I actually love playing weddings - but I've probably been spoiled by the wedding bands I've played in. Of course, I'm not so sure the band leader (who has to deal with the wedding planners) likes playing them as much as I do. 
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How do you price a wedding?
- Thread starter Zephrant
- Start date
I do not quote a price online.
It depends what the party wants. Time of event, learning of songs. MC duties, number of band members. I've done weddings with a 4-piece Band, or up to a 9 piece Band.
I offer the wedding party up to 4 songs that the band will learn for there wedding. This do not include or set list.
Each event is different. rule of thumb, $300.00 to $500.00 per Band member. If we travel a great distance more. ( Over night stay )
Then it's $700.00-$800.00 per Band member.
It depends what the party wants. Time of event, learning of songs. MC duties, number of band members. I've done weddings with a 4-piece Band, or up to a 9 piece Band.
I offer the wedding party up to 4 songs that the band will learn for there wedding. This do not include or set list.
Each event is different. rule of thumb, $300.00 to $500.00 per Band member. If we travel a great distance more. ( Over night stay )
Then it's $700.00-$800.00 per Band member.
Great information, thank you. I can see the benefit to not posting prices, I was just hoping to cut out some of the negotiation. That's the part I don't like, don't do well with, and don't want to delegate.
Guess I'll suck it up and learn, like most of the rest of this band experience. : )
Let me get some data up, then I'll post the web page for critique....
Guess I'll suck it up and learn, like most of the rest of this band experience. : )
Let me get some data up, then I'll post the web page for critique....
Oh, yes: GET A DEPOSIT. Also, (especially if a couple see particularly volatile) any cancellation within 72 hours of event means full pay. Sorry, that's just the policy.
- Jan 27, 2010
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For a wedding in town I'd charge no less than $3000 for a five piece band. If more members are needed due to the bride and grooms musical tastes (they like Motown, so we need a sax player) it's and extra $500 a man. The band leader takes two shares.
Sent from my iPad using TalkBass
Sent from my iPad using TalkBass
There are way too many variables to give a specific $$ number.
It really comes down to what your band members need, how often you want to play, and being comfortable with your quote, perhaps building in some flexibility for negotiation.
It really comes down to what your band members need, how often you want to play, and being comfortable with your quote, perhaps building in some flexibility for negotiation.
Thanks all- I did do a CL post, and got results from $300 for a solo act to $2000 for a well known regional band.
A few really nicely written responses too, noting websites like gigsalad and a local promoter. Most bands were in the $600 to $1400 range. Since we want to be a premiere band, I'll start with $1200 for an all-up four hour performance with lots of PA and lights.
So I may have put too much info on my web page- Link Removed
Most local web pages are pretty sad, so I'd welcome the feedback.
Thanks all-
A few really nicely written responses too, noting websites like gigsalad and a local promoter. Most bands were in the $600 to $1400 range. Since we want to be a premiere band, I'll start with $1200 for an all-up four hour performance with lots of PA and lights.
So I may have put too much info on my web page- Link Removed
Most local web pages are pretty sad, so I'd welcome the feedback.
Thanks all-
Looks good at first blush, but on Firefox 30.0 on OS X scrolling does not work. I have to use the arrow keys when navigating more than a screenful of text. Scrolling does seem to work on Safari on OS X, so you might want to tell your web designer to check from multiple platforms.
From a text standpoint, I would nix the 'Final Notes' section entirely, as well as the 'We are a fully drug-free band.' on the front page. Other than that, it's a little wordy but good
You might also want to consider putting your calendar, contact information, and sample tunes on the very front page instead of making people navigate around trying to find them.
Also, just a personal style note as a computer supernerd, I *hate* page URLs like Link Removed
it looks like you're using Wordpress, it should be fairly straightforward to change those under Settings -> Permalinks -> Custom Structure, "/pages/%postname%/" if you're so inclined ;-)
From a text standpoint, I would nix the 'Final Notes' section entirely, as well as the 'We are a fully drug-free band.' on the front page. Other than that, it's a little wordy but good
You might also want to consider putting your calendar, contact information, and sample tunes on the very front page instead of making people navigate around trying to find them. Also, just a personal style note as a computer supernerd, I *hate* page URLs like Link Removed
it looks like you're using Wordpress, it should be fairly straightforward to change those under Settings -> Permalinks -> Custom Structure, "/pages/%postname%/" if you're so inclined ;-)
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How do you price a wedding....Usually it will cost a musician his soul when he gets married.
I play in a couple of wedding bands. Our net for a five piece is usually somewhere between $2-3k and we are on the cheap end. But these are all booked through agencies.
For me, weddings are so much more fun than playing in a bar. You have a built in captive audience that's ready to have a great time. The venues are always great and there's a reason to be playing music. It's not like at a bar where your basically a beer salesman. Plus, the pay is usually about $400/man.
We get to play many different genres (start with jazz for cocktail hour, move to r&b, classics and oldies to get the grandmas dancing, and then late night it gets raucous).
