Weddings...what do you charge?

miacomet · #1 04-18-2008, 10:59 AM

Our band has recently been approached to play a wedding in September. It is an outdoor gig (150 people), Three hours of music, about 350 miles round trip and of course we will be bringing our trusty sound guy. We have never played a wedding before, so we really don't have anything to go off of as far as pricing (I can remember writing a pretty hefty check for my wedding band).
Normally for parties we charge $1,000 and we are usually at the club's mercy when we play out.
What do you charge?

Fnord Explorer · #2 04-18-2008, 11:42 AM

Around here I think wedding bands make like a grand or so but there aren't many of them working much. I already had three friends get married and opted to just rent a small PA and pre-program a laptop to play songs. Weddings are expensive!

CapnSev · #3 04-18-2008, 11:49 AM

$1000 sounds right depending on the band size. I've done weddings with a 7-10 piece band, and we charged $1600 (I think). I've done weddings with a 3-piece, and charged $500 too. Both of them worked out well.

rappa29 · #4 04-18-2008, 12:07 PM

350 miles round trip??

Wow, better factor that into your price considering gas prices these days!

Do you have to bring your own PA? Factor that in too, along with your soundman's fee.

I used to play keys in a 7 piece band. We'd charge anywhere from 1000-1800 for weddings depending on distance, if we had to provide PA, how many sets, if we had to provide PA and music for the ceremony in addition to the reception, etc...

Our average was $1200 and we did have one where I had to play music (prerecorded and also live piano) for the ceremony.

thesandman · #5 04-18-2008, 12:08 PM

Will you have to get rooms and spend the night?
How many vehicles? You're looking at $60-$75 in fuel for each car.
How many people in your band?
Weddings are expensive, but anyone hiring a band should, and probably does expect to pay for it. $1000 sounds kind of light to me.
We don't do a lot of weddings, but we do a lot of parties and corporate events. For a corporate event we get $1500-$2000 with a 5 piece band.
In short, it's worth whatever you can get.
Can you do a set of dinner music, all the silly disco dance songs, and requests from the bride and everyone else there? If so, you are worth a lot more than a grand.

Questor · #6 04-18-2008, 05:47 PM

You all need to move to NYC. A good 8-10 piece wedding band will make $10k up here at a goodly sized wedding.

logicman69 · #7 04-18-2008, 06:03 PM

I had a slick 5 piece funk band at my wedding 7 years ago (YIKES!!!). They were slick! But I new the guitar player so I got a deal... $2200!!! That was for 4 hours and piano durring the cocktail hour. The normal charge would have been about $3500. Don't sell yourselves short. There is ALOT of pressure on a wedding band. You are providing entertainment for their "special day". Screwups are not allowed (at least according to the bride's mother), and if you get requests, you better play them. It's a big job. My band doesn't typicly do weddings. When we do, it's $2000.

bigfatbass · #8 04-18-2008, 06:04 PM

we are a 4 piece and decidedly NOT a wedding band, although we do play at least a few every year.

We start at around $1700 for in town and someone we know. The less we know them, them more they want us to act like a wedding band (introductions, special dances/material, and all that), and the farther we have to drive, the more expensive we get.

For us to do your gig as described would be at least $2200 and rooms.

Horn section/wedding/corporate bands start at over 2k around here.

We cost a bit less, but we make WAY more per man and run our own sound.

We also have bad taste penalty fees. Mustang Sally costs an extra grand, the chicken dance costs 2k. Someday some drunk rich bastard is gonna take us up on one of those, lol.

Hava Nagila is free because it is just so damn much fun to play.

You ain't never heard no hava nagila with an accordion and slide guitar! Always a crowd pleaser.

logicman69 · #9 04-18-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigfatbass

We also have bad taste penalty fees. Mustang Sally costs an extra grand, the chicken dance costs 2k.

Damn, I wish the band had that rule at my wedding. I tried to ban the Chicken Dance from being played and me and the guitar player had an understanding that it would NOT be played. So my mother goes up and requests it and the guitar player says "Sorry, but Mark said no Chicken Dance." My mother looks at him and says "Well, you might want to look at who's name is on that check you were paid with." The guitar player takes it out of his pocket, looks at it, sees my mother's name, then calls to the band mates.. "Chicken Dance.. on four"...
I ran for the door...

