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6. DO try to get paid first

"Back in the day, I worked in bars and there'd always be the guy who'd say, 'Yeah, you guys are really packin' 'em in tonight. We'll pay you after the show,'" says Carlos. "And after the gig, you'd look around for the guy, and he was long gone.

"Obviously, when you're at a very professional level, things are different. But if you're gigging at bars, clubs, small places, always try to get cash in hand before you go on. What are people going to say? 'No, you play first, then we pay you!'? Screw that. Hey, without you, there's no show! Get paid, man."