Sup. I was wondering, what does the AVERAGE gig pay?

$20? $40? Just trying to get an idea here.

And yes, I know it differs from club to club.

Thanks. :)

not nearly enough

*Frickin' frackin'..*

Look just throw some numbers at me ok?

I knew I couldn't get away with ONE thread without ONE generalized statement. :mad:


:D

:D sorry. any around where i live don't pay at all, if i would look closer to the city, around 40 a gig(considering my age and experience though......)

If you play at the birthday parties of your bandmate's little sisters you'll be making ZILCH, ZERO, SQUAT! It happened to me, I didn't recieve my 20 bucks because supposedly I'm mean, ugly, and didnt play the 2 hours she demanded. (The party started real late and we only got 30 minutes of play before the DJ came.)

BTW, this is completely off-topic, but Garrett, can you please shorten your sig? Its nothing near as bad as Tabcrawler's no-limit length but I would really appreciate it if you shortened your sig.

Originally posted by StrudelBass


BTW, this is completely off-topic, but Garrett, can you please shorten your sig? Its nothing near as bad as Tabcrawler's no-limit length but I would really appreciate it if you shortened your sig.

I was going to today...couldn't think of anything to say.

200+ per night, no bull. I love being an American in Japan!

About -15 dollars, when you factor in pizza, mileage, and beer.

There is no average gig - you have to take account of where you are playing, what sort of band, experience, "name" in the area, etc etc.

My band are playing a gig on Saturday night which is paying us the equivalent of $1200 - but that wont help you......

We usually get around 500 to 600 dollars per gig. We are a six piece band and we divide the money 7 ways with the seventh being the band fund, which pays for studio time once a year for a new demo. So looks like around 70 to 80 bucks per gig minus strings and a couple of beers and maybe something to eat. I wind up adout 40 bucks in the plus column.

I think a big question you need to ask is what are you doing?

If you are doing covers and such, you can pull over a grand with a wedding gig, and at least 350-400 at clubs of restaruants.

If you are doing originals, then don't expect much at all, unless you have a big fan base. In building up bands, often I have gone several months before getting anything at the shows to divide. However, this was also due to the fact that I strictly wanted to play at places that were good for original music, so I didn't mind the pay stint.

Also, in a couple of bands, we split the pay down the middle, with half going to the players, and half going into band needs. Once again, this was for original projects...

As stated before, there is no average gig. A common rate here, for unknown but decent amateur bands like ours, when playing small venues like weddings, small dance retaurants etc, is the equivalent of "$100 per band member + $100 for our PA", net. Sometimes we get transport costs covered as well, and most of the time we get food and drink included if a meal is served to the guests. That is for smaller cities, in Stockholm the going rate is 0, too many better known bands there, so you play for recognition and fun. Smaller private parties would pay less, company parties/conferences perhaps double.

But this info is probably useless to you, your negotition and musical skills probable set the level.

We normally get 200 to 400 hundred per show, plus free tap beer for the band.
We never split the money, it just goes into the band fund to pay for P.A. and light rentals and other misc. band debts.

Small bars around here seem to offer $250 / 3 hour show of cover material. The mediums are around double that. I haven't played any larger clubs.

I have not seen any places around here that would pay an unknown to play original material.

Like Anders, we typically get $100/man, takehome. Sometimes food and booze are included, sometimes not.

DD

I'm assuming it's the same for most of you, but it depends on how many people come through the door and how much beer gets bought by the crowd.

The band will usually take a percentage if enough money is made by the club.

"Iamarjones quote:

"I think a big question you need to ask is what are you doing?

If you are doing covers and such, you can pull over a grand with a wedding gig, and at least 350-400 at clubs of restaruants.

If you are doing originals, then don't expect much at all, unless you have a big fan base. In building up bands, often I have gone several months before getting anything at the shows to divide. However, this was also due to the fact that I strictly wanted to play at places that were good for original music, so I didn't mind the pay stint. "

This is about right. You're worth what you can negotiate.

It helps if you and the band have a following.

Six bucks (per member).

You get paid for this stuff? :) My bandmates have been lyin' to me! hehe

My band is headlining tonight and we hope to bring in $500 or so. Our last gig a few weeks ago pulled in a whopping $45. We're also playing tomorrow night in Portland, supporting some bands there, not sure what we'll make. Hopefully enough to pay for gas....

Originally posted by lamarjones
I think a big question you need to ask is what are you doing?

Ummmm, I'll be in a metal band. Some covers will be played, obviously, but like, Metallica type stuff.

Originally posted by Garrett Mireles

Ummmm, I'll be in a metal band. Some covers will be played, obviously, but like, Metallica type stuff.

Six bucks, then.

Theres this place where I live and basically you make what you can get from selling tickets. You rent out the place, mostly with other bands, and pay the fee with the tickets and whatever is left over is yours.

Try renting out a place with fellow local bands.

depends who I am playing with - \

when I'm playing in the country band I work with, I'm lucky if I make $100

playing with the Mad Hatters, I make at least 250 for a weekend.

but I'm playing the casino circuit with the Hatters, though.

