They play music. They are remunerated. But you should see the "bandwiches" they are offered to eat | Jay Rayner

The online world can be scary. For me, one of the most appalling corners of the internet is a members-only forum on Facebook called Bandwiches. It's a portmanteau, the clash of "band" and "sandwiches", invented by saxophonist Stan Harrison after a particularly lamentable experience. He celebrates or, to be more exact, laments the grim quality of much of the food offered to musicians at concerts in British hospitality venues. Here are many shots of terrible mini cold sausages the color of yesterday's porridge. There's a meager plate of cookies next to an orange juice with a handwritten note saying, "Expired." Help yourself at your own risk. There are polystyrene boxes filled with a miniscule number of indeterminate fried things. And, of course, lots and lots of terrible floppy sandwiches made with the most pappy of pappy white bread. Everything is so beige. And the portions! So small!

This could be considered the most niche of niche issues. Again, the Bandwiches Facebook group has 4,300 members. It is an important slice of UK concert musicians. And even if it's a secondary problem, it's my secondary problem. I am both a jazz musician and a journalist who writes about food. If I don't complain about it, who the hell will? People in the hospitality industry do their jobs around meal times. For many years, the meals offered to servers and kitchen staff have been a major issue. Too many restaurants just didn't seem to care. Fortunately, this is generally no longer the case (although there are still exceptions). Musicians, those who work in bars and restaurants, hotels and events like weddings, are too often the forgotten workers of the hospitality industry.

There are good stories. Let's hear it for the Pig Hotel and the wonderful spread they did recently for the Jools Holland Big Band. I know from experience that dedicated London music venues such as Zedel's Brewery, Boisdale and Ronnie Scott's look after their performers. But there are so many other really ugly stories. The worst offenders are often very high end. A pianist pal recently played a four-hour solo piano wedding concert at one of the country's most garlanded and expensive hotel restaurants. (Wish I could name and shame, but lawyers get nervous.) His lunch: a single sandwich wrapped in cling film.

Another musician posted an image of an empty table at a major global catering event in London. They had offered him nothing. Then there are the horror stories of marriages, especially if you dare to be, say, a non-meat eater. At best it can be: you can try the buffet but only after everyone is done at 11pm. As one musician once said, “We cost less than flowers, but we're what your guests will remember. Show us some respect."

We've all heard of the gig economy, with the implicit issues of chronic job insecurity. Musicians know it all on the gig economy because that's what being a musician is. It means it's hard to complain about shoddy treatment because they need work. So I'm complaining for them. Please God, let's ditch the bandwiches. No more beige. Offer a hot meal. In short, if you book musicians for an event, don't forget to feed the bagpiper. And the guitarist .And the pianist and the rest.They are there to bring a great deal of pleasure to your guests;don't make their life a misery.After all, it's called the hotel read. It means being hospitable to everyone.