Jerome Grisanti wrote:
Make sure you let the treasurer know who is getting paid, and how much ...
I've been in the uncomfortable situation of handing someone money and
having them say, "this is not the agreed amount." I've also been the
caller when the person with the bank asked, "how much do we pay you?"
... Of course, it's not about the money, but smooth relations.
AMEN !
In my experience, lack of clarity on money happens all-too-often.
It's usually not a big deal, but occasionally makes a mess.
I still have uncomfortable feelings about a glitch like this -- from
over a decade ago. At the break, the treasurer came up to me and
began, "We should have talked about this in advance ..." It turned
out that instead of the standard payment (which I had been led to
expect), they wanted to apply a different formula (reducing my pay)
because of an unusual band situation. I didn't know what to say, but
observed that I had traveled hundreds of miles, which might also be
considered unusual ... We concluded the discussion (which occupied
the break, and would have been more happily spent socializing, and
planning the 2nd half) with me saying "Just do whatever seems best to you."
The organizer felt ruffled and grumpy, I felt ruffled and grumpy. I
suspect that whatever compromise was achieved was explained to the
band, so they felt that way, too. Ugh ! A lot of unnecessary
annoyance over $50 or so.
As Jerome observes, "it's not about the money, but smooth relations."
It's really worth the extra communication to avoid putting performers
and volunteer organizers in awkward situations.
(postscript: there was a blizzard on Sunday, and I totaled my car on
the way home. Definitely not my favorite dance weekend of all time ...)
Scott
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