Advice

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Land on September 28, 2011 at 10:29am

Is is a "home concert" atmosphere, where you are "on stage," or are you providing background music? Home concerts encourage CD sales and collect "donations."

 

Are you bringing and setting up equipment?

Both of these need to be factored in. Private gigs should START at $100 or more, if this is not a "friend's party."

 

Permalink Reply by Norman LeDonne on September 28, 2011 at 10:36am

Thanks Alan. It's for a friend, but being paid for my his company. It's actually for an investment community. I'll be providing background music, so I expect I be on the floor. I'll be bringing an amplifier for my guitars, being a fingerstyle guitar player that doesn't sing ( probably little need to speak a lot here though I will probably bring a mic), I don't use much equipment. I don't have any CDs yet, so that part is out of the question now; I was asked by the organizer how much I charge, meaning the only 'donations' I would expect would be offers for future gigs.

Permalink Reply by Alan Land on September 28, 2011 at 11:39am

Norman, do not UNDERCUT yourself for a COMMERCIAL gig, as they will expect that price moving forward. Commercial gigs should be charged even more than "private parties," since the money is coming from an "event budget," not coming out of anyone's personal stash. $100 MINIMUM is more than reasonable, and probably too cheap. Hourly rates don't make any sense, since they just undercut your set up time, driving time, and gas expenses.

By the way, my day job is corporate event management, and I have no problem paying a piano player $200-$300 for a background gig, when as a musician myself, I know he haggles to get $100 from his lounge gigs. That's just the nature of the business. 

 

P.S. If you are neither a singer nor a comedian, "shut up and play your guitar," as Zappa said.

Permalink Reply by FloridaGull on September 28, 2011 at 10:30am

Is this going to be a one-time thing, or do you hope to do more of this in the future?  If you hope to do more, IMHO you should go a bit low on this one - like $30-$40 an hour? - maybe less - no less than $25.  Then, for potential future gigs, you will (hopefully) have a good reference from the first party, and then charge $75-$100 an hour after that?  Just my thoughts - the numbers may be off, but the strategy is good...

Permalink Reply by Jim Robinson on September 28, 2011 at 12:07pm

I agree that you should not undercut yourself on this. The price you charge should be based on what will fly in your market and that is different everywhere, but I would start by calling up any musician in your area that does wedding receptions and finding out what they charge for two hours work. In almost any market, I don't think anyone would expect to pay less than $300 for entertainment, and oftentimes much more. 

If you think about low-balling it, remember all the money you've spent on instruments, strings, lessons, music books, etc.; and all the time you've spent learning and practicing. How much is all that investment of time and money worth? Factor in your transportation, set up time, etc. Don't do yourself, and everyone else in your market who has spent similar time and money, a disservice by charging too low. If you're not being asked to negotiate down, you might have asked for too little.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Alan Land on September 28, 2011 at 12:14pm

Good ideas, Jim, but I don't necessarily equate weddings with corporate gigs, as the budgets tend to be different. Other than that detail, I concur completely. A big part of "marketing" is learning how to price your product in all markets.

Permalink Reply by Jim Robinson on September 28, 2011 at 1:50pm

I guess I missed the word "professional" in the original comment, and took this to be a "private" party, which I would equate a wedding reception to be the nearest thing, so you're right. I agree wholeheartedly that private gigs should start at a $100 or more. If anyone argues for less, tell them you know a kid with a plastic guitar and a TV that will come in and play Guitar Hero for their guests.

Permalink Reply by Norman LeDonne on September 28, 2011 at 1:53pm

Thanks for the great advice! I was originally thinking about $200, which is in the ballpark from your comments.

Permalink Reply by anthony emmanuel on October 4, 2011 at 3:27pm

yeah i agree to what Jim said, the private gigs can start with $100-$200..believe in yourself man.

Permalink Reply by FloridaGull on October 4, 2011 at 4:38pm

Corporate budget? $200 or more. Good luck! May this be the start of something lucrative for you!

Permalink Reply by Dave Keir on March 21, 2012 at 10:13am

I'm in the UK and I agree it can sometimes be a tricky conversation about fees. Some well known guys and girls will have a "set" fee for different types of gigs - clubs, festivals, corporate, etc. I, on the other hand, tend to be more "flexible". My first response is to ask what they normally expect to pay and work the conversation around that. Bottom line is that I'm unlikely  to turn down many gigs on the basis of the fee offered if I'm satisfied that the booker is not trying to be cheap in order to maximise his / her own gain.