Harlan Ellison on the idiots who write for free, and the idiots who ask them to do it.
If I had to choose one book that had the greatest influence upon me during my formative years, it would be Harlan’s short story collection, Deathbird Stories – and when I say influence, I don’t just mean writing, but philosophically and politically too.
I couldn’t agree more. The same applies to music. I got an email the other day asking us to perform at this club. I assumed it would be for nothing so I asked for petrol money. “No.” he says. “It would set a precedent’. Bollocks to thee! It’s one thing to join in with a bunch of mates to do this stuff but to have someone ring you up to ask you to play and then expect you to pay your own way….
You should have asked him to come round your house and serve you drinks for free.