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Your typical gig pay?

#21
this is... to some extent...
rather depressing.

i'm in a band that plays only originals, in a slightly odd format (a rather hefty mixture of genres.... pop-rock/metal/indie-rock/hardcore/jazz/etc)...

if we get $75 to $100 a gig (lately anyways...sometimes it's less)
we play 2 to 3 shows a weekend on average and have over 200 shows under our belts in the last couple years. (including 12 weeks on the road touring)

now my main question is
why do cover bands get SO MUCH MORE than originals?
no offense meant to people who are in cover bands...
but doesn't it take just as much, if not MORE to play originals?
should not originality be worth... at least the equal amount?
yet it seems that anybody can be in a decently paid cover band,
but a band playing originals has to fight just to get gas money.
not that i'm complaining... it comes with the territory and now i'm on my fifth band and i'm used it. i just find it a bit frustrating.

[spunj13]
 
#23
HI

Your question is certainly off topic and you should start a thread.

I was in original bands all my life. You have to sell tickets to even play, LA anyways. Original venues are now few and far between. Usually arent hot spots for bar owners. They want national acts or regional acts with a good following so they can charge cover and sell lots of drinks. Yes? see the economics?

Also, original bands are seldom danceable bands. Clubs want danceable bands which in turn will make people(girls) dance and all will want to hang around and drink, eat, pay cover, etc.

Its business, simply put.

Rob
 
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#27
DaBassman said:
I'm not sure I understand, you get less $$ as the bass player?
Click to expand...
No, he gets less money as the guy who doesn't book the gigs, I'm sure. Every bandleader I know takes more for themselves, and when I lead, I do it, too. Costs a lot of time and money to book a band, so the one who does it should make more.
 
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#32
There are so many variables that apply personally - it's hard to give a straight answer.

If I'm booking an event and it's a corporate thing, I generally quote between $75 - $100/hr per player. High end if we're wearing tuxedos, and at or close to it if parking & load-in are difficult. Same rates apply for weddings & parties...unless it's a friend/family thing. Then I'll often discount my rate, while quoting the standard for the other players.

Charity gigs and other similar events...I'll vary from $0 - $100/hour, depending on who's footing the bill, who's involved, who's benefitting, etc. The one occasional advantage with these gigs is that a "rate" can be negotiated as a tax-deductible donation to the organization, in which case both sides win and get something tangible out of the event.

All of the above occurs much less frequently than me answering the phone (or email) for a gig opportunity. In those cases, very rarely am I asked to quote a rate; instead it's a function of the leader telling me what the gig pays and me deciding if the value matches the effort. Pretty much the same goes for club gigs - in my experience it's rare that a booking agent or club owner will ask what we/I charge.

In any case, following the OP's scenario, I think the rate is fair, unless one or more of you are inclined to offer a discount based on the client. A follow-up question is whether or not this event may lead to other opportunities for the group. This speaks to my example above about charity events. I've gotten so many new gigs based on performing at those events that it's often an easy decision to play for a discount compared to other events.
 
#33
Well, we've played twice before at this school- once for free & once for $250. I bid $300(if 'bid' is the right term; I haven't gotten confirmation yet)as it's a bit longer than the previous events & we'll be outside in December. I intend to let the promoter(for lack of a better term)know that we do not intend to raise our rate every gig. Additionally, we will be providing song sheets to sing along, which entails a bit more work as well as the cost of paper; negligible, but perhaps worth mentioning.
 
#35
Mostly we play weddings or corporate show. Minimum is $1500 for our 4 piece band.

Charity and personal favors, $0-100 a man.

We like to have fun but we like to get paid as well. We have found if you bid low, many think you must not be that good.

Funny, thing, once we raised our rates, we got more bookings than ever before!
 
#39
We are a 6 piece classic rock cover dance band. We charge $1200 a night for 4 sets of 10 songs , usually with a 2 or 3 song encore. We have our own PA and lighting equipment and we set it all up ourselves and do our own sound. Of each members pay of $200 it is broken down as such: $50 for setup, $100 to play, $50 for teardown. We do this so that if someone has an excuse to show up late, without setting up, they forfeit $50. Everyone is always there to play and teardown. This has worked for many years. That being said, I usually do the most work and have the most responsibility. Once in a while when I start feeling like too much is on my shoulders, I just tell everyone that if I have to do the most work and have the most responsibilities , then I want twice as much money as everyone else. That ususally prompts them to take a little off my shoulders. Nobody wants to give up part of their $.:hmm:
 

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