Yes - the double act will roll on for a while. The guy has good contacts and seems to be able to generate interest in ways I am not. One festival has already confirmed, and at a very good fee. So I will stick in there.

Nice one! or should I say two?

Dueling hypnotist makes the show about them and not the volunteers. Not a fan. Just my humble opinion.

It wasn't a dueling hypnotist show. The other guy doesn't have the experience for that, and I am not sure I like the concept. More a co-operative show. A few festivals have booked it already, and a big pub. So commercially it might be a runner.

First time out not as big a crowd as hoped.

Way down on what we hoped, Danny. But the next few gigs are for fees, so no worries there.

Ireland has gone to the dogs. Major bands are drawing a dozen people. The Abbey Theater (our national theater company) plays to single figures, and for the first time ever I got a crowd of one at a show last year. Times are tough here.

Again explain to me why splitting a fee in such an environment is a good thing?

Danny, the guy has contacts within certain circles. I am splitting fees I would not otherwise get. My regular show is solo - no splitting the fees there. That is how it makes sense.