Originally Posted By: Notes Norton
On the other hand, it would keep the amateurs who play for free on 'open mic' nights because they would have to pay to play.

So who knows if it would balance out with more gigs?

Nobody is going to open mic nights to avoid paying for music. In my experience the crowd, if you can call it that, at open mics is about 10% regulars who could care less and 90% the open mic performers. You are just not losing gigs to folks having a little fun at open mics.