How much can I expect to make per gig?

Garrett Mireles · #1 11-06-2002, 08:33 PM

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.

kaboom133 · #2 11-06-2002, 08:36 PM

not nearly enough

Garrett Mireles · #3 11-06-2002, 08:52 PM

*Frickin' frackin'..*

Look just throw some numbers at me ok?

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

kaboom133 · #4 11-06-2002, 09:56 PM

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......)

StrudelBass · #5 11-06-2002, 10:08 PM

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.

Garrett Mireles · #6 11-06-2002, 11:59 PM

Quote:

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.

masaru · #7 11-07-2002, 12:04 AM

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

funk_engineer · #8 11-07-2002, 12:04 AM

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

Bruce Lindfield · #9 11-07-2002, 02:53 AM

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......

Rick Blanc · #10 11-07-2002, 07:54 AM

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.

lamarjones · #11 11-07-2002, 08:07 AM

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...

FretNoMore · #12 11-07-2002, 08:24 AM

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.

vegaas · #13 11-07-2002, 02:19 PM

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.

Gabu · #14 11-07-2002, 02:27 PM

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.

DirtDog · #15 11-07-2002, 02:29 PM

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

DD

nicoli · #16 11-07-2002, 02:57 PM

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.

P. Aaron · #17 11-07-2002, 03:08 PM

"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.

Munjibunga · #18 11-07-2002, 09:24 PM

Six bucks (per member).

Manitou · #19 11-08-2002, 12:18 PM

You get paid for this stuff?

My bandmates have been lyin' to me! hehe

lildrgn · #20 11-08-2002, 01:05 PM

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....