THIS IS A NATIONAL PETITION in the United States of America!
I am presently in the Gulf Coast where people from all over the world are coming year round to our beaches and of course, our venues. There are some venues here, who generally, treat performers as lucky to be there performing free or for very little pay.

The average band has 4 people in it. They have gas expenses, wear and tear on vehicles to lug equipment, practicing, strings, skins for drums, picks n sticks ect., long performances, needing food and water & a motel if from out of state generally. A legit band with a business license paying taxes goes home with NOTHING! In fact, they’re in the hole. Please help create change for America’s unsigned talent.

Presently bands are being forced to do 2-4 hour long auditions for dirt in the gulf coast at some venues. Here, and in other places nationally bands are forced to play FREE or must even PAY to play and I’ve witnessed it over and over. Working free is SLAVERY!!! What do you call having to pay to work? Venues say “you’re playing for exposure” while charging at the door for tickets and making food/drink profit. Many venues forcing bands to “pay to play” often have a monopoly in the area the band lives in!!!!!

Nationally this needs to stop! These are shows disguised as auditions and is exploitation. YouTube offers a fine service showing venues live performances. There is no need for 2-4 hour long free shows disguised as auditions. Performers lives should be getting easier. (But greed is winning the day.) PLEASE HELP protect America’s talent!

WE NEED AN INDUSTRY STANDARD OF STARTING PAY TO STOP EXPLOITATION! The entertainment industry standard is not and should not be the same as the typical minimum wage standard or less. VENUES NEED TO OFFER MINIMUM GUARANTEES!!!!

WE WANT PAY TO PLAY VENUES of low capacity to change their business model to pay bands!

The entertainment industry crossed it’s net worth over into 2 plus trillion dollars in 2020. They can afford to pay bands.