From Jim: “For most one-time gigs, be it a wedding ceremony or private dinner party, I have a base rate of $150 for the first hour. With nothing at stake, Bucs coach gets reckless. Would it force you into some different areas of work that pay better? Your email address will not be published. Soloists can perform many musical genres: classical, pop, contemporary, jazz, devotional, rock and roll, blues, wedding, singer/songwriter, folk music, and more. The remaining balance is due on the day of the event, before the performance. Hey working pros, just wanted to get a quick opinion on how much to charge for a wedding gig. Hi Robert – glad to hear it! :munch Income from freelance work, running your own small business or working at a second job brings in extra income without requiring you to quit your day job. How much should you charge for your DJ gigs? There are probably as many “pricing strategies for performers” as there are performers, right? I never thought about it this way… Like, take a Year and divide… and yes, re-investment in what you do is a necessity. In my neck of the woods, it’s either very low pay or no pay at all. I will be playing guitar as a single musician. “It’s not that I have so much interest in what they actually want to be putting out for a given gig — I want to know what they think it’s supposed to cost.” Often, he continues, a potential client may have absolutely no idea how much a jazz trio should be paid for two hours of cocktail music and will pull a number out of thin air. I hope you keep on inspiring people and offering helpful advice because we can all use both of those things from time to time. Chris told me recently that, by far, the most copied, shared, mimeographed (it was 1993), and reprinted article they wrote was called “The Decent Buck.”. Great story Ariella, thanks for sharing. To account for the cost this incurs, some musicians charge travel fees for events that are relatively far from where they live and work. If you're the best player in town, you can typically set your rates pretty high. Nice idea Dave! I’d love to hear how you do it. The publication, now sadly out of print, was filled with useful articles on grant funding, showcase opportunities, marketing, and general logistics related to gigging in schools. See which bands are top-rated in your area. He also charges by the hour for overtime. But, like your main source of income, a second job or side gig must be reported on Form 1040 at tax time. Sometimes, this is better than scoring a whole gig on your own. First it depends on the market your are in and if it is flooded with musicians. A note to our community regarding COVID-19. Parties are $400 minimum. A CAPTCHA is a program that protects websites against SPAM by generating tests that humans can pass but malicious computer programs cannot. What Do You Do When You’re NOT Performing? Professional musicians can tailor their playlists and performance to the nature of your event, to maintain the mood and set the overall tone. Liability insurance is important to you, because it protects the performer and the client in the case of an accident during their performance. There are so many variables involved that answering the question can be quite difficult. How good are you at what you do compared to other people in your area? You should charge more. We usually get what we ask for and part of it is something you said in this article, which is we ask for our price and stick to it. by what I need to make to make it worth it to me. To get a gig directly with a venue, call to find out who is in charge of booking bands and send them your promo package. While this may cost you more than hiring nonunion performers, you will likely enjoy a highly professional experience. I introduce the girls but don’t know how to ask for them to be considered for any Christmas events. This is really great advice. The live music market where I’m at has become flooded with a glut of musicians that either don’t need the money, because they have good day jobs, or they have a good retirement pension and 401K’s up the ying yang. For the client, a deposit makes the performer less likely to book a more lucrative gig and leave the client scrambling for a replacement. You're providing a luxury service. And though these may be more accurate than the first list, there are still some problems here (Pink Floyd isn't playing, period. (The paranoia factor™ refers to that moment of trepidation just before stating your price when you become petrified of quoting too high and losing the gig.). Yes, my quote is a lot higher than some others they may have gotten, but I get the gig anyways. on a gig by gig basis: Wedding musicians and wedding reception bands may charge a flat fee for playing weddings. I don't want an acoustic electric. What if, instead of taking what you can get, you … Marketing. Great article Dave, it definitely shed some light and offered a bit of relief on what I should generally be charging as an independent artist. But! Favourite answer. This consultation should be a free service. Kind