Normally 60-100 around here, 5 piece band, middle age crowd music,

It's all about the art man! Forget about the money!

Seriously, though, it's hard to peg what is reasonable, because it depends on the local market.

Cover bands always get the most, but by that I mean "dance" bands. A heavy-metal cover act probably won't make too much anywhere.

There are exceptions to that rule. I have some friends who have a Neil Diamond tribute act. They can ask for $1200 locally and get it, because they'll typically bring those numbers in. They once got a guarantee of 3 grand to open for a touring act. The touring act didn't show, but they played anyway. At the end of the night, the owner tried to talk them down, but they had a contract.

These same guys all play in "original" acts too. Here in Austin pay for this type of band can start as low as $0. We'll usually have some sort of arrangement with the club ... percentage of the door, percentage of the bar, so it becomes incumbent to cultivate lots of friends ;).

Some places will pay a flat rate. I had three gigs like that last week. The first charged a $5 cover and guaranteed us $100. It was an out of the way bar and we only had about 8 paying customers. We still got paid.

The next night, we were paid $200. Ten dollar cover at the door, we opened for a local name act in a suburban bar. It was a good crowd.

In both these cases, I'm with a three-piece that has a 60/40 mix of originals/covers. We just split the money three ways. Plus I got free beer :)

Saturday, I played with a four piece, all original act at a downtown bar that doesn't charge a cover. $100 guarantee, but we get free drinks and food (if we want it). Tips also. Lately we've split the money four ways, but we do occasionally throw the money in to a band fund.

Pay rates are different in every locale.
Around central Ohio:

- Biker bar gig $50 a guy.
- Top 40 bar band $80 to $120 a guy.
- Country band $50 to $80 a guy.
- Wedding band, corporate events $100 to $300 a guy.

I usually only get like..20-30 dollars.. But I got once 250 dollars for a gig :) And we started rehearsing about 3 days before the gig:)

here you can expect as much as you "pull"

most gigs ive played are on a per punter basis. So if we put 300 people through the door with our flyer in their hands, then we make 300, plus summore for travel and maybe some free booze.

All depends on how well we advertise ourselves. And if we werent a punk band and we were doing covers, id imagine wed make alot more. (any guitar music isnt really popular around here)

The larger clubs offer a definate fee on top of this number...but ive only played two gigs at 500 capacity that have given us more than 50 as a fee.

depends where u are :p

Originally posted by Munjibunga


Six bucks, then.

That's $6 TO play metal right?

being the oldest one in the band at 15...we don't get paid very much...if anything at all

bp13

Alot of factors determine how much you will make.
They arent listed in the order of how much they affect the total payoff.

1) Your location- Big city/small town. How many bands are looking for a gig can affect how much theyre payed. How many people go to a gig is usually a bigger factor.

2) Your talent- How good you play can sometimes influence how much they are willing to pay you. Metalica covers will rpobably not get you far. Most cover bands dont make much unless they do regular gigs as a certain place as a house band. Origional tunes that get people to the shows will get you more money.

3) Your following- Probably the biggest factor in how much your payed is how many people go to your shows. If people will go see you, bars and clubs will pay more to get you. If the club pays by the head, you make more if more people go. This one is closely related to the previous factor, but sometimes even the best musicians dont get the recognition they deserve.

4) How much you are willing to take- If you'll play for dirt, you will get dirt. If you ask for more than your worth, you wont get a gig.

5) Not enough

Peace
Nick

You have to decide truthfully what you are worth. I am worth no less then $75 a night. I don't drink, and I won't buy food at a club. So after gas I make 50+. Factor in your gear, is it good; factor in your image and clothing, is it right for the gig. Cover bands band in this area get 50 to anything. Orignial bands are at the mercy of the club, we (as a band) average $85 for a 60 min set. We as musicians should really quit competing and band togther and ask for real money, but thats my opinion.

Im sending this off to the new forum :)

We always play for $400. Four piece cover band.

Originally posted by flavorfactory
It's all about the art man! Forget about the money!


I never said that! :D

I'm just wondering what I CAN EXPECT from a gig. Thanks for all the replies guys, I just wanted to get some general numbers in mind.

Although...someone said they make about a grand per gig...that would be nice :D

I'm in a original band that does about 6 or 7 covers in a 2 1/2 hour night. roughly 3 45-50 min. sets. We've been averaging between 200-300 bucks, depending on the venue. From talking with guys in other bands in our area, they say the clubs generally start you out low and slowly pay more as you build a following. Some bands around here can make as much as 1500 for a night. Rare, I'm sure, but it happens. Radio support helps. But you gotta start somewhere.

I average about 100 to 115 dollers per gig or should I say at in our local area. But we are the biggest name in our area, when we go elsewhere we average 500 to 550 per gig. We play alternative/ 80's retro stuff.. Ya also have to figure in your PA witch ususally runs anywhere to 150 to 250 depending on where and how big the club. I got lucky in my last band and the guitar player had PA so we got a break on it only 125......And I have my own lights so no money goes out there..I think it all boils down to your area and what type of music you do...

well once we went in the hole to play a place (only 50 bucks) cause we didn't draw well there.

but, generally we get 700 or so a night. But we have to pay sound and 8 bandmates.........

