tickets for just the people in your group that need them.

 

[hiwaygal]

If you are a for profit dance school then they may consider allowing you to perform as advertising.

If that were the case, shouldn't they have told them that when asking them to perform?

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I belonged to my studios dance company for several years. We would perform all over area as well as places like WDW, Universal Studios, and the 2000 Olympic Games in Austraila. I think we received free admission into all of the places that we performed - except maybe WDW. However, we were able to perform at the park but in order to 'play' in the park we needed our ticket.

I don't think you are out of line asking for the dancers to be admitted for free.

My DD's dance group danced at Ellis Island last year and this year on the deck of the Intrepid. The group pays for admission to the museums so it acts as an educational trip as well.

So while I understand them allowing the dancers in for free, if they are going to stay and play then they should probably pay. And if I'm not mistaken, it's a fundraiser for the group as well, isn't it.

 

[pampam]

My guess is that it was an oversight on the planners part. They probably don't even realize you were charged. A small detail that was lost in the shuffle. I would address it with the person requesting your group perform.

I had asked about getting in for free but they said they were working on a limited budget and couldn't afford for the 14 of us to get in for free and not pay. That's why I mentioned in my original post about the different forms of fundraising they do and could do.

We are non profit.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I had asked about getting in for free but they said they were working on a limited budget and couldn't afford for the 14 of us to get in for free and not pay. That's why I mentioned in my original post about the different forms of fundraising they do and could do.

We are non profit.

LOL - that is funny. What, exactly, is their cost for having the 14 of you in the fair? The costs for running the fair are fixed.

I think that you are being "had". If you would not otherwise attend the fair, they lose nothing by allowing you free admission.

 

[Silent1CB]

Maybe it was an oversight last year. I would tell them that before you agree to contract your services for free, you would like to request that it include free admission to the grounds.

I've seen vendors ask for things all the time before signing up - like a free meal. Doesn't mean they will get them, but doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[olena]

LOL - if you are providing an unpaid service, your admission should be free.

I agree. Charging admission after you contribute that way is discourteous.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Since it is a fair, you are there as entertainmet, plain and simple.

Your status as a business is irrelevant.

To compare to Disney--they allow students to perform as entertaiment as an opportunity. Much different animal. They can if they choose opt to require you to pay if you wish to stay and play.

My girls did a dance competition there recently and will do so again this weekend.

They performed for ONE day at Wide World of Sports but were given a 3 day park hopper. Now one of the comp venues was the movie studios and that ticket got them in and out of there for those contestants. But we did not perform there. There was a fee for this competition (blended into the rest of all fo our dance expenses)--so my girls did indeed pay for the privilege of performing. But they were not there as entertainment.

But the state fair, county fair, church fair--if the venue charges an admission fee, it should be comped for the entertainmnet that is performing gratis. If they cannot "afford" to at least allow you on fair grounds, they cannot afford to have you perform for free then.

I don't think they are responsible for giving you ride tickets or anything. That certainly is at your team's discretion if they want to ride. The Fair planners usually have little discretion with the carnies and they need to be able to cover the rental fees for having all the rides.

They want something completely for free and to me--they should find another sucker. "Free advertising" is the gimmick, but rarely does much business result to "pay" for your generous contribution of your time to perform (and the planning and rehearsing that goes into preparing for that event). At minimum, you should be allowed on the grounds without having to pay.

 

[merryweather20]

If that were the case, shouldn't they have told them that when asking them to perform?

I don't understand your post. The OP didn't say they came after they performed and beat them for money

 

[merryweather20]

Since it is a fair, you are there as entertainmet, plain and simple.

Your status as a business is irrelevant.
To compare to Disney--they allow students to perform as entertaiment as an opportunity. Much different animal. They can if they choose opt to require you to pay if you wish to stay and play.

My girls did a dance competition there recently and will do so again this weekend.

They performed for ONE day at Wide World of Sports but were given a 3 day park hopper. Now one of the comp venues was the movie studios and that ticket got them in and out of there for those contestants. But we did not perform there. There was a fee for this competition (blended into the rest of all fo our dance expenses)--so my girls did indeed pay for the privilege of performing. But they were not there as entertainment.

But the state fair, county fair, church fair--if the venue charges an admission fee, it should be comped for the entertainmnet that is performing gratis. If they cannot "afford" to at least allow you on fair grounds, they cannot afford to have you perform for free then.

I don't think they are responsible for giving you ride tickets or anything. That certainly is at your team's discretion if they want to ride. The Fair planners usually have little discretion with the carnies and they need to be able to cover the rental fees for having all the rides.

They want something completely for free and to me--they should find another sucker. "Free advertising" is the gimmick, but rarely does much business result to "pay" for your generous contribution of your time to perform (and the planning and rehearsing that goes into preparing for that event). At minimum, you should be allowed on the grounds without having to pay.

It is completely relevant. There are several entertainment shows that pay to come to our local fairs. Husqvarna comes to mind. I have no idea if Miss X's school of dance pays or not, but she is there with her little sign and fliers next to the stage. It is very clearly advertising for such a dance school.

Since the OP doesn't fall under the category I do think its tacky and I wouldn't take them up on the offer. Its not unheard of however to ask for volunteers to pony up some cash, some tutoring groups locally require a criminal back-ground check, and the volunteer always pays their own way. The one that took the cake for me was a fellow Dis'er who's relative wanted to donate their body to science and the relative had to pay a fee to do so.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It is completely relevant. There are several entertainment shows that pay to come to our local fairs. Husqvarna comes to mind. I have no idea if Miss X's school of dance pays or not, but she is there with her little sign and fliers next to the stage. It is very clearly advertising for such a dance school.

Since the OP doesn't fall under the category I do think its tacky and I wouldn't take them up on the offer. Its not unheard of however to ask for volunteers to pony up some cash, some tutoring groups locally require a criminal back-ground check, and the volunteer always pays their own way. The one that took the cake for me was a fellow Dis'er who's relative wanted to donate their body to science and the relative had to pay a fee to do so.

Well--we can disagree then.


They either comp all entertainment or none. This is the local fair--not the state fair or Six Flags.

If it cost $5 to get in, but not ride rides, there is no reason they can't comp the entertainment.

If they call the local musician or other entertainer that charges per performance, they won't get them for free. And often, those people charge you AND they have their flyers/business cards etc.

I don't expect the kids to be comped riding privileges.

 

[Heidict]

I had asked about getting in for free but they said they were working on a limited budget and couldn't afford for the 14 of us to get in for free and not pay. That's why I mentioned in my original post about the different forms of fundraising they do and could do.

We are non profit.

Wow, they expect you to entertain people FOR FREE at their fair and they can not even extend you the courtesy of free entrance to do so? WOW. I would be explaining to them that since you are a non-profit you don't have the budget to pay for all 14 of your dancers to get into the fair and that you don't feel it is fair to make them pay admission so that they can work at the fair.

They have some nerve. I have worked fairs before, from the small local ones to the big one on the Navy sub base and I never had to pay admission for them, plus I got excellent parking.

I would tell them that you either get free admission for all of your dancers, for the show, or they will have to find other entertainment this year.