How much should I charge to play a gig?

osmarokuma · #1 10-13-2009, 08:09 PM

This person asked me to play with him, its a jazz gig and all the charts are his and they are pretty easy, its more of an entertainment show rather than a music gig cuz its like a comedy music show. Anyways, how much should I charge? its a small rhythm section with the leader and I dont consider myself a pro so im not sure what price I should mention, im in college right now so its first time I have been asked to say a price... I usually play with a small ensamble and then we split the total through the whole band.

southernrocker · #2 10-13-2009, 11:51 PM

How much is it worth to you?

salcott · #3 10-14-2009, 12:43 AM

What's scale in your area?

Uncletoad · #4 10-14-2009, 06:35 AM

Around here when people offer me gigs I usually ask:

Whats the music? Where is it? What time and day is it? How much does it pay? What should I wear?

If they ask me what I charge for the gig they probably don't know enough about me or the business to be somebody I wanna mess with.

Having said that, my minimum for most things is $75 for 3 hours during the middle of the week within 20 minutes drive from my house, $100 on the weekends. More time, more distance, more gear, weird circumstances, weird dress etc always make me want more $ or I turn it down.

Marc Piane · #5 10-14-2009, 06:49 AM

ah, the eternal How much are you worth? question.

Uncletoad · #6 10-14-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingers

ah, the eternal How much are you worth? question.

The answer is of course far more than I'll ever get.

The question is usually what will the market bear.

Marc Piane · #7 10-14-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

The answer is of course far more than I'll ever get.

The question is usually what will the market bear.

And the answer changes as our lives change. I'm sure since the toadling your answer has changed. I know mine has.

Uncletoad · #8 10-14-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingers

And the answer changes as our lives change. I'm sure since the toadling your answer has changed. I know mine has.

yep.

Peck_Time · #9 10-14-2009, 01:36 PM

A question that can help is "What's your budget?"

That should give you a rough idea of what's going on in peoples heads and what they think you're worth.

electracoyote · #10 10-14-2009, 01:42 PM

I'd want to know the total fee being charged for the performance, how the money is usually divided, and I would want a fair cut.

Marc Piane · #11 10-14-2009, 01:43 PM

I disagree. I always give number if someone asks. Responding to "how much do you cost?" with "what's you budget?" is asking to be lowballed.

Clubs and restaurants are one thing. You pretty much have to take or leave what they are offering. For private stuff you can sometimes have more say.

Marc Piane · #12 10-14-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

I'd want to know the total fee being charged for the performance, how the money is usually divided, and I would want a fair cut.

Again I disagree. It is pretty standard that the leader takes more. The singer often gets more.

I really don't care what anyone else is making though. Make me an offer and I'll decide to do it or not.

Uncletoad · #13 10-14-2009, 01:58 PM

Sideman's rules are simple. It's not your gig.

You don't have to talk to the bride or the club owner or worry about getting paid when it rains or get the book together or finding a drummer at the last minute when yours takes another gig for $5 more. All those hassles deserve at least a double cut or more for the leader.

If your name is on the marquee you get a bunch more money. If it's not you don't.

If you are hot and fill the club because you are there and empty it when you aren't you get more money.

If you can sub yourself and nobody gets pissed you don't get as much dough.

If you are a bass player hired to do a gig you decide what pay you are happy with and what you aren't and book yourself accordingly. What others make is not your concern and it's best to avoid those conversations lest you get pissed off on the way home.

I worked a private party on Sunday for $300. The leader probably got at least $600 or $900 and took the $100 I saw go into the tip jar. I got my $300, showed up 10 minutes before the hit and was hanging out somewhere else with my wife and kid 20 minutes after the last note. I was a happy guy.

That's the sideman thing. You don't have to do anything other that play the bass. So that's all you get paid for.