I don't understand the "dont want to pay someone else to try and get paid myself" < Are you talking royalties or engineers.
And even if it is petty money, Its better in your pocket than someone else's, The beauty of it is, YOU don't have to perform, Bit different with chip but in other genres, if I write a melody, register it with APRA, Then Joe Blow down the street performs, I still get paid.
I can't really talk about ASCAP, But APRA, Any one could register, I know there is a 3 year old registered, Its a cute story for another time but yeah. And yeah your right, thats what I was saying with the Bigger Crowds Bigger Cheques.
But seriously man, you may aswell register with them, Whats the worst that can happen, You get a Cheque for $5. Theres a free meal basically.