Hello Everyone,
My first post here... needs advise
I'm gonna have a Trio(gtr, bs, drm) gig somewhere in upstate NY & had no idea what's the going rate for a corporate function. I'm a guitar playing & will be bringing my own rigs & stuff & own transport. It's a 4 hour gig with reception, basically playing duet for 1/2 hr. then continue with the whole band set up. It's a jazz setting but repertoire could varies depending on the people.
Thanks,
LB
That's a good one.
A good way to set up rates for things like this is to fractionalize the rate - to break it down into smaller parts. Clients can swallow it better like that when you are negotiating.
So say, for instance, $60/hr per man with a minimum of 3 hours (here you have 4, so that's good). That's $240 per man - not a bad rate. $720 altogether...which might be high for the gig? But they are likely spending much more than that on the food and booze (if that have it), so you could ask.
Are you driving there? Do you think you could charge cartage? Or mileage? You could say that a gig farther than 50 miles away requires so much $ per mile, or an extra cartage fee.
The key to negotiation a good price, I think, is being willing to walk away from it if they don't give you what you need. Its tough for us to do, though, since gigs can be so scarce and we want to create relationships with potential clients, etc.
What do you think?
Hi David,
Indeed a very good advise & reasonable rate suggestion.
I would try to ask for the cartage or mileage but it is less than 30 miles from where I live.
The only thing that I may not be able to do YET, is wiling to walk away if the negotiating price goes down to $200/man but of course with meals included at least. It is tough for us & with our economic condition which hurts everybody & not just us musicians. But, yes I may take it from there if it is a good relationship & good playing experience.
Nevertheless, great & valuable advise. I appreciate it. Hopefully other people can chime it with their own experience regrading negotiation or anything similar.
ciao
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