Really

So this past spring I received a call from a production company, who in my opinion is way over their head by taking on providing system techs for local Indian casinos who seem to be gungho about their concert series, I agreed to a discounted rate.  Well just recently I worked four concerts near Lake Chelan.  I was paid for the first two, without taking any overtime on the show day which tends to be close to an eighteen hour day.

Went to pick up my paycheck today and well their bean counter decided not to pay me because he did not like me charging half a day rate for driving into the shop to prep which more or less was pulling colored gel which they could have had anybody do.  I did not volunteer to go to the shop they asked me to come in.  Got to ask myself what he was thinking as they also wanted to pay me on their payroll and in this state not paying an employee for work done... well let us just say this socialist republic of Washington actually does a good job at dealing with cheap employers who think they can get away without paying those who make them money.  Stage professionals also have a way to deal with such employers.  Pass the word and all they will be able to get is not the cream of the crop, but what is left over at the bottom of the barrel and if they can talk someone into doing the work they may find they have to pay the higher rate or have such a high turnover that clients who live continuity go elsewhere and the work being done right the first time goes out the window.

Still I am asking myself really, of course in the future I will payroll myself and get paid up front so that I can pay myself on time.