The weekend went slowly – yeah – and Cindy and I just enjoyed being around the house. We hardly left the house on Sunday – watched BREACH on DVD and relaxed.
I spent most of today trying to get the office organized so Keith and I can be more efficient for the rest of the summer doing what needs to be done. After compiling the “TO DO” list today, looks like we’re going to be fairly busy! But before we can even begin, I think we’re going to have to disassemble the office computers and get everything hooked back up again. The internet and network are so screwed up, it’s impossible to get anything done without becoming frustrated! I’m sure that will be Tuesday’s project – and will probably take all day. But, until it’s done, there’s no way to get the “list” started, let alone completed.
I also finished up signing the remaining contracts today for next season. This is also becoming increasingly more frustrating as states take their “Non-Resident Entertainers Tax” from each of our contracts. If you don’t understand what that means, it’s one of those ways for states to make money without taxing their own residents. They just take money from people who don’t live in their state (isn’t that taxation without representation?). These days, more and more states are adopting this policy because, afterall, entertainers are rich, right? The most frustrating part of it comes when you are negotiating the fee and are not aware that the State is going to take a percentage off the top, even before your expenses. Most of them allow no deductions of the actual costs of doing business in their state AND they often forget just how much money a performer generates in their communities and state. It’s a penalty to perform there – even as states are trying to promote how much they “support the arts” and how “cultural” they are. The only support the arts because they can tax the arts.