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Very true - I wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Maybe it's different in Washington, i've never worked for a club that didn't send a 1099 at the end of the year.  A couple that would not pay cash, check only for their records.  One that did pay cash, I had to sign receipts.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I don't know how things are these days Lonnie,  but to be honest, I liked cash when I did a few weekend gig's on piano... Steady gig's usually wanted some type of evidence, or tax stuff... If for no other reason than to cover their butt...  But the occassional weekend sit-in, or bar-gig I loathed the idea of paying more to the IRS than I had to for the day job... I always tried to work under the table when possible, I won't lie... Yet the amount of money I was making was not that much compared to some figures I've seen...  I too was turned down from many jobs in bars for wanting cash under the table for any duration.... Now summer construction jobs were different,  they DID pay cash Under the table.. to get people that were on unemployment, or had records etc... to help with muscle work... but shoveling 300 degree asphalt from a truck, tamping gravel, digging holes..etc is different than subcontracting nightly at a bar... So today, I don't know what's what.. WHen I belonged to a union I declared everything...

Of course, today if I were cutting corners, working under the table,  I wouldn't be in here using the SN "steven kaplan" telling people I'm from central Ct either.....

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I'd love to get paid cash as well, but I haven't been that lucky to find many clubs that did.  Most were pay by check (or cash with signed receipt) & EVERY club I worked at would send 1099 at the end of year or we didn't work there.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

The employer doesn't have to issue a 1099 if the sum is under $600.
They can pay you in cash and write it off as an expense.  :whistle:

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I never worked any venue even six months that didn't conveniently "change their mind", and start writing checks even though word of mouth agreement was "cash only"... They are afraid of getting busted..  At one point they said,  "I can get in trouble for doing this every night for a duration"... Yet this isn't to say others don't take more significant risks... While I know *I* could get away with getting paid cash occassionally, I agree with what you say, MANY bars won't take such a risk, THEY have more to lose !  They are under stricter scrutiny... The accountant asks..

"How about your entertainment payout" ?

What can they say in that case ?

SHHHH !!  Be very quiet !!!  ??????


I think not

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Bab's.  I think this is the significant risk... You end up getting turned in by your employer... because at one point,  he really has no choice... How can a bar that provides entertainment get away with never declaring it over the long haul ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

But is that collective sum of all worked nights or per night basis?  Most shows you work 4-5 nights alone can be $600+.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Bab's another consideration..  How do you insure your equipment over a prolonged period at a place "you don't work at as a business" ?  Don't you need to be an established business today to insure your equipment ?  To purchase as a business you have to h ave a business ID number don't you ?    There are people that might turn you in,  it might be as the result of liability, etc.. A claim, etc

IT's been ages for me,  I don't recall any of this anymore.... Even assuming I did, things change


(btw answer this stuff quickly before this thread get's pulled )

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I notice where a lot of people refer to bars and clubs as employers.  They are not.  They are your clients or your company's client.  You are a business, not an employee unless you applied to work there as an employee and as such the bars have no business giving you a 1099 or whatever it is.  Do you give your dentist, doctor, insurance agent, etc these forms.  No because you are their clients, the club is your client.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

You need a tax ID # if you are a retail outlet and you buy wholesale.    You pay no sales tax on the stock you buy at wholesale.  The tax number is so they get paid their tax, when you sell the items at retail.  You won't pay double taxes.    If you have employees then you need to pay other stuff, by law.   Like workmans comp. And you have to deduct  S.S. local tax, state tax, federal tax, unempolyment compensation, privilage tax.

If you sign a receipt, when the bar pays you, you're legally bound by your signature.   So when they get audited, they will say who's this yayhoo?  And he says Oh, he's the best damn KJ in the world.   Then they say, let's look up his taxes, to see if he paid any for being the best damn KJ in the world.  And if they don't think you paid/claimed as much as he said he paid you, then you hire a tax lawyer to bail you out.

If you have a business checking account then you are a business.   You can be a sole proprietorship, with one checking account.

You can insure your equipment.  (I have an Inland Marine policy)  The problem comes when they ask you, what you do with the equipment.    How and where did the lose occur?   Well I'm the best damn KJ in the whole world and I was doing a non paid private party, for a really good friend of mine and the bar, opps...er, a... I mean the house burnt down.   Yeah, that's the ticket.    :whistle:   Does anyone ever get tired of me knownig everything?

We are really contract help nothing more nothing less - not employees.  The 1099 they give at the end of the year is just a copy of what they file to the IRS.  But in so doing they need our business ID or SSN (if a dba) since they have to prove who they paid to in case they get audited.  
This isn't anything new.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Don't they require evidence of the fire,  and your equipment being there for payout ? Assuming it's a large claim, they send someone out, or at least they did !
In that respect I thought laws have toughened today.  I never assumed they take a person's word at face value... I can't see having an insurance policy, assuming you can never place a claim under it without having to worry about spending the recoop
d money on chances of having to pay your atty to bail you out for the business you never had..

I suppose these are just the risks associated.... Hoping it "slips by" until you skip town..  We are talking about the difference of being set up as someone who's NOT a business, compared to an LLC, or different type arrangement... Obviously some that have businesses aren't set up as busnesses... When you set up as a business you have a tax ID.... Correct ?   NO WAY around it.   So on paper some of you just don't exist as a business,  I suppose that's what this get's down to.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

First of all.  If you have a total equipment loss.    They are only going to pay you half of the retail value.   Depreciation factor.

You get a 1099 because you are an Independent Contractor.     Not an employee.   That's the way you want it.    Then it's your responsibility to pay your taxes based on what it says on the 1099.     He is legally bound to turn in a copy of that 1099 to the IRS.   If you don't claim a 1099 on your taxes, you're screwed.    [highlight=crimson]RED FLAG[/highlight]

But if the club requires to send it, then you have to comply - if you want to work.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Is it cost prohibitive to even consider being a KJ at a club these days?

Not to hijack the thread, just to interject.

Right,  You can cry and beg and plead with them to pay you CASH, but if they want to use every deduction, as most do then yes, if you want to work, then you will take your 1099 and like it.   And pay your taxes.

I always have anyway.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Exactly.   They want to cover themselves, take deductions, and they want you to turn in your 1099 because they really have little intent of you working under the table..  In some places these "under the table" jobs for any duration are the VERY tough jobs to get.... <clearing throat> but when you are the best danged Karaoke host in the world,  this is a moot issue... because the business comes knocking on your door using all sort's of obsequious whining begging you to come and work for them, AND on your terms... So after they roll out the red carpet to the limo, and say,

"Please Mr bigdog, after you sir !  Can we put these slippers on to make you more comfee ?....because whatever it takes to get you into our establishment, means we thrive !!! we will do as you demand with pleasure, because without you, we stand no chance of surviving, we will gladly pay you any amount of cash, and like it"


 Am I catching on ?


I think I've achieved a new level of awareness...  I'm starting to touch the truth !!!  :worship:


 :hug:

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I hate to see the limos pull up, because I know that I'll have to indure all of the pleading, crying and begging.   You know, I just want to wake up one day and be a regular guy.    Like everyone else.    :whistle: