[LAU] Linux audio course Rotterdam

[david]

drew Roberts wrote:
> On Saturday 13 September 2008 01:27:37 david wrote:
>> drew Roberts wrote:
>>> On Friday 12 September 2008 15:14:03 Bob van der Poel wrote:
>>>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 06:50:42PM +0200, Grammostola Rosea wrote:
>>>>>>> When you give a course it cost you: time, traveling costs
>>>>>>> (Brussels > R'dam) organization, making a course book (and copy it?)
>>>>>>> and linux audio usage, educational and presentation skills.... that
>>>>>>> could deserve some money....
>>>>>> I agree. OTOH, one reason why the course is given in
>>>>>> English in the centre of the Dutch/Flemish language
>>>>>> region may be that a lot of the course material is
>>>>>> just copied from material available on the web.
>>>>>> In that case I just hope that Mr. Moors has all
>>>>>> the copyright issues sorted out.
>>>> Really, what is the problem here?
>>>>
>>>> If you think the course is too expensive ... don't go.
>>>>
>>>> If you can do better ... offer your own course.
>>>>
>>>> If you want to teach for free then do so; if you want to get paid, then
>>>> charge.
>>>>
>>>> If you don't want your stuff copied off the web and used in a commercial
>>>> manner: don't post or affix a "not for commercial use" copyright. BTW,
>>>> the GNU licence doesn't support this so you'll have to use a different
>>>> one (correct me if I'm wrong).
>>>>
>>>> Isn't the whole point of freedom the ability to do what you want to do?
>>>>
>>>> I have donated a lot of software over the years ... and I've sold stuff
>>>> as well. But, one thing I will not do anymore is to play for free. Too
>>>> many times I've done just that for some good cause which doesn't have
>>>> any budget this year ... and then next year, when they do have some
>>>> money, they hire and pay someone from out-of-town. I'm sure the same
>>>> applies to teaching.
>>> We all likely tend to develop our own rules of thumb over the years. I
>>> try not do do any windows tech support gratis for friends and family
>>> anymore. I have moved away from windows to avoid those problems and paid
>>> the price in various ways to do so. I don't see why I should pay for them
>>> not doing so.
>>>
>>>> Please don't confuse freedom and free beer!
>>> Indeed. Also, look at the speaking fees famous people get. I am sure a
>>> part of the fee goes to being able to say you rubbed shoulders with that
>>> famous person as opposed to the content of the speech you heard.
>>>
>>> And as someone has already pointed out in another way, if this course is
>>> successful, everyone now has a model to follow should they wish to do so.
>>>
>>> Re playing for free for charities and the like. Perhaps do so with a bill
>>> that comes due should they pay another act in the future? (If you value
>>> the charity that is.)
>> No, that probably wouldn't go anywhere. Better to work out a *price*
>> with the charity (based on how much you might charge normally) - and
>> make it a donation and documented as such by the charity. Then you get a
>> tax benefit (at least in the US).
> 
> Got you. I would have no such tax incentives here though.

What - you mean you can't deduct charitable contributions wherever you live?

> However, doing it 
> the way you say would only give you the tax advantage and might still leave 
> you miffed next year when they actually pay out of town talent as in the 
> original example right? Or am I missing something key?

Well, it would seem to me that if you give them a good, successful 
performance that they like - you've done the best you can to avoid being 
replaced with out-of-town talent next year. I think you'll have also 
laid a good foundation for getting paid next year. I've been to a number 
of charitable/non-profit organization events that had the same band(s) 
from year to year because their members really liked them.

Also - you performed before a good sized group of people. If they liked 
your performance, you've increased the number of mouths available to 
pass on good words about you to others they come in contact with.

Also - I wouldn't be surprised if an organization unwilling to pay the 
piper this year won't be willing to pay the piper next year. So why 
worry if they pick someone else? If you charged them for next year, 
sounds like they might pick someone else who would do the show free, anyway.

> I can see how your idea could work for a person in a high tax bracket and who 
> charged at the high end of their normal rates who would normally give a 
> reduced rate to the charity.

I suppose it depends on where you live and how much you make - but worth 
consulting your local tax advisors about, if you're performing for a living.

-- 
David
gnome at hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community