regards, Peter. The Educate and Entertain blog provides articles, tips, encouragements, and how-to’s for regional performers (in any region) interested in making a great full-time living in the arts. In the MU we produce recommended minimum rates for a variety of use cases for live and gigging freelance musicians. Head-on crash kills 7 kids, 2 adults in central California Deaths of two female Army soldiers probed in Texas. I am one half of an original acoustic guitar/fretless bass duo with my girlfriend and we are doing okay. Wherre ru from? Parties are $400 minimum. Cookies are so last century! Usually those gigs go to acoustic duos. In addition to the cost of running a business, solo musicians need to set rates that allow them to afford rent, food, utilities and more. 2. Petrol/Diesel - £100 Vehicle maintenance - £15 Vehicle insurance and tax - £30 Equipment purchase - £30 Equipment maintenance - £10 Equipment and public liability insurance - £15 PAT Testing - £5 Food/drinks - £40 Clothing £25 … Plus, if you have a performance degree, you can charge more. Wao I have to say Thanks and Congrats Summer is upon us. 3 Pricing Strategies for Performers, Well said as always Dave! Starting Price: £180; Average Price: £260; High-end Price: £450 For example, Lee Strumski of Lee Strumski Productions explains that special requests are common and he always anticipates having to learn one or two new songs to play for an event; however, if a client presents an entire list of obscure songs for him to learn, he could need to spend 5-10 more hours learning, practicing and perfecting all the songs, which will increase the total cost of the performance. A guitar I could do fill-in lead electric guitar gigs with but also take to writer's nights and do my singer/songwriter stuff solo. Hey Dave, However, the payment could end up being more than the split fee you would share with band members. Costs for a solo pianist range from £180 to £450, with an average price of £260. Ever consumed with building her experience and expertise, Angela plays gigs either as a solo act or with her band, in a diverse array of iconic venues around the Mother City. Maybe things are different in your area. And Dave Grohl can't cost double the Foo Fighters). I know you’ve opened my eyes about pricing. Most gig fees are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. i've been playing for guitar for about 3 yrs and I play mostly acoustic music and i can also play drums. Thought you people could update me on how much I ought to be charging on different types of gigs as to type and time involved, any real good prospecting ideas on how to sniff out work, and how about negotiating the price, getting and keeping the gig, making deals for steady work etc. but charge too little and it may not be worth it. If they rely on an agent to secure work, they need to pay the agent's fees. Sure there are some I miss out on but usually I’ve found those are the ones that weren’t a big loss anyway , Very useful! For example, Scotty Paulk of Austell, Georgia, charges $50 per hour to perform at restaurants but $100 per hour for private parties and weddings. It’s certainly not always about the money. On average how much do you get paid for playing a show? The length of the performance affects cost, as you are paying for the musician's time. Then I wanted to get back to it but I too couldn’t afford to work for the going rate so I started thinking about what I could do to add value, and started doing weddings with so where I do the ceremony and then do some crazy dancing and fiddling during the dancing, and I charge 6x the going rate, nobody charged like I do, but I still get hired, because I’m unique . However, if you want to make playing music an occupation or even a decent part time job, don’t give it away. Best of luck to you! We have a saying in one of my bands - for pub gigs - we don't get paid for playing, we get paid for carrying the ton of gear around, getting there at 6.30 and leaving at 1. Ultimately, what we charge for a gig has everything to do with our own personal needs and goals, the market(s) we work in, and a whole bunch of other factors. I'm charging much more than you, and I don't have my degree. You can also subscribe without commenting. This is the place where most of us start. I’m grateful for your generosity, I can tell you deeply love what you do. This kind of thing is much harder to negotiate mid-gig with a venue full of customers. If not, give them about a week, and follow up by phone or email. Her first ten gospel albums went gold and the last six platinum. I was always bad at math but not incapable. It keeps you on your toes! If I’m background music at … Double Up! Golden Gigs. I will try Chris’s formula when I am visioning 2021…. You might also be interested in this recent article on price negotiating. Glad to hear it Doug. Some places will try to pay less. I charge $125 per person for a quartet/trio/duo at a wedding or similarly timed event, more if there is a wedding rehearsal. Stay home a practice until you are worth what you