What's the going rate for your gigs?
- RudallRose
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What's the going rate for your gigs?
I've checked the archives and this topic hasn't been touched on in a couple years.
With the economy and all, I'm wondering whether bands have taken a hit to their rate sheets or not?
I know many groups around here are killing each other for gigs, simply undercutting the other guys and, frankly, the promoters and venues are "getting what they pay for," with so many inferior quality groups getting what used to be higher-quality gigs.
It's pretty sad.
We've stayed the course and refuse to budge on our standard rate: $100/hr/musician. We're a 3-man band. We've had several bookings bypass us since someone else was willing to go lower -- even in a 5man or more. Frankly, that only undercuts our own talent pools and ability to get paid a decent wage for what we do.
Just wonder what others are doing out there.
dm
With the economy and all, I'm wondering whether bands have taken a hit to their rate sheets or not?
I know many groups around here are killing each other for gigs, simply undercutting the other guys and, frankly, the promoters and venues are "getting what they pay for," with so many inferior quality groups getting what used to be higher-quality gigs.
It's pretty sad.
We've stayed the course and refuse to budge on our standard rate: $100/hr/musician. We're a 3-man band. We've had several bookings bypass us since someone else was willing to go lower -- even in a 5man or more. Frankly, that only undercuts our own talent pools and ability to get paid a decent wage for what we do.
Just wonder what others are doing out there.
dm
Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
When my 3-piece band was going (we were all pretty much newbies in the ITM, ranging from about 1-3 years of experience, though many more years in other types of music, from a bluegrass guitarist to a technical death metal drummer), we did some pub gigs, usually somewhere in the region of 2-2½ hours of music per gig for about $300-400. Not a lot, but being young and inexperienced, we were pretty damn pleased with that.
Fye now Johnnie, get up and rin
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The hieland bagpipes make a din
- Richard Katz
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
I receive $300.00 per solo gig which usually means about an hour. $50.00 more for distance beyond 50 miles.
For a three piece band we have gotten anywhere from $400.00 to $900.00 for a 2 hour gig. Usually more like $500.00.
Solo gigs such as funerals and weddings are the best financially.
Remember I live in California.
Cheers! Richard
For a three piece band we have gotten anywhere from $400.00 to $900.00 for a 2 hour gig. Usually more like $500.00.
Solo gigs such as funerals and weddings are the best financially.
Remember I live in California.
Cheers! Richard
- Uilliam
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
Hope ye remember to declare it on yer Tax Returns as the whole world now knows whit ye get.
Uilliam
Uilliam
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- Richard Katz
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
What's a Tax Return?
I just consider the money as tips and kindness!
It's not really a job, is it?
Cheers!
Richard
I just consider the money as tips and kindness!
It's not really a job, is it?
Cheers!
Richard
- crookedtune
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
Isn't 'tax return' an oxymoron?
Charlie Gravel
“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”
― Oscar Wilde
“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”
― Oscar Wilde
- Uilliam
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
The vast majority of work could be related to as not real jobs.Dunno whit the Taxman would say tho if I presented that argument to em.Or that the manager of the Pub or whitever is only giving me a tip..or a kindness...ye would be aff in a straight jacket wi that.
Tax Return is a normal term as is Tax Declaration.Anyways this wasnae meant to turn into the Oxford Debate of 2010 just pointing out the wisdom or no of declaring to the world whit ye get.
Uilliam
Tax Return is a normal term as is Tax Declaration.Anyways this wasnae meant to turn into the Oxford Debate of 2010 just pointing out the wisdom or no of declaring to the world whit ye get.
Uilliam
If ye are intersted in helping our cause to cure leprosy feel free to PM me.
- CarvedTones
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
There is also this...
You put in all those long hard hours at sessions learning your craft instead of earning a wage and not only that, you have to spend money while there to keep in the good graces of the proprieter (and it's not your fault they hold them in pubs ). You spend every spare nickel you have amassing a collection of instruments (all completely necessary) and then when you finally get paid a pittance compared to what you have invested, they call it a profit...
You put in all those long hard hours at sessions learning your craft instead of earning a wage and not only that, you have to spend money while there to keep in the good graces of the proprieter (and it's not your fault they hold them in pubs ). You spend every spare nickel you have amassing a collection of instruments (all completely necessary) and then when you finally get paid a pittance compared to what you have invested, they call it a profit...
-Andy
Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
perhaps a couple of correspondence classes in creative accounting
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
- TerryH
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
Sorry, still off topic... For tax purposes here in the States, as long as the income is below a threshold level, many of us can declare the income as hobby income. The good news is that many expenses related to the hobby can be deducted, such as mileage, education, supplies,... Do a search on hobby income at the IRS website www.irs.gov for more info. You also may need to report the income on your State Tax return, which means that you'll need to check there as well.
Being the simple-minded soul that I am, I gave up trying to figure it all out by myself and found a professional tax preparer who seems to find great joy in lecturing me on reportable income, allowable expenses, and the big one "proper book keeping".
Being the simple-minded soul that I am, I gave up trying to figure it all out by myself and found a professional tax preparer who seems to find great joy in lecturing me on reportable income, allowable expenses, and the big one "proper book keeping".
- SteveShaw
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
The most beautiful word ever coined: cash.
"Last night, among his fellow roughs,
He jested, quaff'd and swore."
They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that'll never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me -
I am the lord of the dance, said he!
He jested, quaff'd and swore."
They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that'll never, never die.
I'll live in you if you'll live in me -
I am the lord of the dance, said he!
Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
We were discussing this interesting
observation on the way back from
a gig last week: our guitarist, who
gave it a go as a folk musician in
70's New York, stated that the more
a person pays you for a gig, the more
they appreciate you. It's as if their
mind has to justify the price and so
their perception of your performance
is colored subconsciously (in your
favor). So it might be good in the long
run to charge more, especially if you
depend on word-of-mouth.
We also decided we probably were
undercharging most of the time.
observation on the way back from
a gig last week: our guitarist, who
gave it a go as a folk musician in
70's New York, stated that the more
a person pays you for a gig, the more
they appreciate you. It's as if their
mind has to justify the price and so
their perception of your performance
is colored subconsciously (in your
favor). So it might be good in the long
run to charge more, especially if you
depend on word-of-mouth.
We also decided we probably were
undercharging most of the time.
Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
that little physiological tidbit is true most everywhere
I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking on green
I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking on green
Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
It's dizzying, the possibilities. Ashes, Ashes all fall down.
- tommykleen
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
As has been said before: there's literally HUNDREDS of dollars to be made playing Irish music.
tommykleen
tommykleen
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Re: What's the going rate for your gigs?
I play for free pints.
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