Big Burns Supper festival under fire over £50 performer fee

The BBS has posted a “community call-out” for local music acts, spoken word artists, DJs and community groups to use the stage.

It is looking for different acts to perform at free stages and venues between 17 January and 2 February for up to 45 minutes.

The £50 fee being offered – along with guest passes to the festival club and two drink tokens – has prompted criticism.

Zoe Bestel performed at the BBS more than a decade ago as a teenager and has not worked with them since.

She said her mother had persevered through “nine months, two bounced cheques and ultimately daily phone calls” in order to get paid back then.

“The flat fee is not fair, it’s against Musician’s Union guidelines, and diminishes the skill level of local performers purely based on their proximity to the event,” she said.

She added that in a large region like Dumfries and Galloway the money would barely cover travel expenses from some areas.

“Performers should be paid for their time. The idea of working, professional musicians playing for free in return for ‘exposure’ is an outdated exploitation,” she said.

“Even ’emerging’ artists if invited to play an event, not consenting and instigating to perform at an open mic for example, should always be paid.”