Fortunately I don't need to eat from this .........

Originally posted by J. from Samsara
We as musicians should really quit competing and band togther and ask for real money, but thats my opinion.

I think your local DJ's and Karaoke would love the bands to do that also. ;)

Oh btw my 4 piece cover band plays clubs and bars for $400 and outdoor fairs and festivals for $800-$1000 depending on whether we provide sound system or not.

I play in a cover band in a college town. Most of our gigs are frats and sororities. We just started playing this semester, and get between 400 and 500 bucks a gig. We pay our sound dude 50 bones so I end up with around $100, lots of free beer, and surrounded by drunk college girls. Ok so I made up the surrounded by drunk college girls part. We're going to start charging more next semester now that we are somewhat established. Maybe average $600 to $800 a gig. Some of the frats here go all out and hire bands through booking agencies. I saw a Led Zeppelin cover band that just tore it up last year; they must have been paid at least $2000.

Last year I was in an originals band. We didn't get many gigs, and when we did we didn't get paid much if at all. I think the highest paying gig we had was a bar gig that got us free dinner and $80 between the three of us.

The moral of the story is if you want to make money play covers that people want to hear.

We play alot of casinos, and we make $1500 per night.

Looks like pay really depends on the area in which you gig.

Dance Hall/Club 2 nights 4 hours a night-$7-850.00

Festival-1 day 2 hours $1500.00 (If we set up our sound system we get 100.00 per act that uses our system, and we run sound. Usually 3-4 other bands, so your looking at 2 grand a day.)

Opening act for headliner: Not a dime, unless you are extremely lucky.

Originally posted by dsmith
Looks like pay really depends on the area in which you gig.
Dance Hall/Club 2 nights 4 hours a night-$7-850.00


Do you get $700-$850 per night or for the 2 nights.
If it's for 2 nights that's $350-425 per gig. Right in line with what we make here.

We charge $400 (Cdn) and free drinks or pizza or something. But we dont split the money. It pays the tab and goes right into the band fund. We recently bought a Roland VS-1824CD: 24-bit Digital Workstation. :D

Originally posted by and_Justice
We charge $400 (Cdn) and free drinks or pizza or something. But we dont split the money. It pays the tab and goes right into the band fund. We recently bought a Roland VS-1824CD: 24-bit Digital Workstation. :D

I went through the band fund thing it it never worked. Cause when ya quit, get fired or the band breaks up ya gotta hassle with sellin it or the **** disappears only to find out the gutiar player or whoever has it now... Give me the Cash...We make 650 a nite and split it between 4 ppl plus 175 for the Sound Dude...Plus Free Beeeeeeer!!!!!!! Not a bad gig for only 31/2 to 4 hours of music and doing what ya enjoy:D

Yes I agree, unless the band is run as a commersial enterprise (a company) I don't believe in sharing gear, it's much easier to handle if everyone owns individual pieces. And, make sure to own the PA and your place in the band is safer... ;)

Originally posted by Anders Östberg
Yes I agree, unless the band is run as a commersial enterprise (a company) I don't believe in sharing gear, it's much easier to handle if everyone owns individual pieces. And, make sure to own the PA and your place in the band is safer... ;)

Amen Bro!!!!!!!!! Been There Done That!!!! :D

I dunno. I guess our band is a bit diff. We all kind of grew up together and know eachother well. Any backstabbing or stuff like that would be very unlikely. I like how it's set up, and it's only money. :p

3500 a week + per diem when playing, 1500 on off weeks.

Originally posted by wonderboy
3500 a week + per diem when playing, 1500 on off weeks.

I had an off week last week and still managed to pull in $3250 for four shows. The good weeks can be very good at almost $8000 for six shows. Where are you at Wonderboy? Maybe you should look for a better market.

I might be doing better though as I've opened for Victor Wooten, (got tired of doing that for awhile let me tell you), and Les Claypool.

:rolleyes:

There was a legitimate question here, so can we keep the responses serious? (meaning, no obvious fibs)

(Nice rebuttal though Jb :D)

OK, still six bucks.

hey jazzbo, i am in cal. i am about to open up for victor in a few weeks, maybe then i'll be in your market...who were you playing with at the time..?

oh and by "off weeks" i meant weeks that have no gigs.

Originally posted by CRUNCHYBUNKER
OK, still six bucks.

Been there! :)

Originally posted by wonderboy
hey jazzbo, i am in cal. i am about to open up for victor in a few weeks, maybe then i'll be in your market...who were you playing with at the time..?

It was Metheny and Erksine as a trio. I decided to move back up to San Fran though, as I just liked the scene. I've been doing some shows with Zig lately.

Here in Calgary for a decent amateur band that plays covers roughly 80 - 100 bones a night not including PA.