How much to pay musicians and entertainers for performing at your event
Like many musicians, I’m no businessman. However, as a freelance musician and entertainer for over two decades, I have had to grapple with the business end of showbiz to survive. Frankly I’d rather be playing and singing than trying to convince you to hire me but I have to pay my mortgage! I’ve also been in the position of hiring musicians myself so I hope to provide some insight from both sides of the fence.
Its just a business deal
Hiring musicians is just like any other business deal; from buying a house to eating in a restaurant to buying a toy for your nephew. Prices rely on market forces. These, in turn, are governed by the balance between your desire for a particular product or service and the eagerness of the provider to make a sale.
Although this seems obvious, its an equation which is often lost in a business which is so fraught with subjectivity. You may wonder why your friend’s brother’s band – who you think are awesome – have quoted just a few hundred dollars to play at your office function, while a well-known corporate band – who you think are cold, boring and predictable – quoted several thousand.
I hope to shed some light on this question and help you navigate the treacherous seas of musicians’ fees!
Professional vs Amateur
The Oxford dictionary defines professional as “engaged in a specified activity as one’s main paid occupation”. This word is the subject of much angst and misunderstanding, with many amateur bands and musicians describing themselves as “very professional” although their main source of income is working in a bank. Professional is not a synonym for Good, although professional musicians will generally invest much more time into their musical skills and products than amateurs and obviously have an acute desire to satisfy their clients. For a professional musician, no clients = no food! On the other hand many amateur musicians have a greater yearning to be “out there, performing” as it is their passion rather than their job.
In most cases Professional musicians will quote more than Amateurs, simply because its their living and they need to negotiate fees which will sustain their lives. Tertiary music students are at the cross-roads between amateur and professional and will often perform for low fees to gain experience.
Equipment
In this day and age where amplified sound is the norm, the quality of sound equipment and the skill of its operation is a key consideration. There’s no point in hiring the world’s best singer if no one can hear them! Great sound equipment costs good money and of course this cost will eventually filter down to the client. Although many musicians will bring their own sound gear, in some cases you will hire PA (sound amplification equipment) from a separate provider altogether (or this may be sub-contracted by the band/musicians).
Band vs Entertainer
Musicians and their products come in all shapes and sizes and its important to work out exactly what you want before asking for quotes. (See my blog on choosing musicians for your function).
- Dance bands/duos and “background musicians” will usually charge by the hour
- Celebrity musicians and musicians who provide a Feature Act (which may also involve comedy, acrobatics or other unique feature/s) will generally quote an appearance fee for their act rather than an hourly rate. A feature act or celebrity musician may charge a large amount for a short time because their asset is the memorability of their appearance rather than a mood created over time.
Popularity
It won’t surprise anyone to learn that more popular musicians will charge more – because they can! If a musician or band is popular because they bring every function to life, or because they always exceed the needs of their clients, maybe they’re worth the extra money.
Timing
“Yes” we do charge more for New Year’s Eve!
Marketplace
We all know that corporate lawyers get paid more than the guys at Legal Aid, and it doesn’t mean they’re better lawyers. So too, musicians who have made their way into the “corporate market” will quote more than a busker. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better musicians.
How long is a piece of string?
I guess this is the answer to the question: “what is a musician worth?” If you’ve ever tried to get a pay-rise, sold stuff on eBay or offered free English lessons to asylum seekers, you’ll know that all things in life are negotiable. Musicians are just like you!
If you’d like more info send me (I’m Brenton) an email at info@twoheartsduo.com.au. To join our mailing list and get all our news and blogs click here.
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