How much should I charge?

[shoutenzan]

Hi,

I've been asked to join a band and do some recording. There are two songwriters already, so they're recruiting me to play the bass for gigs and to record. I wouldn't have creative input.

I haven't met with the two guys yet, but I want to discuss how I would be compensated for time spent recording. Gigs, I'm assuming, would pay.

I don't think these guys have a lot of money. One of them is working part-time. The other I don't know anything about. So I was considering asking for royalties on the recordings. Of course, who knows if this project will go anywhere? However, what royalty rate do you think I should charge?

In my last band I created and recorded the bass part for a song, [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] that we recorded and I contributed a few lines of lyrics. The guy who wrote the music and most of the lyrics gave me and the vocalist each 33% of the royalties. So far I've only received about 25 cents, but I think it's pretty cool that he's generous with the royalty rate.

I don't expect that much of a royalty rate for this new project, but I'm thinking somewhere between 10% & 20%. What do you think?

Shoutenzan

 

[bassplayertom77]

Don't assume anything. How much is your time worth?

 

[shoutenzan]

Well, at my day job, I earn equivalent to about $75 an hour.

 

[fdeck]

Charge the same that you would charge for a gig. Chances are, you will make considerably more money that way, than you would from royalties. That's how I have dealt with it, on the rare occasions when I have done recording work for bands.

Chances are the band is paying a few hundred dollars or more for their recording project, and can afford a few more for a good bassist.

 

[gehwokka]

... you're far better off charging a FEE for your time/service than accepting a royalty cut.

If you like these guys and you think you might ENJOY yourself, then that's probably worth something to YOU, so maybe you might offer a discount since, as you say, they don't have a lot of cash.

But if they're interested in a quality piece at the end of it all, then they're probably willing to PAY you something for your time.

Is your non-work time worth $75 an hour (ie, could you work instead of recording and make $75/hour?) If so, then consider refusing the gig and do work instead. BUT - if you really like playing and recording then understand that you probably aren't going to make that with these guys.

How's THAT for not answering the question?

gehwokka

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