how much to ask for a gig?

how much to ask for a gig? (Full Version)

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gerundino63 -> how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 8 2004 10:05:09)
Hi all! I was allways too nervous to play befor an audience, but the last two years, I am getting better and better at it. This summer, I did even a few gigs, so I thought I might as well ask money for it in the future. So my question is: how much do you guys ask, or know the price of let's say 2 times 20 minutes gig? Peter

Jon Boyes -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 8 2004 10:57:40)
Hi Peter A lot really depends on what the local market will sustain if its local public gig eg restaurants, wine bars etc. What I charge will be of zero use to you, you need to find out what other musicians are charging in your area (then price yourself at the bottom of the range as you are just starting out). Also, I don't really charge by the minute/hour or whatever, I have a rough rate card for different functions. For example, with private bookings its a different ball game: I charge a lot more for weddings than I do for a restaurant gig, even though I might play the same amount of time. Again, its about understanding the market. I know exactly what the going rate is for hiring a classical/flamenco guitarist for such functions in the UK, and I price myself accordingly. Out of my regular gigs, the two venues that consistently demand the most from me in terms of time are the ones that pay me the least. Confused? [:D] Basically Peter, you have to network & do your research. Jon PS I am assuming you are talking about gigging a soloist as you say 'I' and not 'we'

gerundino63 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 8 2004 14:49:05)
Hi Jon. Thanks for your advice. Yes I am talking about myself, and it will be openings of galleries or on expositions,music days in a town, perhaps some party's. I have done a few before for free, but next time I decided to ask money for it. Peter

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 8 2004 15:21:58)
Peter, you need to make some friends who play guitar and find out what they charge. Also, you should find out entertainment agencies, catering companies, and if they have musicians as part of their program, find out what they charge. You should charge less than them, though--they are usually overpriced. Once in awhile you will find a musician who is nice and very helpful, and it's good to hang out with musicians because they rub off on you.

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 9 2004 1:30:06)
I charge around £80 for a restuarant gig, but there very little market for flamenco in north of England. Dave

Jon Boyes -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 9 2004 7:42:29)
quote: ORIGINAL: Billyboy I charge around £80 for a restuarant gig, but there very little market for flamenco in north of England. Dave There is very little market for it ANYWHERE in England, or probably the UK for that matter. If you want to get gigs as a solo flamenco guitarist, you either have to be satisfied with very few gigs (which is fine if its a hobby) or you have to diversify and be prepared to play a lot of other music. Most flamenco players I know who play professionally and semi-professionally fall into the latter bracket. The other option is to become a world class player, and get invited to play concerts and recitals anywhere in the world. Jon

Mark2 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 10 2004 17:15:44)
It depends on how much you want to work. The lower your price, the more you can work. As you gain more experience, you can raise your price. When buyers who know you start refusing to hire you, you have gone too far. Showing up on time, being well dressed, having good sound, and being confident are perhaps as important as how well you play for these type of gigs in the buyer's eyes. By being professional in your presentation, you can charge more. Also, as Jon pointed out , different venues have different pay scales. You will learn what they are as time goes by.

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 10 2004 23:22:52)
Mark, non of what you say is relevent to the uK. Raising your price etc may sound good, but only in fantacy land Dave

gerundino63 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 11 2004 0:02:52)
Hi Guys! Thanks for the response! I guess a question is easy to ask, and the answer is sometimes a lot harder! I have decided, to ask for 30 euro for 20 minutes, so 60 euro for 40 minutes. It is fair for me I think, perhaps I make it 40 euro in the future. It is in the Amsterdam aria, so I have to be a little carefull, not to ask more than the local red-light district girls You do not want to get in trouble with them!![:D] Peter.

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 11 2004 0:38:26)
Dave, how many times do we have to tell you: Gin and Forum don't go together well! Actually, I have to agree with his point about raising ones prices. In my experience it doesn't work that way at all. If you play for $75 for a bar, in the mind of that bar owner you are a $75 musician. If in a year or two you get a lot better, that doesn't mean you are getting a raise. In fact, my friend Gaetano has played a brunch for 8 years and is still getting paid the same, and Gaetano is one of the most financially successful musicians here in Phoenix. The way you get a raise is playing better venues, by getting a good agent, and by being your own agent. But Mark's point is true in the sense that if you are not very good yet, you may like to start smaller scale gigs, coffee shops, etc. to get your act down before you take it to Broadway. Peter, good luck, but I might advise you to charge by the hour. If you don't have 45 min. of repertoire, you probably aren't going to get work.

gerundino63 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 11 2004 8:41:30)
Hi Miguel! The time I can play is not really the problem, I can play an hour without repeating. It Is more from a selling/marketing point of few that I decided to charch one, two, or three times 20 minutes. In that way it looks cheaper, and you "say" allready that you want a break after 20 minutes. Plus you can fill an hour with only 40 minutes of music. Bye! Peter.

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 11 2004 14:49:55)
Peter, I'm glad that you have a large repertoire. But my point is, that as a professional musician for 5 years, I've never had a gig of 20 minutes. There is no market for such a thing. Unless you count wedding ceremonies--they are sometimes short. Musicians are usually something like the stereo in the background, and they are not usually hired as concerts, but more as something to add to the ambiance.

