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I suppose it depends how many of them in the band and how good they are i.e. if they're well-established and whilst most bands provide background music, if one member of the band specifically acts as the DJ or brings someone in especially, then that's an additional cost.
Don't forget, people pay for the band's time and that can sometimes be a 10-12 hr day from start to finish. They might need to get there early, set up and sound check before the ceremony etc and get out of the way or be curtained off as we were a few months ago (finished sound checking at 3pm and came on at 8.30pm). The endless sitting around waiting etc is still as much a part of the band's working day as the playing time.
Bands in that catogory usually come through and agent so have some insurance and backup cover in case of sickness etc.
It's a big market full of chancers. Photographer will be a basic shoot price, the prints, albums etc. will be on top of that. My former neighbour was a top photographer (lectured around the globe on the subject) and started his shoot price at £3.5k!
I also don't understand why a music forum member wouldn't value a musicians time... if you do the maths the band members aren't getting rich on that money especially as it's not pure profit.
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£1500 is a starting point generally, can go up to 2,5K
Last Wednesday we got £1500 for a corporate gig but our guy made them spring for hotel rooms and free bar as well as free meals so all in all they paid the best part of £2500 I would have thought ..... certainly I still had a hangover the next evening
I've done weddings where they have paid for £5K firework displays which no one watched cos they wouldn't leave the bar. I've seen cakes cost nigh on a grand and all kinds of crazy puppet shows, chocolate fountains and fortune telling
I forgot that at most functions, we also get fed and watered and sometimes get our own area to eat and get changed in.
As to photographers, like the band/entertainment, you only get one chance. At our wedding, our photographer and his assistant enjoyed the free bar too much and it reflected in their work. We didn't order a single pic but kept the proofs and relied on better photos from family and friends- wankers!
I think these days the couples with money feel a bit of pressure to put on a good show. That's why so many pro musicians.
(Personally in the run down are I came from, I'd only seen DJs hired for the night. Live bands would is a bit extravagant I think.)
You agree a price with the client and on the day, you have a platter/tray/box on stage at the front and if someone requests a song or someone significant in the family dances, including when the couple do their first dance, the band are tipped.
At the end of the evening, we go off with the Best Man or Father of the Bride and count the money collected. If it's short on our quote, they top up the balance. If it's over, we keep it.
It's a strange one as your audience i.e. their guests, are paying for the band but a lot of the money comes from the couple's parents. I guess meeting your price, or surpassing it, means you've done a good job.
Price goes up depending on the distance, it's also extra for early start / late finish and extra for specific requests we have to learn. We also have an acoustic option for the daytime.
Obviously if it's a five piece the price will go up considerably as well.
As has been said already you're paying for a pro band who won't mess up on the night who has a set that will work. There's pro equipment and of course even with a 6pm start it'll often end up being a 14 hour day for each band member if you factor in travelling. Not to mention gear insurance, PLI, PAT testing, van/gear maintenence, agent fees etc.
I'm doing a dep tomorrow night £180 quid. Will leave the house 4pm and will be home 2am. Not including the time I've spent learning the songs that is £18 an hour. Include practice time your talking probably less that £10 an hour. A guy cutting your grass will charge about the same.
dep gig last night in Totnes, Devon, travelling from Birmingham. Left work at 1pm, home at 4:19am. Day and a half holiday from day job used up, fortunately no major outgoings as I wasn't driving (on this occasion). £200.
I still find it amazing I get paid so much to play guitar and sing a bit, but in terms of the hours/ inconvenience/ being away from home/ lack of sleep I definitely earn it.
1500 income
[for us, playing a wedding could be £ equal to 300 euro of expenses (hotel bills and diesel)
so 1200 net, / 5 = 240 each.
10 hours work.
24 an hour.
In GBP that's £21.40 an hour.
Make sense now?
... wonder how good they'll be?
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
Depending on what it is, how far away it is and the required qualification to run the activity, rates can vary from £90 / day up to about £250 / day but you have to factor in travel time and cost.
I'm not sure how useful that is, bearing in mind most of the stuff I do you have to have a specific qualification for (I hold about 11 different ones that have to be renewed at my expense periodically) but a good band is more than one person to pay and transport.
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