Granted you have to know a lot of material and be able to listen, but that's what makes it fun.
If you're having to play cover tunes, weddings / corporate events are almost the best thing going (behind maybe being in a gigging tribute band).
Of course, we are only talking cover music here. I'd rather be playing only originals, but good paying original gigs are a inconsistent at best.
My $0.02.
For me, weddings are so much more fun than playing in a bar. You have a built in captive audience that's ready to have a great time. The venues are always great and there's a reason to be playing music. It's not like at a bar where your basically a beer salesman. Plus, the pay is usually about $400/man.
We get to play many different genres (start with jazz for cocktail hour, move to r&b, classics and oldies to get the grandmas dancing, and then late night it gets raucous).
Granted you have to know a lot of material and be able to listen, but that's what makes it fun.
If you're having to play cover tunes, weddings / corporate events are almost the best thing going (behind maybe being in a gigging tribute band).
Of course, we are only talking cover music here. I'd rather be playing only originals, but good paying original gigs are a inconsistent at best.
My $0.02.
One thing I didn't see mentioned was the meal. Will they feed you or will you have to provide your own meal. I have played at both situations, most of the weddings we did, we knew the caterer and we got fed, however there were a couple cheapskates who refused to feed us and we had to go to a nearby burger joint to eat. You can't be expected to go up to 6 hr without eating, especially when there is always leftover food. This needs to be addressed and factored into the price you charge.
Around this part of the midwest, weddings, unfortunately, are now almost totally in the realm of the DJ.
I haven't played a wedding in several years, and haven't been to a wedding reception that featured a band for even longer.
I haven't played a wedding in several years, and haven't been to a wedding reception that featured a band for even longer.
- Oct 18, 2012
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I have only played a few weddings. In each case, we asked what their budget was and found that they were all very realistic in the amount they should expect to pay for a band.
I charge extra if I have to deal with crazy wedding people and poor planning.
A tip when you book a wedding get In Writing, every last detail, no matter how anal retentive it sounds. You want everything spelled out on paper, complete with contact information and change plan time allowances. I can't count the number of weddings I played where the whole gig almost failed because some wedding planner or somebody didn't think of something. Like power to the outdoor stage. Or who is responsible if drunk Uncle Charlie comes up on stage and knocks over a microphone stand and breaks the mike. Or making sure the load in doors are unlocked (that one cost us 45 minutes because it was an emergency door and we were not allowed to load in through the front door. The venue manager was the only person who could unlock it,and she was off eating lunch somewhere). Or the venue will not let you take gear up on the passenger elevator. And my favorite - get in writing that the person who is responsible for paying the band will present payment when the band steps off stage. I hate chasing down drunk people after a wedding gig to get paid....
A tip when you book a wedding get In Writing, every last detail, no matter how anal retentive it sounds. You want everything spelled out on paper, complete with contact information and change plan time allowances. I can't count the number of weddings I played where the whole gig almost failed because some wedding planner or somebody didn't think of something. Like power to the outdoor stage. Or who is responsible if drunk Uncle Charlie comes up on stage and knocks over a microphone stand and breaks the mike. Or making sure the load in doors are unlocked (that one cost us 45 minutes because it was an emergency door and we were not allowed to load in through the front door. The venue manager was the only person who could unlock it,and she was off eating lunch somewhere). Or the venue will not let you take gear up on the passenger elevator. And my favorite - get in writing that the person who is responsible for paying the band will present payment when the band steps off stage. I hate chasing down drunk people after a wedding gig to get paid....
Thanks Sleeplessknight- I can't change the URLs without editing the pages, so may try that later. Since a lot of modern devices are hiding the full URL and showing only the domain, I'm thinking it doesn't matter as much as it used to.
Yes it is all on Wordpress- First time I've used it, as I've always done sites from scratch before. But didn't want to take the time to do it right. I'm impressed with what Wordpress and a good theme can do, all with some clicks. Have not had to go edit code yet, but there are certainly some bugs to deal with.
Gusset- Yeah, the pictures are one of those bugs. Doesn't work well on a phone either. Real PITA to make it work in all browsers, and I'm at the mercy of the template designer, as I don't want to take the time to learn the code well enough to change it myself.
Thanks a lot to everyone to looked at my site- greatly appreciated.
Yes it is all on Wordpress- First time I've used it, as I've always done sites from scratch before. But didn't want to take the time to do it right. I'm impressed with what Wordpress and a good theme can do, all with some clicks. Have not had to go edit code yet, but there are certainly some bugs to deal with.
Gusset- Yeah, the pictures are one of those bugs. Doesn't work well on a phone either. Real PITA to make it work in all browsers, and I'm at the mercy of the template designer, as I don't want to take the time to learn the code well enough to change it myself.
Thanks a lot to everyone to looked at my site- greatly appreciated.
About food, I'm of two minds. It's convenient to get fed, but on the other hand, the cost is exorbitant for the client, and the food is often vile. I always tell bandleaders that I don't care either way, and I can always bring a sandwich.
