Best and worst paying bands

[stefancaunter]

You guys are obviously involved with a higher class of weddings and corporate events than I am. Around here, you’re competing against a drunken uncle playing Wagon Wheel or a boom box in the corner. Nobody’s going home with three figures unless they just won the 50/50 draw.

underrated post sir

 

[zubrycky]

Well, here in Brazil, I currently play with 4 original bands, we play quite a lot and the money is almost nonexistent, unfortunately. The pay was way better when I played with cover, corporate and tribute bands. However, those days are gone and, in the other hand, I'm happier playing originals than I was playing songs written by others.

As Ledger's Joker would say "it's not about money, it's about spreading a message".

I'm glad for my past time with those other bands. It was a wonderful school and I learned a lot. But life moves on and one can't live forever in the classroom.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Private parties for rich people. Those are the best gigs. Especially if you have a broad repertoire.

Or close to it right. One of the surgeons I work with paid $10k for the band at his daughters wedding.

 

[friskinator]

Or close to it right. One of the surgeons I work with paid $10k for the band at his daughters wedding.

10K is really not out of the ordinary. I have a friend who runs a wedding band that charges more than that. It's a multi-piece band with multiple singers, horns, amazing light show/PA, etc.

 

[Nephilymbass]

10K is really not out of the ordinary. I have a friend who runs a wedding band that charges more than that. It's a multi-piece band with multiple singers, horns, amazing light show/PA, etc.

Pretty rare in the town I live in. Most of the people here are poor and a good chunk of those with money to spend are super frugal.

 

[garp]

Dad bands tend to play once a week at most, sometimes for free.

Sometimes they even get paid in lukewarm casserole and thicks wads of exposure bucks.

 

[lbbc]

$100 per person is currently the cap in my area...for cover bands. I made more than that over 20 years ago in a country band and NYE was always over $600 per person plus comps.

I always wanted to be in a Wedding/Corporate band but could find no one in my area that had the same aspirations.

 

[Ric5]

best paying band - The Eagles

worst paying band - an original band that is trying to make it and does pay to play to open for a washed up metal band

 

[BwanaDust]

I've pretty much gone solo full time as it's more about the music than how many people you draw (at least in my area). I also make at least twice as much as I make in any band, and since I haul all the sound gear anyway, it just makes more sense.

I've been in a band playing a new place and had them cut the pay because the crowd wasn't big enough. I've done a solo for a very dead room and had the owner come up, pay me more and apologize for the lackluster crowd. That's why I'm sticking with option B these days.

 

[210superair]

Perhaps you should try playing the songs well. The original recording of Brown Eyed Girl is anything but the 3 chord slog most bands turn it into.

LMFAO, heard me play have you? No, I thought not...

What's up with that? I at one time thought about starting a thread about surley/whiney/angry TB posters, but decided it best not to. There's very few of them, and for the most part people are awesome on here, but every now and then you get that one guy that's gotta throw a dig out to feel awesome, standard keyboard warriors. I was quite careful to keep my post non insulting to wedding/corporate band folks, I don't care what people play, nor how they play it. I was merely stating that most such bands have very similar playlists, and after 20 years of playing guitar in such bands, I'm over it. And for what it's worth, my band is doing quite well without such tunes.

If you like playing mustang sally three times every weekend, good for you! Pick on brother....

 

[neddyrow]

Wait, you guys/gals are getting paid to play??

 

[Kevorargh]

+1 for wedding bands - I usually get $3-400 for a wedding though once I got $1000

Next is concerts/park/gazebo gigs - that's usually $150-250 a man in my area depending on the size of the band

Bar gigs - I pay $100 per man and can usually make enough to cover that cost for a 4 piece.

Private Party - that depends on who is running the party - I've played some that pay as much as wedding bands to others where I got nothing.

 

[PWRL]

So genre isn't really a big factor in any of this, provided, of course that you don't slip in a Dead Boys tune right after "Wonderful Tonight" or something like that?

