Geez... just spend forever reading the last few pages of posts...
I might be a little late, but here's my 2 cents...
I don't see why an auction is offensive at all,
as long as it is agreed by the band. Of course, if they were pressured into it by their company when they weren't happy with it, then I consider it wouldn't be right, but if they are comfortable with it then IMO it's fine.
I can sort of see Inertia's point that she feels it's not ok to pay for somebody's time because it's kinda like turning them into an object or service to be paid for, but I totally disagree... Buying someone's time is completely
not like buying their body! ☝ I mean, hell, jobs are paid for by labour charge by the hour; granted you are
doing something (work) during that time, but also bands dining with their fans can also be considered to be "doing their job". I'd certainly consider it that way if I was a professional musician; one of the things you do as part of your work to promote your music.
The entertainment industry always has complications like that; because an "act" (whatever that may be) is made of individuals, in some sense they
are the product. For example, dance; you
are the instrument and the finished work. It can be a weird feeling at times but it's one you have to live with and get used to. It's also not necessarily degrading. Music is a bit different because they songs themselves are "finished product" but also they aren't possible without the artist(s)...
Umm, I've lost my train of thought. Enough.
Oh, and the uchiage sounds like fun and a good idea, too!