Billyboy -> [Deleted] (Sep. 12 2004 0:21:43)
Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Sep. 12 2004 0:44:45

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 0:30:07)
quote: how many times do we have to tell you: Gin and Forum don't go Who the hell are you to comment on my drinking habits, I was actually sober when I posted that. You Yanks tend to think the US is the centre of the world. Anyway as I stated, I was talking about the UK, not the US Dave

gerundino63 -> [Deleted] (Sep. 12 2004 0:44:44)
Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Sep. 12 2004 0:46:57

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 0:48:54)
Really, this sounds an intresting story, please elaborate. Dave

Mark2 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 2:15:43)
I've had twenty minute gigs-wedding ceremonies, and four hour gigs, and everything in between. Most of the time it's two to three sets of 45 minutes. Sorry Billy about the UK. I know nothing of what it's like to gig there, but I do know there are guitarists in my town that make 75.00 a gig and those who make 600.00 to 1,200. And it has little to do with ability-it has to do with reputation, contacts, marketing, and professionalism. I once advised a college age player to ask for a lot on money for his gigs. It's simply my feeling that most musicians give away their talent. Being a well educated, personable, and talented guy, he was doing 500.00 gigs a few months later. A typical wedding client spends over 20,000 on their wedding. What's a few grand for the music? Some people spend much , much, more. I did what I thought was a well paid wedding reception not long ago. Then I found out the bachelor party was in Cuba! Should have held out for more money on that one.

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 3:16:42)
"Who the hell are you to comment on my drinking habits, I was actually sober when I posted that. You Yanks tend to think the US is the centre of the world. Anyway as I stated, I was talking about the UK, not the US" Sorry to give offense, Dave, about your drinking. Was the 2nd part of that post directed at me?

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 10:00:55)
Sorry, no offence, the time of the post might give away the mood I was in Dave

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 15:06:26)
Dave, no prob, I was just surprised because I thought we wuz chaps. Glad to know I was right.

Ron.M -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 20:58:35)
What do you guys normally charge for a Funeral? Definitely, from my own experiences in the last couple of months, is that's where the money is these days! Flowers (min $200) most basic coffin (to be cremated) $600 and orginization, another $2000. I was offered optional extras, like embalming etc which would easily have added another $4000 to the list. It was incredible... the Crematorium that my Dad went to, 15 years ago, (not of his own volition, I might add!), had now expanded into Crematorium A and Crematorium B. I was told over the phone that there was a "slot" available between 2.00 and 2.20 pm because they were really busy. When I got there, it was a bit like an Airport, wondering if you were at the right terminal. Like a modern day Auzwitch, except they charge money for it! The Death business is great, because a nice employee in a trained voice, explains to you how much your Mother meant to you, and why you'd love the most expensive coffin and all the trimmings LOL! Brothers and Sisters, Surely the Guitar can make an inroad here. (I'm pretty sure MdM has already got that one sussed though.... LOL!) cheers Ron

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 12 2004 22:01:02)
Actually, I have made some discreet enquiries, and it seems that while organists might have a place, flamenco/classical guitarists are not needed.

Jon Boyes -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 8:18:36)
quote: ORIGINAL: Mark2 And it has little to do with ability-it has to do with reputation, contacts, marketing, and professionalism. That is spot on. I would say that your ability has to be past a certain threshold, but otherwise yes, all those other things are far important if you want to get regular gigs and make part or all of your living out of it. Jon

Jon Boyes -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 8:36:56)
quote: ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria The way you get a raise is playing better venues, by getting a good agent, and by being your own agent. The latter, definitely, at least here in the UK. Agencies are next to useless. I am currently on the books of about a dozen agencies, and I get maybe one or two gigs a year from them (in total, thats not per agency). On the other hand, I am playing four nights in a row this week at different venues, though my own hard work. Honestly, you would get more work hanging a sign in your front window than via agencies over here. In the UK, entertainment agencies are great if you have a mobile disco, or you are a magician, a band that plays hits, or a female vocalist that sings along to midi back tracks. If you are a flamenco guitarist, they will smile politely at you when you hand them your demo and biog, and you'll never hear from them again. You have to develop your own market, it is the only way. Jon

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 15:24:32)
Jon, four nights a week? Great!

Jon Boyes -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 15:34:31)
quote: ORIGINAL: Miguel de Maria Jon, four nights a week? Great! Mike, its NUTS![&:] My fingers will be dropping off by the end of this marathon. Jon

Miguel de Maria -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 17:56:44)
Jon, don't play so hard if your fingers are dropping off. Unless you are stupid like me and end up playing in crowded bars without amplification, just play light!

Mark2 -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 20:22:05)
I played at the wake of a friend once-no fun at all, but I felt good that some of his other friends appreciated it. Once someone called to have me play at a guy's deathbed-he had almost had it and wanted to hear flamenco guitar one last time. I turned it down-I'm nowhere near good enough for that gig. I had a friend who was a funeral director. He was a very funny guy. Once he complained about his lack of business, so i said What's the matter Louie, aren't people dying?" He said "They are not dying for me!"

Ron.M -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 21:20:25)
Mark, When you said "He'd almost had it", I first misread it to mean "He'd almost captured how to play Flamenco Guitar, and wanted to hear it for the last time". I guess I'm responding to my own anxieties now LOL! But really, my last post was in response to being a customer in the Death Business, and receiving (after 2 months respectful silence) a full colour brochure asking me if I would like a Gold plated plaque with my Mum's name inscribed upon it, to be placed in the Hall of Remembrance for only £475 + VAT, or a book of Remembrance to be kept open for visitors to sign at only £75 per year. Gosh, even when you're dead they can't leave you alone! LOL! What I enjoyed most, was at the Funeral Directors when they show you what you can have. They know the've got you by the short and curlies when they come out with outrageous prices for pieces of tat. What are you gonna say? "Thanks, but I think I'll shop around"? or "I think I could probably pick up a cheaper coffin on eBay"? That's what got me thinking that it's a lucrative market if someone had to introduce guitar and make it fashionable and acceptable. cheers Ron

Billyboy -> RE: how much to ask for a gig? (Sep. 13 2004 22:33:40)
I heard they sometimes play a Seguiria at funerals in Andalucia Dave

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