What to charge

spacerust · #1 10-11-2011, 09:39 PM

Ive been playing a christian rock band for about two years as a guitarist. We played in our area extensively for youth retreats and events but never charged. Well the bassist and I switched and we downsized our lineup to a foursome, mainly the core of the band, where we can all play different instruments and sing. We had a big church festival but decided to play a bunch of oldies 50's and 60's rock and roll. we were asked to play our set twice that night. By the time we finished we were asked to play some parties, an oldies bar, and got a call from a guy that has a local radio show and he invited us for an upcoming interview and to play a few Beatles songs on the air. Some people said we were a good christian band but we were a great oldies band. We did it for fun but if we can make some money we are all for it. One guy wants to hire us because we seem like a fun band to have...? Anyways ive got to make these calls and we are not sure what to charge. I looked up local djs prices and they run between 50 to 100 an hour. I couldnt find any band prices. I live in deep south texas where the big bands are all tejano. Any suggestions?

seanm · #2 10-11-2011, 09:43 PM

Are you providing the PA? We try to get $600 for a (non-corporate) private party... but will settle for $400 ($100 a piece for a 4 person band).

Do you have enough material to go 4 or 5 hours?

Depth_Charge · #3 10-11-2011, 10:07 PM

When I was pricing up my cover band, I called a few agents and pretended to be a customer looking for a group, describing the kind of group(s) I was interested in putting together, and threw some scenario's at them like if we provided a PA etc. Pretty much did not make a difference one way or the other. As long as the agent was going to get his 10% it didn't seem to matter to them what the bands operating costs for the night were.

I also asked around while working as a sideman.

I found band leaders and venue managers the least reliable for that kind of information, which made it difficult, since these are the people usually in the know about such things

4StringShooter · #4 10-11-2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacerust

Ive been playing a christian rock band for about two years as a guitarist. We played in our area extensively for youth retreats and events but never charged. Well the bassist and I switched and we downsized our lineup to a foursome, mainly the core of the band, where we can all play different instruments and sing. We had a big church festival but decided to play a bunch of oldies 50's and 60's rock and roll. we were asked to play our set twice that night. By the time we finished we were asked to play some parties, an oldies bar, and got a call from a guy that has a local radio show and he invited us for an upcoming interview and to play a few Beatles songs on the air. Some people said we were a good christian band but we were a great oldies band. We did it for fun but if we can make some money we are all for it. One guy wants to hire us because we seem like a fun band to have...? Anyways ive got to make these calls and we are not sure what to charge. I looked up local djs prices and they run between 50 to 100 an hour. I couldnt find any band prices. I live in deep south texas where the big bands are all tejano. Any suggestions?

Minimum $200 per man.

4 Hour Gig

4- 45 min sets.

Thats the Bar price

Dances were $1200.00

Same sets. We supplied large PA, and lights.

seanm · #5 10-11-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringShooter

Minimum $200 per man.

4 Hour Gig

4- 45 min sets.

Thats the Bar price

Dances were $1200.00

Same sets. We supplied large PA, and lights.

Wow, nice! I am moving to London

SeaBassSteve · #6 10-12-2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanm

Wow, nice! I am moving to London

Interestingly we don't get that much for pubs nd bars but do similar for dances. About 50 miles north of london

spacerust · #7 10-12-2011, 07:34 AM

We have our own pa system and we could cover about 4 hours of music. Two clients want two hours and one client wants one hour. I just don't want to sell ourselves short especially with the bar because then they will expect that price each time. Now do we collect half up front for deposit or full payment. I've read too many horror stories about not getting paid.

4StringShooter · #8 10-12-2011, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacerust

We have our own pa system and we could cover about 4 hours of music. Two clients want two hours and one client wants one hour. I just don't want to sell ourselves short especially with the bar because then they will expect that price each time. Now do we collect half up front for deposit or full payment. I've read too many horror stories about not getting paid.

GET IT ON CONTRACT!!! My Contract ALWAYS stated :

"Leader to be paid IN CASH at the completion of the Gig"

Contract was always done in triplicate.

Marko5657 · #9 10-12-2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringShooter

GET IT ON CONTRACT!!! My Contract ALWAYS stated :

"Leader to be paid IN CASH at the completion of the Gig"

Contract was always done in triplicate.

Not sure that’s necessary, or even go good idea in the OP’s case.

The OP might want to ask around and see how things are done in his area for the places he would be playing.

Better to take a (usually very slight) risk than get looked at funny and dismissed.

$200 per man may also be excessive in this situation. Nothing wrong with offering a lower price first gig while making it clear that it’s strictly an introductory rate.

Now is not the time to get cocky.

ChrisB2 · #10 10-12-2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

Not sure that’s necessary, or even go good idea in the OP’s case.

The OP might want to ask around and see how things are done in his area for the places he would be playing.

Better to take a (usually very slight) risk than get looked at funny and dismissed.

$200 per man may also be excessive in this situation. Nothing wrong with offering a lower price first gig while making it clear that it’s strictly an introductory rate.

Now is not the time to get cocky.

This is a good post, in my opinion.

I think you want to ask for around $400-$500 for a four hour show and express that you're negotiable. Just to get started.

The one hour and two hour shows are tough; you don't want to do them for peanuts, but it's hard to get paid well for short shows. I'd shoot for $300 on those.

As Marko said, be sure your contacts know these are introductory prices...

We never use contracts and have never been stiffed (yet!). We get all the money at the end. Wedding receptions are a different story, people tend to not be around when you're done.

spacerust · #11 10-12-2011, 12:53 PM

That sounds good. I'm going to try that and I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks

Depth_Charge · #12 10-12-2011, 10:30 PM

Whatever you do, never agree to a freebie where bands normally get paid!!!! EVER!!!!

I was asked that once, by a singer/agent who ran a beauty salon during the day, trying to "book into" a pub she frequented.

I said sure we will do that first gig free so you can test us out...just after our girlfriends get their free facials the night of the gig, to test your services out.

Her response was too colourful to repeat, which surprised the heck outta me, since she started it!

MNAirHead · #13 10-13-2011, 02:09 AM

I'd do $490/show.

$100 each... $65 to the guy who booked it (extra commission)... rest to whoever owns the majority of the PA.

-----

A CCM crossing over is an indemand band. ... you'd be amazed at how well some of the Matt Maher tunes go over (or are known)....

In my agreement there's an entry about Prayers and Announcements -- it's probably an honest thing you can include that can set you apart.

Marginal Tom · #14 10-13-2011, 02:23 AM

In general, I'd recommend a minimum two hour show. Your travel, set-up and tear-down time is the same as for a four-hour gig, and is a lot less fun than playing live music. If they only want one hour at the two hour show price, the customer is always right!

nitrofix · #15 10-13-2011, 04:42 AM

Bar gigs-$100 a man....
Any other gig-$200 a man at least....
Remember your getting paid to haul the gear, set it up, tear in down, the playing is free so no matter how long the gig is you still have to, haul it, set it up and tear it down....

SteveHeissner · #16 10-13-2011, 05:22 AM

In good times, $600+. $200 goes to the sound man (who provides the PA hauling it to gigs in his truck and trailer), and $100+ to each of the 4 band members. With current economic woes we're taking $500. $200 still goes to the sound man and $75 to each of the 4 band members. We play 3 one hour sets. At these rates we're barely breaking even. We don't use a blood sucking parasite, uh I mean booking agent. Our singer books the gigs. If a booking agent took 15%, well then it wouldn't even be worth playing.