Also, I should point out that the original question was about working pay bands, not factoring in huge major acts, like being in Led Zeppelin or The Foo Fighters. Obviously those are lucrative. However, the thread goes where it goes.

Carry on, I'm definitely reading it, and I hope it's of interest to more than just myself.

 

[brianrost]

Corporate/wedding/party bands pay the best.

At least in the USA, this is the sobering truth. The most I was ever paid was $600 to sub for a wedding. I've never made more than $300 for any other gig I've played over 4 decades.

No, genre is not particularly important in my experience. Pay scale is based mainly on the size and type of venue.

 

[Crazy_Jake]

My main band is a cover band ( 3 piece) that is playing a lot - 60+ gigs on the calendar for the past two years. We play stuff that people want to hear - nothing ground breaking musically but we play what people want to hear. Minimum pay is $125 per man . We have wedding gigs / new years show where each member is coming home with 400 - 500 . The more we play - the more we get requests for weddings and corporate shows

My 50's & 60's band ( 4 piece) - costumes, show etc we play a 90 minute set for anywhere from 1400 - 2200

There is money out there but sometimes you have to tailor the band to fit the market you want to get into
At least that is my experience

 

[JRA]

IME: same as some who have already posted (in descending order):
- corporate/business functions/receptions (e.g., working for microsoft launches)
- weddings (e.g., daddy has money/power and considers it 'prestige')
- some 'municipal'/community events (e.g., larger cities/towns with 'arts' budgets)
- large music venues (e.g., concert halls/theaters)
- small (bars) venues (e.g., someone's 'neighborhood')
- charities (e.g., the 'good causes' --- many pay expenses and/or modest fees to the band/artist)

 

[David Jayne]

Please elaborate the idea of a "Corporate" band. I have worked in Corporations for 20 years and never seen a band get booked around here.

Is there like a link you can share that shows there is such a thing? Thanks for helping me. I am just a dum ole otter.

My wedding band does corporate Christmas parties, for example. We are the band for the annual Red Cross regional fundraiser here. Also the annual Bushnell Theater member black tie dinner/dance party. Things like that. But mostly weddings.

 

[BassGuyFL]

Corporate/wedding/party bands pay the best. When we broke up in 2011 we were getting $7,000+ for weddings. Each band member got 10% of the band's gross. (Bu most calculators that's $700 to the bass player. )

Originals bands usually don't pay at all.

Startup tribute bands for bands that are very niche market to begin with usually don't make much money. So, if you start a Pet Shop Boys tribute band, plan on kicking in money.

Bang on. If you just wanna be a dad band playing the wing hut for beer that's cool but don't expect it to be more than that. On the flip side high end corporate bands and tribute bands command a high dollar I get paid well for playing in a tribute band.

You might have to play music you really don't like or enjoy though. Also you have to be really good.

If you're gonna do a tribute make it one that's able to pull off more than 30 minutes of material and unique. No sense in being the 4th Aerosmith or Bon Jovi one in your area.

 

[Ric5]

Perhaps you should try playing the songs well. The original recording of Brown Eyed Girl is anything but the 3 chord slog most bands turn it into.

actually there are 4 chords … G, C, D, and E … but I get your point

When you play even a good song too many times you begin to hate it … I have a few songs I hate to play and I cringe when I see other band cover those songs … it is like when certain songs come on the radio I can't change the station fast enough.

One way to enjoy playing covers is to make the song your own and don't be a tribute band … keep the signature licks but also change it up a little ...

in economics there is a principle called the law of diminishing returns. It is like eating food, The first slice of pizza is great, the 15th makes you gag ...

My biggest enemy when I play out is not stage fright … it is stage boredom

 

[RustyAxe]

I've made more $$$ with my classic country band than any other project. Been with them for 10 years, consistently playing locally every other weekend. Sure, I could make more per gig in a wedding/corporate band ... but I'd have worked a LOT fewer gigs, would've had to rehearse to keep sharp, and probably would have had to travel a lot more.