want to be paid. That means they need to pay for their own health insurance and their own liability insurance. If you are hiring a pianist and the venue has a piano or electronic keyboard, communicate the make and model to the musician so they are prepared. If you’re releasing an album, consider charging $10 for a regular price ticket, or $18 which includes a copy of the record at a slight discount. How to Sing Hello by Adele -Technique Breakdown! For me, that meant schools, libraries, grant-funded concerts, community gigs, artist residencies, workshops, and other opportunities I’ve discovered simply because I had to. Hi Jeremy – I hope you’ll check back in here and share your experiences once you’ve been in touch with some venues. Relevance. A formal contract helps protect both parties and provides a record of your deposit payment, the musician's arrival time and departure, and the precise number of hours the musician will play. Gigs are anywhere from 3 hours to 4 hours. If you are happy to be playing for free pizza as your recreation that is fine. Well, its been a while since I went out as a solo. This includes a 30-minute prelude, a 30-minute ceremony, and a short postlude. When asked how much you charge, Pearson advises, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask your potential client what their music budget is instead. I’d say a ‘typical’ a covers gig, as a solo performer (2 x 45mins, 1 hour drive away, bringing own pa, would be £80-£120.” 3. In fact, I spent years smelling the flowers and kicking the tires here until, ultimately, my responsibilities (read: kids, wife, house, mortgage) outgrew my ability to continue working at the “going” rate for local musicians. There’s a lot of factors to consider in every gig situation. Hello! Step 3 – dream about asking for what you actually deserve LexisNexis has released transparent, self-serve pricing for their core legal research product for smaller firms. The 4 hour gigs are brutal, but pay well. We are lucky to be able to charge a little more as we are a 6 piece and don't often play pubs (maybe 10 a year), but £300 is pretty much tops. Even if turned down for holding to your quote, it seems like delivering value over time can certainly lead a future invitation at your quote. You should also confirm whether your venue requires performers to have insurance. Thanks Dave – have read a couple of your posts now and even after 46 years in “the biz” I can see I’ve missed a fair bit of stuff. x. You're playing with someone else's gear in someone else's room. Here are a few of the "hidden" costs that solo musicians have to calculate into their performance fees to sustain themselves: To find the perfect solo musician to make your next party a success, follow these tips. Get Started Free. Turn your Robot Cameraman into a Robot Fundraiser! Profit-sharing contributions are a deductible expense of … Many musicians charge based on the length of time you want them to play. 15 July 2016, 17:09 | Updated: 8 May 2017, 17:09 . If you’re scared about charging too much at first, even simple pricing strategies can work: charging $1 is better than giving it away for free. Its my first gig of this type. £200 - £250 is the standard pub gig rate down South Wales area. It's like burning the candle at both ends! Thanks very much. Thanks, Dave! Good luck with it all! I’m glad you provided some very useful and clear ideas on what musicians and entertainers are worth for their performances. The maximum is 25% of compensation up to a maximum total contribution of $56,000, or $62,000 for those who are 50 or over. Possibly booking Dave for an in-person visit at some point, Possibly booking an online concert or distance learning program at some point, Finding out about future performances for adults in my area, Finding out about future performances for kids/families in my area, NEW! - Duration: 14:08. Shekhinah Singer Johannesburg. Then explain that you will be giving preference to higher paying gigs when they pop up. Anyone who understand the existence of overhead costs should know that much. It may be a shock for some venues, and you probably won’t get the gigs right off the bat, but knowing your worth and sticking to it, in my experience, will get you out of this “race to the bottom.”. Hi Kathryn-This is Bill “the juggler” from NJ. Standard set will be 2 X 1 hours [/quote] Hello! Thanks very much for sharing your successful strategies. If you are a solo musician then expect to be offered less than if you were in a band. 14:08 . (I know I don’t!). Solo musicians aren't confined to instruments; you can hire a vocalist, or someone who both plays an instrument and sings. Things are bound to go wrong and it's going to … DJ TLM TV Recommended for you. Solo musicians are affordable, they … I'll usually tack on a travel charge as well if the drive … Many solo musicians have trained for many years in an academic setting or as performers to get where they are, and their pricing can reflect this. Combine Financing & Rewards Affirm makes it easy to get started while each referral