OK so the chap who books my gigs - we'll loosely call him my agent, although it is more complicated than that - has asked me to quote for additional requirements for a gig I am already booked on, as per below:
The existing booking:
Mid-afternoon arrival time, midnight finish, 2 x 1 hour sets of live music with "DJ" music before/ between/ after sets.
The additional requirements:
90 minute Easy-listening acoustic set (guitar and vocals) from 3:15pm
Radio Mic to be set up for speeches
Background music (from laptop) during wedding breakfast
All gear for evening to be set up by 5pm
This has the following implications:
Extra 90 minutes singing for me (making it a 3.5 hour singathon for me)
All three of us need to be there earlier to set up TWO PA's as there won't be time to move the "acoustic" section's PA and set it up again.
Purchase of a radio mic (I don't need one, I'm a singing guitarist, I can't hold a radio mic and play, so no point having a mic that isn't wired!)
My initial thoughts are:
Radio mic = £100
Early start = £75 x 3 people = £225
Extra set of music (including learning the additional songs) = £250
Total = £575
Function band peeps, am I being unreasonable? Overly generous? Over-tight? Thoughts on fees please!
Comments
Should I price myself out of it so that they are better off booking a separate acoustic act?
I don't think 500 is unreasonable (assuming you're charging in the region of 1.2k for the main gig).
My only question is whether it's definitely a PA job for the first acoustic bit - would a half-decent acoustic-amp-with-mic or single FRFR type speaker work (not that I know whether you have eiether of those!)
The fee for the additional performance sounds reasonable.
Charge for additional equipment hire at cost, if you don't already have it.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Is the original gig already in the bag and signed? If so price the extras as you wish, they have two choices and you might end up just doing the later evening.
Agent chappy pushed for £400 instead and they met him halfway at £350, so am quite happy with that.
Am looking forward to putting an easy listening setlist together, will definitely be taking @ESBlonde's advice and singing without strain. Gentle and background is the key.
Nervous about my voice, especially as it is likely there will be a gig the night before, buy hey ho.
If anyone else in the band sings the odd number or is willing to have a go either night let them, it will all help the overall situation and give the audience a different perspective. Often on the second consecutive night the throat feels better (it's had a recent work out) just don't get tempted to thrash it or you just might regret it the morning after.
In all probability there will be no issues, but if I've learned one thing doing function/corporate it's be prepared and charge accordingly.
Break a leg.
Acoustic set: Wasn't my greatest performance ever, but it was background music for the drinks reception so no-one was listening to any great extent, and it wasn't terrible...!
Fortunately, we made up for it with a storming full band show in the evening. After the second set (second of 2 x 1 hour sets) the bride and groom implored us to carry on, so we played from 10:20 until midnight - 40 minutes bonus material! They gave us a generous tip for the extra playing time, plus they had already paid us £50 over the originally agreed fee (and refused to take it back) so a fine night all round!