People who have been in bands
or musicians as they are otherwise known:

As you may be aware I have a band and we have been playing a number of gigs in my local area. Generally this hasn't been for much money, but that's fine because we need the practice.

However, we've been asked if we would consider playing for a private party of lawyer types in Laaahndaaahn and how much we would like to be paid for such a thing.

None of us have been in this position before and have no idea how much we can ask for. Obviously we need to cover our costs and stuff, but it'd be nice to make something on top so we can buy a new drum kit and drugs and fireworks stuff.

I'd appreciate it if some b3ta types could give me some helpful advice.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 18:13, 15 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Evening.
I'm not used to being paid to play either... we're just grateful for the opportunity to make noise at people.

It's not going to be cheap coming from all the way over there, drugs cost a fair bit nowadays and a drum kit probably costs even more than that.

Would a grand even be close to feasible?
( Moey, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 18:57, Reply)

Hmmm...
All-you-can-eat hookers?
*shrugs*

I've no idea.
( Cawl, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 21:00, Reply)

we're not necessarily
using the money for a drum kit, that was just an idea of what we could do with the proceeds...

I get the feeling that we'll probably be able to charge maybe £750 or so, but I don't know how that compares to the going rate...

I imagine that the all-you-can-eat hooker buffet that Kaol is suggesting would have to come out of our own pockets
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 21:15, Reply)

Well...
I've worked at weddings before, and got chatting to bands that've been hired. One of 'em charged £500.
That was nearly no travelling distance for 'em, so you got that to factor in.
( Cawl, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 21:19, Reply)

that's cool
all comments are helpful (well, pretty much)

we're going to have to hire a van, because the one we've got is so shit it'd either not make it or cost us £200 in fuel, and then we've got to factor in hotels and drugs stuff
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 21:39, Reply)

"Fruit and flowers"
Is the term for those in the know :p
( Cawl, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 21:49, Reply)

I'll remember that
:-)
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 22:02, Reply)

Ask them
what kind of set length they're expecting and what they're willing to pay? May as well be up front, I don't see that there's any harm in it.
( SuperWeasel slightly better than the average weasel, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 23:36, Reply)

Superweasel's idea ain't bad
When we are doing ceilidhs, I think we are charging about £500 just now, but that's including travel. We are also students who are happy for any money.

Saying that, people I know in Engerland got quoted £800 plus travel by a ceilidh band from London.

This post, I conclude upon re-reading, is mostly useless.
(PenguinOfDeath is Scottish, and most likely angry, Sun 14 Sep 2008, 23:42, Reply)

In my experience…

The big-shots, London types and ones with more money than God are the biggest tight-wads out there, and will haggle as much as the Pakistani Pub Landlords to get you as cheap as possible.

(Please excuse this for sounding racist or class-ist, I have nothing against anybody - it is just a statement of fact for me after playing well over 1000 gigs over 20 years that the Rich-types and Pakistanis haggle over every last penny and try every low-down trick in the book to avoid payment)

It’s like Bill Gates says in the Simpsons “I didn’t get rich by writing a lot of cheques”

When we have had to travel, we have insisted that the customer arranges accommodation for us, but we’ve never actually charged travel expenses – that is just taken into account with the fee.

How many of you are there in the band? – This is also proportionate to how much you charge. If there are 5 of you, then consider it on an hourly rate:

Meet up, load van – 1 hour
Travel – 1 hour plus?
Arrive, meet and greet, make arrangements – 30 mins
Unpack, set up, soundcheck – 2 hours?
Wait around til start time – 1 to 2 hours
Gig itself (including breaks and encores) – 3 hours plus
Pack up – 1.5 hours (longer because hopefully you’re wrecked)
Travel to accommodation – 30 mins

Either way, you’re looking at around an 11 hours plus day. Times 5 @ the bargain rate of £10ph each because of your talent, equipment usage and labour…and you’re looking at £550. Throw in the van rental etc that is an extra £200. Then the accommodation should be paid on top…2 doubles and 1 single room, min 3 star @ London rates = fuck knows, but you could take the money instead for accommodation and sort yourselves out for somewhere shit and cheap.

There is also a downside to this however – If you charge a lot – the level of expectancy regarding your professionalism etc rockets up…and the last thing you want is a ‘I paid a grand for you scruffy fuckers to turn up and play for just 3 hours???’…and ”How long did you take between songs???” etc et-fucking-cetera.

When you’re well paid and in that environment, everyone thinks they own you…and I have had people complain to the paying customers because we refused to play their ‘favourite reggae/punk/classical track’ – thus creating a scene. Now I always apologetically say we play a set that has been pre-arranged with the person paying so if you have any complaints – take it up with them.

Good luck!
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Mon 15 Sep 2008, 9:41, Reply)

our travel, in a van
would be probably 3 hours or more coming from Exeter
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 15 Sep 2008, 11:13, Reply)

4 groats
and 17 nautical miles of string
(Halfy By light alone, Mon 15 Sep 2008, 11:14, Reply)

"People who have been in bands"
Does not necessarily = "Musicians".

Discuss.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Mon 15 Sep 2008, 12:24, Reply)

a very valid point there Captain
don't think there is much discussion needed!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 15 Sep 2008, 12:28, Reply)

dunno 'bout London
but here in the Mild Mild West my fella makes his living as a musician and plays solo gigs in pubs locally for 180 quid or so (200+ for a Friday or Saturday night), plus whatever goes in the hat on the evening. He also plays in a band and when they do the wedding/christening/birthday cheese stuff it's about 100-150 apiece, I think (there's 4 in the band). They don't get paid for travel but it's usually local anyway.

Mind you, he's very skinny because quite often he can't afford to eat.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Mon 15 Sep 2008, 20:08, Reply)