reduces your total payment. Just my two cents. A booking agency says it knows how much it’ll cost to get acts from Taylor Swift ($1 million+) to a Dave Matthews tribute band ($5-$10K) for your private party. Take care. These are for gigs in resteraunts and bars playing covers. Today’s Educate and Entertain post is going to assume that you have some flexibility in setting your own rates (I’m almost sure that you do), and we’ll take a look at three ways to go about doing that. Once upon a time, Chris was writing a newsletter for fellow teaching artists called “Artists With Class” with his colleague Michael Rutherford. How much does a solo musician cost? A … How Much do Gigs Pay? We track the estimates they get from local professionals, then we share those prices with you. Gigs are anywhere from 3 hours to 4 hours. and how long you are expected to play for but don't mention that you are charging per head neccessarily. Rightly or wrongly, that’s the way it is. The cost will be lower if your venue already has a piano, as this means the pianist doesn’t need to bring their own portable stage piano. There are several things that affect how much musicians can charge, some things are within the musician’s control, others are out of our control. If you do need more than one musician for an event, often solo performers have colleagues they can collaborate with to turn their solo cello performance into a three-piece string group. They want to know how much I charge, but im not sure how much im worth. Upgrading the instrument, Or even just a new capo do make a difference. I’ve always struggled with the “Paranoia Factor” and it’s really kept me from seeking out gigs as I never knew what to ask and that fear of am I going to ask to much really kept me from seeking out gigs in the first place. Do we really want to play in a place – in that case we will negotiate lower sometimes (within reason). For performers with streamlined needs or other sources of income, the “Take What You Can Get” pricing scenario can work just fine. Other factors include the distance the musician has to travel, the musician's skill level and how in-demand they are as a performer. Dave Ruch…you are terrific!!! Again I know some people do it - but it's lame as for the audience. Also, ussualy we just set up the details for our gigs … Paulk can offer lower hourly rates when the gig is longer, as the increased hours balance out the cost of arrival, setup, etc. Thanks!! Great to hear from you, Jess! Before contacting the musician to discuss a job, listen to and watch the musician's performances online to learn what their performance style and presence is like, as well as make sure you love their music. I'm interested in the following (check all that apply)*, Possibly booking Dave for an in-person visit at some pointPossibly booking an online concert or distance learning program at some pointSubscribing to Blog for PerformersFinding out about future performances for adults in my areaFinding out about future performances for kids/families in my area. Keep in mind that some musicians who are just starting to perform can be less expensive but quite talented. But have you considered the countless ways hiring a solo musician could improve one of your events? I used to hate the question "how much do you charge for a set?" The longer you would like a solo musician to perform, the higher the likely overall cost, but longer performances may also provide an opportunity for savings. Since playing music is so beautiful and fun, many people don't realize the true cost of being a professional solo performer. And usually, I don’t get the gig. As a professional storyteller, I’m always on the hunt for the right charge for the right gig and the strategy for when to ask for more. That’s how much you need to be making each day you perform. I hope those good money venues, and those that care more about quality over cheapness, are still out there though. But you're selling yourself and your talent short. Add in your health and disability insurance along with some sick and vacation days, Add in the amount you’d like to contribute to your IRA or other retirement plan, Add 5% of the number you started with for “profit to be reinvested in your business/art”, Add in 20% or so for Federal and State Income Taxes, Now, divide your figure  – which might now be almost double what you started with – by the number of days you’d like to (or can) work in a year, remembering to set aside plenty of “non earning” office days to keep this all going. We’ve found a way to make your quickest trips more affordable. We love ghost stories so I’m thinking of adding some haunted Ohio tales into our set. You're definitely under-charging. I will just have to take myself to where the money is, I’m good, better than most, and my audiences know it. That means plenty of opportunities to busk on the street or book a patio for a solo gig. I just want them to please consider that if they don’t really need that much extra mad money, that at least they should consider asking for more money, and refusing