It's 2024 - I Can't Believe What They Want To Pay

[Mr. Jelly]

Where I live it costs $75 for an appliance repair person to show up at my door. That's before they do anything. Or not.

[Marshall]

Originally Posted by LAPlayer

Then she told me they pay their solo performers $100 for 2 hours. They pay two or more $300.........Huh?. They have no PA or any equipment

Did you counter offer?

A lot of places are like that. They have no clue. Or no budget. But I'd think $200 for 2 hours is a minimum, even for part-time musicians. I think if you explain that politely, they might reconsider, seeing as they expect to pay more for ensembles. They certainly have the budget somewhere.

[jseth]

"Someone made the Big Score... yeah, they figured it out,
that we're gonna do it anyway, even if it doesn't pay..."

(Gillian Welch - "Everything Is Free")

[LAPlayer]

Originally Posted by Marshall

Did you counter offer? ....

No. They said what their payment schedule is. I told her to let me know if they have a date in mind and I would let them know if I was available. A great wine bar/winery might have some patrons that want/need music at an event. I didn't just say no but might not "be available". I was just surprised as I've been out of touch with local hire for a long time and those wages won't help anyone.

[Acoustic Voyage]

It's shameful what people are paying for live music. I believe musical and artistic talent are vastly undervalued.

[rllink]

Originally Posted by Osage

No one is surviving on that. It's a semi-pro gig. It'll get played by a hobbyist or weekend warrior type. Someone who enjoys playing and likes making a few extra bucks. I have a friend who plays lots of gigs like this, farmers markets, wineries etc... He has a full time non-musical job and plays the gigs for fun.

Originally Posted by Skarsaune

You have just perfectly described me. Playing for "beer and gear" money.

Me too. Our group is less than prime time. We pick up those gigs that can't afford big time. Hopefully we clear expenses and have something left over. That's the way it is. I don't feel like we are taking anything from anyone. There is always going to be minor league player and major league players. The minor leagues don't paid as well. If we didn't do them, the venues we play wouldn't pony up and pay union scale, they just wouldn't have music. In the case of the OP, they just didn't realize he was a major league player. Now they do.

[fazool]

It may be disappointing but it's not shameful.

Live music is an investment not a charity.

How many additional paying customers are you bringing in to the venue? How many additional drinks is the venue selling? How much additional revenue does that generate and how much gross profit can they pay you... just to break even.

Scenario 1a: you dont play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night
Scenario 1b: you do play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night

In this case there is no value to the business and any money paid to you is a loss


Scenario 2a:you dont play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night
Scenario 2b: you do play, a hundred additional people come to see you and they sell lots more drinks and the bar makes 20,0000 in sales that night

in this scenario the bar will be glad to pay you thousands of dollars

[Pickcity]

I would have laughed at her too.

[Pickcity]

Originally Posted by fazool

It may be disappointing but it's not shameful.

Live music is an investment not a charity.

How many additional paying customers are you bringing in to the venue? How many additional drinks is the venue selling? How much additional revenue does that generate and how much gross profit can they pay you... just to break even.

Scenario 1a: you dont play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night
Scenario 1b: you do play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night

In this case there is no value to the business and any money paid to you is a loss


Scenario 2a:you dont play and the bar makes 10,000 in sales that night
Scenario 2b: you do play, a hundred additional people come to see you and they sell lots more drinks and the bar makes 20,0000 in sales that night

in this scenario the bar will be glad to pay you thousands of dollars

^^100% accurate.

[AX17609]

You be interested in this video on how much touring musicians get paid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rUvL_Lr3wA

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by AX17609

You be interested in this video on how much touring musicians get paid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rUvL_Lr3wA

Well that puts it all in perspective! So you can do the no pressure local winery evening for $100 or play a stadium with the Taylor Swift tour for $150 a day!

[AX17609]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Well that puts it all in perspective! So you can do the no pressure local winery evening for $100 or play a stadium with the Taylor Swift tour for $150 a day!

That was pretty much my conclusion, too. I think that if you want to make any money in this business, you get yourself into a regional cover band playing weddings and corporate events.

[6L6]

Prior to covid hitting I charged $100/hr with a 2 hr minimum payment for local gigs.

For me it's a hobby, not something I'm trying to earn a living with.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

Part of the problem is that non professional musicians (certainly non union) will take gigs for that price. Lots of audience don’t know the difference. Some booking agents don’t seem to care.

This.... the lowest bid wins.

America loves it's cheap labor.