From the Customer Service Department

ME: I just got a gig on x date. Can you do it?
MUSICIAN: Yeah, sounds good.
ME: Have you played there before?
MUSICIAN: You're asking me if I've played there before?
ME: Yes.
MUSICIAN: Of course I have.
ME: Great. You're kind of the reason I got this gig.
MUSICIAN: Ah, is that the case? Then I guess I should be paid extra!
ME: [laughing]
MUSICIAN: [silence]
ME: Cool, well, ahem... for this gig I thought I'd go with [two other musicians] so we don't overpower the place.
MUSICIAN: What? No, I'm not into that.
ME: I've played some other places with this setup and it's really nice.
MUSICIAN: With your music? No, that won't work.
ME: Well, it can. But if you're not into it... I just was trying to not be too loud. You have played there before, right?
MUSICIAN: Yes. And we never had a problem. See, why are you letting the place dictate how you do your music?
ME: I actually pitched it to them that way.
MUSICIAN: But still, you're always bending over backward to let someone else tell you how to play your music.
ME: Did I tell you about this gig I had recently? Now there, I did let them dictate, and it was a crappy gig, but not because of the musicians. The owner was micromanaging the set list, and then this crazy guy came in off the street and grabbed my mic from me and screamed in my ear. Has anything like that ever happened to you?
MUSICIAN: No. That's what I'm talking about. You don't command respect.
ME: How can I prevent a crazy guy from coming in off the street?
MUSICIAN: Well, that would never happen to me.
ME: And not just because you're a big tall man?
MUSICIAN: No, because I command respect. And before the guy came and screamed in your ear, you let the owner walk all over you.
ME: Well, I agree with you on that point. I'm not going to play there again.
MUSICIAN: It's not about where you play, it's about not changing your sound every time someone says you're too loud, or too soft, or whatever.
ME: So how is it different when a club owner asks me to accommodate some aspect of his club vs. when a musician such as yourself asks me to change my plan as a band leader?
MUSICIAN: I'm just saying that with your music that configuration doesn't work for me.
ME: Alright, thanks for being candid. Bye.