What do you typically get paid per gig?

[SLO Surfer]

One of my bands doesn’t take less than $100/person and the other doesn’t take less than $200/person. That’s our bare minimums and we usually make more. We have a tiered pricing system where we charge based on the type of event, so really anywhere between $100-1K/person depending on the event but never less than our minimums.

Both bands are originals bands with 6 members each. Ones been together 10 years (with me involved for the past 8), and the other band’s been together 23 years (with me involved off and on for many of those years since 2003). So we’ve built up some reputation and demand in our area and are picky with the gigs we accept. It’s a nice spot to be in with most of us having families and day jobs these days.

 

[Pacman]

I average about $200 per bar gig, and quite a bit more for corporate and wedding type gigs.

 

[roccobass]

I will go on to say that I never gigged for the money end of it..... I make far more doing brake jobs in my driveway than I'll ever make playing out.

However..... I at least expect gas/tolls/time to be taken care of for a show...... to be expected to travel 3 hours either way for peanuts is an insult.

Yes, the gig pay should,at the very least, cover the basic costs if getting there. I also look at the duration as well as distance before accepting a low paying gig. Too many places low ball you thinking they’re doing you a favor by allowing you to perform at their establishment. Sure, some places are small and can’t afford it, however I’ve encountered some high end joints that are just plain cheap. To me, they don’t respect the musicians.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The best way to make money at a bar with live music? Bartend.

 

[roccobass]

The best way to make money at a bar with live music? Bartend.

Point taken. The only there way to top that is to be the field sales rep for the alcohol distributor to the bar.

 

[Paulabass]

My own band $100 per person. Subbing $150.

 

[Paulabass]

The best way to make money at a bar with live music? Bartend.

Mix FOH. I'm taking a huge pay cut tonite to play in my own club, and mix myself!!

 

[mstillman]

$100 a gig minimum. (I think my highest night was around $300.)

Over the years, I suspect more than once a BL contributed to my share.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Mix FOH. I'm taking a huge pay cut tonite to play in my own club, and mix myself!!

I run sound for some friends' band. I think I'm just doing the sound version of common sense, but they love the sound, even the staff where we play loves it. Loud enough to be fun, not too loud to make you want to leave, tweak the EQ and compression, low and high cut the frequencies you don't need, make sure you can hear the vocals, and then just little tweaks through out the night. My wish is for a pitch wheel on the board that you could use to give the vocals a little help on the high extended notes. Heh. They usually don't need it, but every now and then...

 

[cheapbasslovin]

When the band had no following? Almost nothing.

When the band was kinda popular?
100 per member per night.

Now? Minimum 200 per member per night unless things go horribly wrong.

Occasionally we get some killer offers and get quite a chunk more.

 

[bbh]

Im both embarrassed and proud to say I’ve gigged since the early 80’s and can honestly say I got paid more then, dollar for dollar, and much more relative to dollar value. But the MTV came, then endless cable channels, then personal music players, then corporate “rock”, then the internet, then youtube and on and on. Live music in the form of local bands is a pittance of the draw it once was with the commensurate pay. Hell half the time I hand over my pay to other members who need it more, as its so little. In terms of countless hours practicing and thousands upon thousands paid for gear the return is about 0.00001%. However the return in satisfaction and fulfillment is priceless. Your mileage may vary.

For me, the big change over was when bars stopped letting younger people in. The age limit then went to 18 and finally 21. As the law changed, I’ve seen attendance go down

 

[RhynoRock]

We don't even load up our trailer for less than $600. We'll take home $100 each for 5 people (I'll get $120 because I put more miles than everyone else does) and what's left goes into the band fund.

 

[KohanMike]

Since my uke group mainly plays for senior centers and handicap groups during lunch or dinner, we get paid a meal.

 

[buldog5151bass]

For me, the big change over was when bars stopped letting younger people in. The age limit then went to 18 and finally 21. As the law changed, I’ve seen attendance go down

Also, no smoking in bars.

More importantly, stricter enforcement for DWIs. It used to be .15, there were no random DWI stops on the road, and about the only way you could get arrested was if you crashed into something/someone.

 

[Old School P-Bass]

On average it's $125 per man up to a 4 piece band. Some venues provide a tab of $100 for food or drinks for the band and some provide free drinks. For the 5 and 6 piece band it varies from $500 to $800 depending on the tourist season and venue.

 

[Big Mouth Bass]

Bar/club gigs around $100-150 (about what I was getting 25-30 years ago).

I usually get 100% of Zero

 

[Eilif]

averaging about $100.05 ...

This is about where I'm at currently. Bandleader gives me another $20 if I have to drive more than an hour.
Not a ton of money, but there's free drinks and dinner at almost every gig and since it's almost every week, it's a nice reliable source of fun-money.

 

[Drog]

I play in a seven piece band, we get $100-150/ each per night. Occasionally as much as $500/ea if it’s a corporate/casino/or opening for major act kind of gigs.

 

[Scott Shaw]

Not bragging or anything, but I made $720.00 this weekend on 2 gigs! This was an unusually good weekend.

 

[TinIndian]

Typically I bring home about 100.00. I've made more and I've made less. For instance I played a 3 hour gig Saturday got paid 75.00 from the bar and the 4 of us split 100.00 in tips so I walked out with 100.00 again.

It's not about the money other than supporting my gear addiction. If it was I might actually be insulted! LOL!