Description

None of the definitions of a stooge are particularly pleasant.

I still look for playing and teaching work and occasionally I feel as though I'm being set up just to make up the numbers when the employer has already decided who they're going to hire

1. a subordinate used by another to do unpleasant routine work: 
2. "party stooges put there to do a job on behalf of central officet
3. a performer whose act involves being the butt of a comedian's jokes: 
4. "the stooge is offstage"

Lots of versions of the same thing - none of them particularly nice.