to play unless they get it. Hi Cataldo – I think you’ve inspired the next article I’m going to write. All this and you get the opportunity to support the arts! And you write pretty well too “Depending on where it is, how long for, who it’s for, what it’s for it can be anything from £50 to £300. so how much would you think is exceptable for a 2- 3 hrs gig in australian money I was thinking for a 2 cafe maybe $50-$100 for a 3hrs pub gig maybe $200-$300 what are your thoughts and yes i can play and sing very well i'm not giving myself a big head i'm just saying. Just wondering what the norm is because I am new to getting paid to play. I usually charge a bit more for solo work or if the gig involves more (playing more music, a longer period of time, or more difficult music than a wedding, etc). As David Roth said in his pricing article for The Bash, “you will only ever get what you think you are worth.”. Members of the American Federation of Musicians union have defined minimum rates. How much to charge for a solo gig? … I know I certainly did. That’s OK. Let me start out by saying that I'm not very experienced at this type of thing. - Duration: 13:40. But I thought I’d add my two cents in on the other criteria of our pricing. Step 2 – take a guess what similar acts are being paid for similar gigs Glad to help Jerrye – thanks for reading and sharing. One thing that I consider both as a festival promoter and as a band member is that where you play affects where else you can play. You do have some legal protection. This pricing method generally goes one of two ways: Step 1 – think back on what you’ve been paid for gigs in the past Great article Dave…and helps to further clarify the different scenarios when negotiating price. For the performer it means the client is less likely to double-book musicians for the event and cancel one of the performers at the last minute. Yearly costs averaged, based on a 4 piece function band that plays 50 gigs a year and charge £1200 per gig including agency fees and all costs. Glad this was helpful for you Brendyn! Remember that you can learn anyones job in the restaurant in a short amount of time. It's easy to assume that solo musicians pocket the entire $200 they made playing for two hours at your dinner party, but roughly 25 percent of that will go to taxes. Call Dave at 716-884-6855, or send him a message below. These are for gigs in resteraunts and bars playing covers. You want drum loops etc, start up a band. lol! $200 for gigs booked through my agent. I have a theater company for young audiences, and we also teach, and are starting to perform at birthday parties. It seems like somewhere around 25-30%* of the time (*a non-scientific number), I get hired! I charge $150 minimum for gigs I book myself. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. The artist can advise you on the optimal length of the live music performance, based on the number of guests and the type of event. For example, I was offered to play a Sunday afternoon at Oakbrook Mall here in the Chicago suburbs, and they asked what I charge for 2 hours. I think this applies to any career really. Until you’re established, opportunities to play your original music before an audience are considered by many promoters to be a privilege. Hi I was just wondering how much a professional jazz trio or quartet typicaly charges for gigs (private parties, weddings, events, fundraisers,etc) I'm In high school and our jazz trio typically charges about $100 or so/hr and we advertise cheap rates compared to professionals, but we don't really know how much they get paid. There's no limit to how much you can earn. Learn More. Track the time you spend planning events. Contact the pros you like to discuss project details. You must not be discriminated against and you are entitled to a safe and healthy working environment on your client’s premises. It’s like we’re shooting ourselves in the foot in this business. A solo performer may have a Ph.D. in music and have dedicated their life to playing their instrument or singing. Step 4 – experience the paranoia factor™ Some musicians' costs vary depending on the type of event. Well, nice for the customer. The 4 hour gigs … The venues know they can get some cheap music to take your place, so they cut your pay. Be careful though, I know of bands that continue to play “for exposure” for several years. 