4 hour gig

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4 hour gig

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Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

4 hour gig

Its a bit of an unusual question today. Someone wants to book me for an event later this year to play for 4 hours of solo guitar with 3x15 minute breaks.
Firstly I've never been asked to play for so long before
Secondly, i dont know how much to charge
Thirdly and most importantly I'm worried that this isn't physically possible without risking muscle cramps and tendon pain. Performing isn't like practising at home. Its much harder on the hands. I've done 3 hours before and its a killer. Has anyone else played this long? How did the hands hold up? I am thinking of saying that 3 hours is my limit. Any ideas guys...does 4 hours sound unreasonable?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 8:57:23

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3025
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

I've done 3 hours before, and it's pretty brutal on the fingernails, but I only had one little break in there.
Personally after about 1.5 hours I get really really warmed up and I feel like I can do no wrong, my technique is at 100% or more of what it usually is...but that only lasts till about the 2.5 hour mark, after that I start going way downhill lol. Plus by then I am repeating myself and not that inspired anymore. But personally I feel less likely to get a cramp or muscle pain at any point past 1 hour.
Personally I would take the gig ONLY because of the 3 x15 minute breaks. That's pretty good breakage. Depending on the type of event and without travel my rate would be $300 - $500

It's funny how short gigs often pay the best though, like today I got $150 to play for a bunch of 7th and 8th graders for 20 minutes

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 11:24:56

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pimientito

Its a bit of an unusual question today. Someone wants to book me for an event later this year to play for 4 hours of solo guitar with 3x15 minute breaks.
Firstly I've never been asked to play for so long before
Secondly, i dont know how much to charge

Years ago I played in a restaurant 5 nights a week. Tuesday through Thursday was four hours a night, Friday and Saturday was 5 hours a night. I had that job for 2 or 3 years as I recall. Amazing how strong your hands get and how fast your repertoir increases with a job like that. I was making $25/hour...seemed like pretty good pay at the time

. Just think of it as a long practice session.

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John Shelton - www.sheltonfarrettaguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 11:52:09

beno

Posts: 881
Joined: Nov. 3 2006
From: Hungary

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

I've also done something like John. 5 days a week 3hour playing netto for more than a year, and several half year (season) period 2-3 times a week with 3 or 4 hours. approx. 75 USD/ gig.... that's hungary

I usually had 4-5 hours of practice in sessions through the day, and played the 3-4 hour repertoire at the evening...those were the good days!! Never felt any muscular problem, never thought about it, but usually become VERY tired mentally by the end of each evening.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 12:08:46

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

Pimientito,

Just do what the Beatles did in Hamburg in the early days and make stuff up and repeat the first half, but in random order.
People can't remember that well anyway.

Oh and tell a few jokes and take time tuning up etc...

It'll pass.

Initially charge them about 40% more than you think their highest offer would be.

Then negociate slowly and reluctantly downwards, finally saying that you will be doing it at that price only as a personal favour.

That's what all the local tradesmen have been doing here for years anyway!

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 13:02:37

gerundino63

Posts: 1747
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

Hi Pimento,

Every week I play for about 3 hours in a restaurant, and on a few events played for 4,even 5 hours.
I always do the next volume.
play for 20 min, and a breake for 10 min.
It is possible than to play for a few hours on a row, only the fingertips get a bit sore.

Also you can say the client that it is better for you, and the listener. It is nice for the client to have a break, and they are happy again if the perfoming starts again.

Also you can ask money for 4 hours instead of 3.

It is most likely that if you say that this is the normal thing to do, that you have the experiance with this kind of things, the client will accept that.

Peter

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 13:32:19

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to beno)

quote:

ORIGINAL: beno

I've also done something like John. 5 days a week 3hour playing netto for more than a year, and several half year (season) period 2-3 times a week with 3 or 4 hours. approx. 75 USD/ gig.... that's hungary
I usually had 4-5 hours of practice in sessions through the day, and played the 3-4 hour repertoire at the evening...those were the good days!! Never felt any muscular problem, never thought about it, but usually become VERY tired mentally by the end of each evening.

My guitar mentor suggested 6 hours practice a day as a minimum to progress on the guitar. When I was playing 4-5 hours a night I was also practicing another 4-5 hours during the day at home. The only problem with so much playing was the strings. I used 10 sets a month. Of course they were a lot less expensive 20-30 years ago when I was actively playing.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 15:54:37

KMMI77

Posts: 1821
Joined: Jul. 26 2009
From: The land down under

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

I find 4 hour solo gigs to long. If people ask me to play for that amount of time i usually try to convince them to have a duo.

To be expected to have 4 hours of solo flamenco guitar material at performance level takes a lot of work and is asking a lot. Especially if they only will allow you 3 x 15 minute breaks. It is also worth taking in to account that a lot of the heavier flamenco forms are going to be inappropriate if they are looking for a fun and happy atmosphere.

I have a day job so i can be a bit more choosy about gigs i take. I usually tell them that i will only do 3 x 40 min sets max. I Love flamenco guitar but i would not want to listen to it for longer than that.Lol!

Of coarse it depends if people will be listening or if you are just providing background music.

As far as price.

REGULAR GIG, RESTAURANT ETC,I usually offer a greatly reduced price for people who are willing to give me regular work.

WEDDING, My ex is an events coordinator so i know how much people are willing to pay for catering alone at a wedding. I'd be asking at least $600 Aus, And offering them a dou for $800 aus. Plus extra if i had to travel far.

PRIVATE FUNCTION, Same price as wedding.

I had a regular gig every friday for about a year at the Marriot hotel on the gold coast. It was 4 hours. The last set was always painful and that was a duo.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 1 2010 19:31:15

Ricardo

Posts: 14897
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

$300 per hr solo guitar. I will play as long as for what they can pay.

For a duo or small group I charge $600 1s hr, $800 2nd, $1000 for 3hrs....if the gig is prime time at night. Once did a duo gig for, 5.5 hrs for $2000. If during the day I will negotiate depending on budget and time. Smaller budget= shorter playing time. I try to do 30 min breaks if possible. And also require free food and drink, and pay upon arrival so no need to "bother" anyone when it's over.

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 2 2010 6:10:38

Pimientito

Posts: 2481
Joined: Jul. 30 2007
From: Marbella

RE: 4 hour gig (in reply to Pimientito)

Thanks everyone. I have done a lot of 3 hour restaurant gigs where you play 45 - 50mins every hour. The good thing is that people at the end of the session are different from at the start so you repeat yourself a bit in the last set. A restaurant gig is a bit like a paid rehearsal. Duets are good because you can improvise and make pieces longer and its generally easier on the hands.
I agree with what everyone said about practising but sitting for 6 hours in your living room and fiddling around is much easier on your hands than 3 hours of performing in front of an audience.
This is going to be 4 hours with 3 breaks and very little repetition of solo concert guitar. That is what worries me. Its very tiring and I'm not sure I can go on that long without my hands or brain giving up.

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Follow my blog http://pimientito.wordpress.com/

"Ceremonial" by Mark Shurey "Pimientito". CD and digital download vailable on Amazon and
CDbaby. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/markshurey

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 2 2010 6:16:16