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My band - Crimson on Silver For sale - Blackstar HT-5S
Gear - Guitars, amps, effects and shizz. Edited for Phil_aka_Pip, who is allergic to big long lists.
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Early set up as they dont want you there faffing around during the meal ect, they want you to turn up and play, this also may mean turning up the next day to strip down and pack up.
We usually charge £800 for 3x45 minute sets for a std gig, and £12-1500 for weddings.
Liability insurance, pat testing, sound check, PA and lighting unless you have your own.
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/gigs-and-live-performances/live-engagement-rates-of-pay/national-gig-rates
+1 venue may ask for PAT.. you can do that yourself though and factor in insurance to cover claims if you/they need to cancel, etc.
My band - Crimson on Silver For sale - Blackstar HT-5S
Gear - Guitars, amps, effects and shizz. Edited for Phil_aka_Pip, who is allergic to big long lists.
Venues may ask for all those other things, too, (PAT Testing, Liability). As you're a solo performer, the stage/performance area size may not be much of an issue but should ask about that and ensure you can fit your set up, have sufficient plugs nearby so that you're not trailing leads etc and they'll probably need to be taped down. You should also enquire if there's a Decibel Meter in the place.
As a Groomsman for a mate's wedding later in the year, I've just secured a 5-piece function band for him playing either 3 x 45 mins sets or 2 x 1hr - they're charging £2400. On the basis of that what we charged a few years ago, asking £500-700 would not be unreasonable.
For yourself, you would need somewhere to change and relax/hang out as you could have a long wait, something to eat and drink (not usually the same as the guests, but sandwiches or a platter).
All the best
Travel, waiting around between set up and performances, learning specific songs for the booking (I learn new music for pretty much every single booking, did 30 bookings last year...), health and safety requirements like PAT and PLI etc, set down times and late journeys back are all factors. For example to play a ceremony, I charge £230. People often see that as me charging £230 for half an hours work playing 4 tunes, but as nobody in their right mind would get married in Birmingham, I'm usually travelling an hour, 15 mins to set up, I'm helping them to choose their preferred tunes, I'm transcribing them and arranging them for piano and to fit the format, I'm typing it all up and practising it so it's perfect for the day etc.
You may also need to do a reconnaissance as they're likely to have their own on site restrictions or peculiarities, such as sound metering and locations of suitable plugs etc. Not just a case of turning up to a pub and letting rip (I know there's slightly more to it than that but you know what I mean)
I don't think the food thing is necessarily something to charge for as you'd still eat if you weren't there and you'll have plenty of time to sort your own food out - if they choose to feed you as well then that's nice but definitely not something to expect.
Don't go in too cheap. If you don't value yourself then they won't either. When we first started doing weddings 20 years ago we were cheap and got all kinds of hassle. Shoved in corners, playing to limiters, not being able to get in and set up etc. When we started being really expensive everything changed, because the bride and groom weren't having anyone hassle or compromise the band they broke the budget for.
I decided to do that a few years ago for the simple reason that I hate them, but actually doubling the price means we do much nicer wedding gigs now.
@monkeybone if you need your gear PAT tested give me a shout in Shepton
Jokes aside, you charge more because unfortunately wedding planning turns reasonable people into micromanaging lunatics, and the barman at the Dog & Duck rarely goes into screaming hysterics because you wore a shirt that didn't match their theme for the evening or took ten minutes longer setting up than planned.
I don't mind doing them and generally the actual wedding couples have been lovely, but venue managers have an amazing ability to get on my tits. "Here's the five square feet of floorspace you'll be playing on today, shall we say start the music in fifteen minutes?".
My band - Crimson on Silver For sale - Blackstar HT-5S
Gear - Guitars, amps, effects and shizz. Edited for Phil_aka_Pip, who is allergic to big long lists.
Any competent person can PAT test and there's actually no legal requirement to do so but to keep Hotels and such happy you need to inspect the condition of your cables, plugs and mains inlets of your equipment for wear and damage. Then test the earth continuity of all devices that are earthed. Test the insulation between live and earth and put those results on a spreadsheet and email it in to them. I have a proper Fluke tester but you can run these basic tests with a multimeter.
I have mixed feelings about PAT testing as in some cases it can make equipment more dangerous and it won't show up the dangers with modern SMPS designs that have cut corners ... for example won't show up there's no proper component isolation or cuts in PCB between primary side and secondary side in something like a PA speaker or monitor.
Weddings also feature the amature drinkers and new parents that haven’t partied in months/years and might be a right pain. Lots of extra pitfalls.