The Chetboard

Hello everyone...Merry Christmas. I searched the site for information on how much to charge for a gig (Fingerstyle) and it came up with no matches. So I thought I would start this post with the idea that I am not the only person wondering how much one should charge for a gig playing fingerstyle. I have had some local musicians tell me that $100 for 3 hours would be good. I have had others say $50 per hour. While I believe it is important not to over charge, it is also equally important not to undercut oneself. So, if anyone has something to share regarding this topic, please post away and have a great New Year as well...Jimmy

Jimmy,

A reasonable fee always depends on the event and the expectations of the host/presenter. For several hours of background music, I'd say the $100 fee might be good, if they would let you sell your CDs. Consider that if you went out to dinner and a movie, hired a sitter, and paid for parking, you would spend $100 easy.

The fee could also depend on the town. In Nashville, there are so many songwriters willing to play for free… well you get the picture. On the other hand, some of those songwriter gigs can lead to studio work, etc. I know the Country Music Hall Of Fame pays $100 for their basic, 1-hour presentation. They are assuming you can communicate with museum visitors as well as play or sing.

I hope this helps get the conversation started. Merry Christmas.

John

$100 for a gig lasting up to a couple of hours seems the be pretty much average with the experience I've had; but it sometimes depends upon what you are willing to settle for. Some places will pay $150, or at least would when financial conditions were better than now. If you can sell a few cds, that certainly helps. It may be surprising to learn that some folks just assume that you will play their event for free...yes, it happens.

Ask them what do they have in their budget. One time several years ago I was going to try and get $700.00 for a gig in GA, but I asked the guy what he had in his budget for it and he said $3000.00 and asked could I come for that. After I coughed my tongue back up I said yes, and found that I had been selling myself short alot of the time. When they ask me what I want I simply say, All I can get. Eddie P.

I played a 3-hour gig for 10 years in a St. Louis restaurant for $75 a night. It only amounted to $25 an hour, but since guitar-playing was my hobby and not my livelihood, I was happy to get it. There were other players in town who wouldn't work for that, but the paid practice kept my chops up so it was worth it to me. It all depends on what you want (and need) out of your playing.

I forgot how much it cost me to get a gig, last time. (lol)

Palmer

Yeah I can echo what John said.
I have found that it is more than just playing well it is relating to the audience.
Something I have really had to work at because I used to freeze up in front of a lot of people.
I guess getting close to 50 made me realize that, and I heard John say the "a giant hook was not going to
drag me out to sea if I made a mistake".
Out here in the boonies it all depends on how many they can seat and a lot of the pay is in tips.

Eddie

Eddie Estes wrote:Yeah I can echo what John said.
I have found that it is more than just playing well it is relating to the audience.
Something I have really had to work at because I used to freeze up in front of a lot of people.
I guess getting close to 50 made me realize that, and I heard John say the "a giant hook was not going to
drag me out to sea if I made a mistake".
Out here in the boonies it all depends on how many they can seat and a lot of the pay is in tips.

Eddie

That is a really good way of looking at it all, Eddie.

When I play out I charge $50 an hour plus I put out a tip jar (that helps also). And, believe it or not....when I play out I don't play any Chet or Jerry stuff. I sing and might only sneak in one or two instrumentals. I have found out that in certain settings people like singing, especially in a bar or pub otherwise they get bored if they hear "Windy & Warm". A quiet restaurant is different. TIP OF THE DAY: If you play at a pub or bar and people are drinking and singing along with "American Pie", "Brown Eyed Girl", "Family Tradition", "Friends in Low Places"....you get great tips. Last gig I played I had over $160 in tips!

Phil makes an excellent point.

Non-guitarists, particularly in saloon settings would rather hear sung lyrics and, as he indicated, like to get involved.

Restaraunts, the people usually like to talk amongst themselves so quieter instrumentals work best but having said that, non-guitarists get tired of all instrumentals because, to them, it all starts to sound the same

Here's Les Paul on the subject

Les Paul tells about talking to Miles Davis:

Miles Davis said “You know what? I'd give anything just to get a hit record...whats' the secret?”
I said, “Its simple...play the melody. I said, “Play Mockinbird Hill.” (It had just been re-leased and was a hit for Les and Mary)
He said “I wouldn't be caught dead playing “Mockingbird Hill”
I said “That’s why you're hungry, Miles!” I said, “If you want to play you gotta play to the people!”
__Les Paul Chasing Sound

His point was that, to make a living at it you need to play what the public wants and sometimes your "artist" doesn't want to do that and would rather play to impress his musician friends.

“…The people you’re playing for work all day. They don’t go to music schools and study harmony. They pay their dough, they come to listen, If they don’t understand what you’re doing, they walk out. What are you supposed to do, tie ‘em to a chair with a rope while you explain you’re performing great music?”
___Les Paul (An American Original)