I have a Queen Diana (Ross) story for you…I worked at a non profit here in L.A. many years ago. The Founder and Pres was good friends with Berry Gordy and a board member of the charity. Diana Ross agreed to sing a couple songs at the annual dinner dance fundraiser. The costs for all of her people, flights, hotels, etc. was over $130,000!!! My boss said no thanks and even Berry Gordy was shocked at her costs.🤯
Berry Gordy started Motown and is Diana Ross’ ex husband. They had one or two kids together.
I was doing the bookkeeping for the co. and her executive asst. at the time and almost fell off my chair when her rep gave me the costs breakdown. My boss was so mad she called Gordy to get Ross on a conference call and she told her off for taking advantage of funds that were to go to blind kids. It was fabulous hearing someone stand up to these over paid entertainers.
That’s awesome!
They werent married – they had an affair for yrs while he was married & had a baby during the affair – but they were never married
This is spectacular! Your boss is a bad ass.
This might come as a surprise but the talent usually gets paid at charity gigs. Some (Elton John) will waive their fee but the band still has to get paid for their travel, etc. It’s not cheap, especially if they are not already on tour and it’s a one off.
Lifelong nonprofit fundraising and events person here. Talent doesn’t (or shouldn’t) get paid for their performances. It’s an in-kind donation that they can write off. As for their travel… 130k is disgusting and unethical. There is a reasonable amount that a nonprofit will pay to bring someone who can help raise awareness and more money. That amount of money is not justifiable unless her presence would have added millions to the bottom line (it wouldn’t have). As many celebrities have done in the past, you cut down your “needs” since you’re working with a nonprofit. You don’t keep or pad your usual fees. Especially, since the nonprofit gives you a nice letter to bring to your accountant so that you can reduce your tax burden.