Band payment

[Truktek2]

Hello all, a quick question for all you guys in cover bands. My drummer is in the process of booking gigs for a blues cover band. (4 piece) what would be a fair amount of money to ask for? It would only be about a 45 min set. Advice please

[namraj]

Depends on the gigs,

Pubs: £100 - £150
Clubs: £150-£200
Festivals: £200 - £300
Weddings and Functions: £500 - £2000 - You'll need more than 45mins though

[MNAirHead]

Is this a multiple band thing.. for 45 mins you're lucky to get booked.

We did just a quick warm up for a startup duo last weekend.. made $1 per minute.

[the yeti]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

...for 45 mins you're lucky to get booked.

that's what i was thinking.

[MNAirHead]

The route would be to contact established acts and have them upsell the venue or party for a longer night..

----

I do 3-4 1 hour sets per month (one off acoustic duo type things) since they contact me it's not a busking gig.

----

Blues + 45 minutes will make it tougher.

[Floyd Eye]

We get between $400-$500 for 4 hours.

[staindbass]

check out the bands that play where you would like to play. some clubs do 2 sets, 3 sets, and i have played very few in the eighties that had 4 sets of 50 minutes ! (we filled it up with a long drum solo,jokes, stories, 10 minute guitar solo, and even a bass solo lol! bar bands i have been in go from 400$ a nite, to 1800 a nite for the best band in town who always fills the place on weekends. if your a new band, 200-300$. johnny a.

[staindbass]

hey i forgot to mention if you dont have enough material for a few full sets, you can open for other bands and get your name out there for when you play your own show.

[Rockmusician]

The pay you receive shouldn't be based solely on how long you play. Even though you are only playing a 45 minute set, it still takes time to load and unload gear, set up, etc. Playing is the easy part. It's moving the gear that is the work. It doesn't matter if you play one set or 4, you still have the same amount of work when it comes to moving gear. Everybody has a differnet idea of what they think is fair pay. To some people $50 per guy is a lot, to others, $100 is too little. Ask for whatever you think is fair.

[Truktek2]

Thanks for the input guys. The venue said each band (there's 4) would get about 45 mins each. I guess we'll just play with other bands until we get some sort of following and have a longer setlist. I guess we'll be getting paid in beer.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Truktek2

I guess we'll be getting paid in beer.

That's not a good thing either. Is the venue making money? So should the bands.

Lots of threads about playing for "free". Here's one: Is playing for "free" really "free"?

Here's a thought. Let's say your came up with a 4 set song list next week. If you approached the same venue and asked for $500 for the 4 sets, what do you think they would say?

Probably, "We get 4 bands for free every week so why should be pay you?".

Good luck.