Fnord Explorer · #10 04-18-2008, 07:09 PM

If I ever get elected into office, "Mustang Sally", "The Chicken Dance", and "Brown-Eyed Girl" will be banned in the U.S.

logicman69 · #11 04-19-2008, 11:49 AM

Got my vote! I don't mind "Brown-Eyed Girl" as much because it is a fun song to play and improvise arround, but If I have to play Mustang Sally one more time I think I will hurl!

**Howlin' Hanson** · #12 04-19-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logicman69

Got my vote! I don't mind "Brown-Eyed Girl" as much because it is a fun song to play and improvise arround, but If I have to play Mustang Sally one more time I think I will hurl!

I'm with you on that.

Questor · #13 04-19-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fnord Explorer

If I ever get elected into office, "Mustang Sally", "The Chicken Dance", and "Brown-Eyed Girl" will be banned in the U.S.

As my good friend "HooBass" calls them, both "Brown-Eyed Swirl" and "What About Poo" should be banned.

rodl2005 · #14 04-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Depending on size of band & PA gear etc... Factor in Gas, accommodation, food.... we charge from $2300AUS all inclusive- we're 6-7piece tho... But IF the gig's in a city more than an hours drive we say accomm., food, petrol HAS to be added.
Often thats another $1200 !!! As said already!! DON'T sell yo'selves short- as doing this is also ruining it for OTHER muso's (& I know there are plenty out there who DO sell 'emselves & everyone else short) as IF you charge too little, then eventually it filters thru to all bands- as they hirer's/employers can say "....... does it for $500 less, so thats how much I'll pay " etc..

Remember, the wedding ppl are most likely spending 3x the bands $$$ on FLOWERS alone!!!!!!!!!!!!

nsmar4211 · #15 04-20-2008, 06:42 AM

+1 to the above......don't sell yourself short. Bands around here are fighting it tooth and nail because there are bands that'll play a 4 piece for $200 for 4 hours....... so now the owners think all bands should only get that much. Keep in mind the going rate for musicians hasn't changed in 20 years that I know of.......

We need to get into the wedding thing, wow!!!!

**Freddels** · #16 04-20-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

IF you charge too little, then eventually it filters thru to all bands- as they hirer's/employers can say "....... does it for $500 less, so thats how much I'll pay " etc..

Then tell them that they need to hire that band then. Weddings are on a particular date. A date set usually a year in advance. They need to have the band for THAT date. There are only so many bands that can actually do weddings well. There is a price for that. If the wedding party wants a bar band or pickup band then they might get away with paying less.

mrpackerguy · #17 04-21-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fnord Explorer

If I ever get elected into office, "Mustang Sally", "The Chicken Dance", and "Brown-Eyed Girl" will be banned in the U.S.

I'll continue to play those along with Sweet Home Alabama as long as people are willing to pay me to play it!

Kael · #18 04-21-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

I'll continue to play those along with Sweet Home Alabama as long as people are willing to pay me to play it!

Willing to play Sweet Home Alabama, Mustang Sally, Brown Eyed Girl, and the Chicken Dance? Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you The Face of Evil.

Medford Bassman · #19 04-21-2008, 05:08 PM

our rate for weddings is $900- 1500 depending on location. Right now, with gas prices crazy, we may even have to raise it more. I drive a pickup which tows our trailer.
We're a three piece band that carry our own lights and PA. The beauty of it is that since we're older guys, we have about 3 complete different PA systems we've acquird over the years, so spare parts are never a problem.

**sleepy_monkey** · #20 04-22-2008, 08:39 AM

Wow....when I used to book bands full time....I NEVER booked a Wedding Band for under $1500. I booked most for $2500-3500....I also booked Vince Vance for like $10k!

My band played this weekend...a 6 piece jam improv band and booked for $2200.....that is typical around here really for fraternity parties, weddings, etc...