Bassist For Hire Pay Scale (How Much Are You Worth?)

[Bassman7PM]

Just Curious to know how much everyone gets paid for gigs and rehearsals. Say you get a last minute call to play a jazz gig doing standards ala Fake Book or some lite reading. How much do you charge? Also, for Major gigs, big stage events, several rehearsals, plus attire (If required) what's the going rate?

[Dave Muscato]

I charge $30/hr for pretty much anything. If it's original material that they want me to learn first (no charts provided), an extra $30 for the hour it'll take me to chart them out (per 10 songs).

The $30/hr starts when they tell me to show up and ends when they tell me I'm free to go. If they have a two hour rehearsal and a two hour show, that's $120 even.

Depending on how far away it is, I sometimes charge 50 cents/mile, especially if there's no backline and I must provide my own rig.

FYI, I'm 23, and I do not have a music degree. Although I can read music, I'm definitely not one of those guys that can sight-read anything. I don't play upright, although I can get an unbelievable (literally) upright tone from my Line6 Variax when called for.

- Dave

[Busker]

Paid for rehearsals?

[Bassman7PM]

Originally Posted by Busker

Paid for rehearsals?

For some gigs, I used to charge $20.00 per rehearsal. I may have to go back to that with gas prices continually rising.

[Bassman7PM]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I charge $30/hr for pretty much anything. If it's original material that they want me to learn first (no charts provided), an extra $30 for the hour it'll take me to chart them out (per 10 songs).

The $30/hr starts when they tell me to show up and ends when they tell me I'm free to go. If they have a two hour rehearsal and a two hour show, that's $120 even.

Depending on how far away it is, I sometimes charge 50 cents/mile, especially if there's no backline and I must provide my own rig.

- Dave

Dave, that's a nice rate. Here in Chicago, I charge 40 cents/mile and I always provide my own rig.

[Bassic83]

I generally play for free. However, I do charge a minimum of $100 to come and set up my rig, and to take it away at the end of the nite.