TubeNet

When I was in high school, our pep band played Folsom Prison. This big psycho-looking guy wanted to play my drum set. I let him.

Useful rule of thumb--" A gig is when you have to be on time". Pay isnt at all the single determinng factor because there are plenty of events you may want to do pro bono for other reasons more important than money- and some of those can be prestigous or for an important cause.

Most of the things you list seem to be what I would call "bad gigs"

Couple bucks of gasoline? Hmm.... I suppose that would work, assuming you're driving an SUV (because you're a tubist, right?) and you were only going 10 mins down the road. Hahaha. Otherwise, it's like $10 of gasoline now a days. HAH.

knuxie wrote: Is a grade considered 'pay'?

No, I don't think so. My reason: if you're being payed to play, then the reason you are there is because someone wants to hear you play, and wants it bad enough to give you money. If you're playing for a grade, then someone is letting you play as part of their job. Maybe they really enjoy it, maybe not; but they're certainly not making any sacrifice to hear you play. That grade may be valuable to you, but it costs them nothing to give.

The key, I think, is not what you get, but what someone else gives. This is really sort of where I've drawn the line -- if someone is paying for my presence, I've considered it a gig, even if I'm not the one getting the money.
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Joe Baker, who thinks playing for a grade is either a "concert" or a "recital".