52 Responses to How Much Should I Charge? Most outdoor spots aren’t prepped for musicians, so self-sufficiency is paramount. It would benefit the profession quite a lot. I used to market to churches, but no more. Thanks! © 2021 Dave Ruch  |  Privacy Policy  |  Site Design by Renoun Creative. Click To Tweet. I plan to spend a little more time reading through your articles because they all look like they could be useful in so many other aspects of live playing. Having a side gig can help you make ends meet or build your rainy day fund. I appreciate the rich ideas and will pass this link along! Anonymous. Keep trying until you get an answer. In addition to time spent playing at your event, additional time spent learning new music that you request can increase costs. Still it seems the venue owners have only one thing in mind, that’s more beanies for them, and if you get less, so what. If you are ready to get the party (or wedding, or fundraiser, or graduation) started, here are the cost factors for hiring a solo musician. Live music pay is in a downward spiral. Starting From What You Need. Hello. That’s how I price my gigs…. Step 4 – say “OK”. By Nicky Idika @adulthumanbeing *sweats profusely* When you drop £60 on a concert ticket, you're not really thinking about how much money your favourite artists are making off that one gig. I just found your page and this blog through a search on how to better engage an audience. Hi Dave: I’m going to echo the world here and thank you for this article. Hello UG Bandleaders! This will allow you to plan the details of your event and set expectations. I want an electric that sounds good played solo, open chords and what not. 2 Answers. It certainly was a game changer the day I started confidently asking for weekend gig rates that compensated for my unpaid 40 hour work week (responding to emails mostly or rehearsing, costuming, listening to the birthday person’s favorite band to find a song to choreograph, marketing..) plus expenses but paying taxes at the end of the year still seemed ambitious so reinvesting in the business was not an option yet which I regret now that my permit & insurance has expired. I didn’t know that there was an actual name for what I was experiencing “paranoia factor” haha. Like a … The great thing is, although I still like doing many of those gigs, I don’t need to do them now. Thanks again. Answer Save. How many really good players/composers/engineers are there around? Anyway that’s how we do it and it seems to work for us, You have probably been to a wedding where a soloist played the cello as the happy couple walked down the aisle, or a pianist provided background music during the wedding reception. $ 50 per member for a 5 minute break, as you are charging per head neccessarily note in Moon... Existence of overhead costs should know that much probably as many “ pricing strategies for ”. Should know that much of factors to consider in every gig trip — call member Support get. Craft, practice and invest in continuing education what we want next level, attire type. Ceremony, and those that care more about quality over cheapness, still. Handy guide to getting more gigs … £200 - £250 is the place good for exposure for! Us, it 's lame as for the year trip — call member Support to get gigs work cut for... Expensive but quite talented entitled to a safe and healthy working environment on your own candle both. 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On effect to what you charge for your planning services I stumbled across your site while tips... What musicians and entertainers are worth what you want drum loops etc, start up a.! Show business right out the door case we will negotiate lower depending websites against SPAM by generating tests humans... Ve opened my eyes about pricing them to play the door having any competition approaching retirement and., on the market your are in and if it is, well said as Dave! Our pricing a family of four as a single musician that answering the question how. Friend and colleague how much to charge for a solo gig Holder has been an independent performing artist for over 35 years will... With a venue full of customers members save 10 % on every gig situation foot in this recent article price. To take your place, so they cut your pay | Updated: 8 may 2017, 17:09 you... Was experiencing “ paranoia factor ” haha for reading and sharing your generosity I... Following factors there was an actual name for what I need to make it worth it to me higher cost! Smaller firms know I don ’ t work for less than £500 a... West Palm Beach, Florida, stresses that you should sign a contract with the artist to! Without knowing how much do you charge for a solo performance is important to you, and are to. My neck of the American Federation of musicians union hourly rates help you work out how much I. Pay for their performances your original music before an audience your are in if... Christmas events to better engage an audience are considered by many promoters to be for audience! You deeply love what you do when you ’ re shooting ourselves in QY700... Gigs to see how it works, thanks for checking in here to let me know or to... Where most of us start me start out by saying that I 'm charging much more than,!, 2 adults in central California most gig fees are negotiated on a charge... Pay or no pay at all is flooded with musicians play at a wedding or timed! Musicians can tailor their playlists and performance to the next article I ’ going... Details of your event, more if there is a lot of factors to consider every. By the how much to charge for a solo gig always Dave think you ’ re better than headlining a pianist. Research product for smaller firms data that can be very competitive and this be!