The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Acoustic Amplification

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 11-01-2002, 06:23 AM
rbachman rbachman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Southampton, Pa
Posts: 927
Default How much to charge for a Party Band?

Our band that played my wife's 50th last weekend sounded so good. We had so much fun that we decided to try and get some gigs to do our cover stuff.

How much do you charge for a party band for weddings, birthdays, etc. ??

The band is 6 people and we play 60-70's dance and listening songs.

Thanks for your help. We don't want to low ball ourselves and we don't want to price ourselves out !
__________________
I'm a Lefty ... Playing Lefty guitars !!!

2001 Epiphone Casino
2012 Voyage Air VA-OM04
2011 Gibson Les Paul Honeyburst 60's Tribute w/P90's
2005 Gibson J160-E
2001 314ce LTD
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-01-2002, 12:29 PM
rbachman rbachman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Southampton, Pa
Posts: 927
Default

So no one has any idea? Or no one wants to display a price?
__________________
I'm a Lefty ... Playing Lefty guitars !!!

2001 Epiphone Casino
2012 Voyage Air VA-OM04
2011 Gibson Les Paul Honeyburst 60's Tribute w/P90's
2005 Gibson J160-E
2001 314ce LTD
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-01-2002, 01:25 PM
charlemagne52's Avatar
charlemagne52 charlemagne52 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Vermont
Posts: 891
Default

I think you might do best on this by getting a feel for what people charge in your area, if possible...ask some local players. It's definitely different in different parts of the country.

Up here in the sticks some bands might do a party for as little as $250-$300...especially if the band is just starting out and doesn't have a reputation.

My band usually gets about $200 to $250 per man for weddings...we're a 5-8 piece band...weddings are a lot of work, we earn it, and we've been doing it a long time. We charge more for jobs that are a long way away. Agents usually add a percentage on top of that, when they get us the gig.

On the other hand we will play functions for $100 per if it's the middle of the winter, not around the holidays, a favor for a friend, etc. We play a lot of benefits for free or very cheap. We don't play clubs much anymore but we do it for what we can get...club owners are usually pretty financially stressed out...sometimes it's $60 or $70 each (which is what I used to make playing clubs thirty years ago!!) but it's fun, you can play whatever you want, originals, etc and you get some exposure and can invite your buds. There aren't many clubs left up here and they should be supported.

Good luck!! Negotiating band prices is a little art, a little science.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-01-2002, 02:34 PM
evan256 evan256 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 102
Default

In Dallas the going rates are:

65 to 85 per player for club gigs.

100 to 125 per player for private parties.

200 to 250 per player for corporate events, commercial gigs, etc.

Your sisters wedding, free!

Good luck with your band and don't sell yourself short.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-01-2002, 04:25 PM
jmintzer jmintzer is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Potomac, MD USA
Posts: 619
Default

Well,

According to another thread, the going rate is a fifth of Jack Daniels and a bag of Weed. Of course, YMMV!

James
__________________
Gear Page
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-06-2002, 03:35 PM
alchu alchu is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: New York City
Posts: 851
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by jmintzer
Well,

According to another thread, the going rate is a fifth of Jack Daniels and a bag of Weed. Of course, YMMV!

James
__________________
Allan
alchu.yelloshuga.com
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-06-2002, 05:58 PM
jira jira is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 715
Default

About 100-250 per player depending on the quality of the player in these parts.
__________________
jira

K14c Custom
http://home.earthlink.net/~jira/
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-06-2002, 06:25 PM
SteveS's Avatar
SteveS SteveS is offline
Me
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Monument, Colorado
Posts: 9,122
Default

Beer and Pizza! What else?
__________________
“Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-06-2002, 11:02 PM
Stixx's Avatar
Stixx Stixx is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Suburbs of Atlanta
Posts: 7,823
Default

we get 1200 for private parties at rich folks houses and country clubs and that is for a 8 to 12 type gig.

Outdoor gigs are extra and only if commercial tents are present .

I have done parties with just me and a woody guitar singin and pickin for 250 and if you don't get tipped a hundred by the owner don't go back .

Hope that helps .

I have a friend whos band is quite large and they took down 3000 for a party in another state and had to give the agent 20% so it all comes down to about 100 to 250 per man for a typical five piece band.

Frat parties sometimes pay well too. depends on the fraternity.

Think of it as moving equipment cost and singing for free. LOL

__________________
Ray

Collings DS2H MhA "Bubba"
Collings OM 2H "Colleen"
Collings "Herb Special"
Eastman AR610CE-CS " Jazz "
Martin 000 28c MH "Merle"
Dudley Classical Dudley"
Baby Taylor "Baby Hoggy"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-06-2002, 11:33 PM
trpullen's Avatar
trpullen trpullen is offline
.tom the übergeek
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Godfrey, IL
Posts: 7,016
Default

We use the Rockford Files method. $250/hr plus expenses.
__________________
Thomas R. Pullen
Partner - Mojo's Music
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11-07-2002, 06:34 AM
rbachman rbachman is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Southampton, Pa
Posts: 927
Default

Thanks for all your responses.

I think we are going to start off getting a little over $100 per in the beginning until we get some more experience and then try and raise it up a little!!
__________________
I'm a Lefty ... Playing Lefty guitars !!!

2001 Epiphone Casino
2012 Voyage Air VA-OM04
2011 Gibson Les Paul Honeyburst 60's Tribute w/P90's
2005 Gibson J160-E
2001 314ce LTD
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11-07-2002, 09:10 AM
TimmyPack TimmyPack is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 804
Default

WOW, my band makes no money.

We usually will play churchs, or church functions for $300 total plus expenses. So we usually get 60 or so a piece for playing an hour or so.

I guess we are really on the low end. Plus if we play at a church service they almost always take up some for of love offering.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-07-2002, 12:36 PM
trpullen's Avatar
trpullen trpullen is offline
.tom the übergeek
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Godfrey, IL
Posts: 7,016
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by TimmyPack
WOW, my band makes no money.

We usually will play churchs, or church functions for $300 total plus expenses. So we usually get 60 or so a piece for playing an hour or so.

I guess we are really on the low end. Plus if we play at a church service they almost always take up some for of love offering.
OK, I should have clarified. My bluegrass band does $250/hr plus expenses. I play for free at church.
__________________
Thomas R. Pullen
Partner - Mojo's Music
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-13-2002, 09:19 PM
BloomfieldMAP BloomfieldMAP is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 888
Default

You can get paid to play a guitar? at a party?
__________________
Mark, aka "Jailhouse Bones Bradley"
60's CiJ Strat
62 Gretsch SilverJet
Baby M
'01 414ce ltd Koa
50's MiM Strat
Baby LTG
'01 410ce ltd Koa
Nashville Delux
MM Sterling
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 11-14-2002, 09:11 PM
min7b5's Avatar
min7b5 min7b5 is offline
Eric Skye
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 7,668
Default

Call a few angencies in your area and pretend you need a quote for a wedding. Ask about a band your size, doing stuff you do, for a wedding. I know it's not exactly honest, but at least you'll have a picture of what the market will bear in your area. You might want also go as far as getting a demo or two to see how others are presenting themselves.
__________________
Instruction
Youtube
Instagram
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Acoustic Amplification

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=