ass kissing is finding reasons to compliment someone, even if the compliment is not true
sucking up is when you agree with someone all the time, just to be in their good graces
being nice (or EXTRA nice) to someone you are working with is neither of these.
it's simple professional courtesy.
and since I play the same places with the same vendors quite often, I consider them my friends.
So I help them out, the same as I would ANY friend of mine. In return, they take care of me.
Everybody is happy, and gets something out of the relationship.
If you have a good relationship with the people you work with
you don't have to worry about "demanding their respect"....
they'll be more than GLAD to help you out