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What's the going pay for a session musician?

junglebike

junglebike

Feb 14, 2003
658
54
51
San Diego, CA
www.mattcurreri.com
#1
I'm starting to get calls for studio work (upright, fretless, fretted). I just got my first call from an actual professional :hyper: and he's asking me my rate.

I don't know my rate :help:

I'm not an unbelievable musician, but I'm passable, and responsible, which is all a lot of people want, I gather!

He's recording 12 songs in 4-song sets. Anticipates 4hrs rehersal time, plus 4hrs studio time per set.

Any idea of what I should ask? Don't want to go too high or too low. $160/set sound fair?
 
#4
That's a hard question, you don't want to sell yourself short and you don't want to price yourself out of the market. The conventional wisdom of fee negotiations is that hte first party to mention a number loses. You'll do better if you can get him to make you an offer first and go from there.

I was just looking at the local Musician's Union website the other day (L.A.) and they have a rate sheet on-line you can check out http://www.promusic47.org/. If your gig is non-union your rate will be lower of course (unless you're a great negotiator) but it's a reference point.

-Mike
 
#5
mycranium said:
That's a hard question, you don't want to sell yourself short and you don't want to price yourself out of the market. The conventional wisdom of fee negotiations is that hte first party to mention a number loses. You'll do better if you can get him to make you an offer first and go from there.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Yes, try not to name a # first. I always ask "What's your budget?" and then try to negotiate from there.
 

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