[Dixielandjazz] Musicians Pay

[Steve barbone]

"Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis" wrote (polite snip)
> I know things have gone up and prices aren't the same as in 1965 but (snip to)
> The only thing that hasn't gone up at that rate is musicians pay.

> What were you making in 1965 for a 4 hour gig?

The last regular gig I did before I quit playing until 1988 was in 1962. We
did 6 hours on Friday night and 5 hours on Saturday Night. It was a steady
for 6 months. I made $45 for the two nights as a sideman. Local 802 union
scale back then. Casuals paid about $25 -$30 for 4 hours.

Average casual 2 or 3 hour gig today as a sideman is $150 for my band. A
one hour gig on a weeknight pays at least $100 and weekend parties,
weddings, etc., pay from $250 to $400, sometimes more. The guys I work with
here will not leave the house for less than $100.

I needed to get a sub for a wedding this coming weekend and was stunned to
find that some of the top players on the East Coast were willing to drive
300 miles round trip for the gig here in the Philadelphia area to make that
rate. 

One thing I notice is that the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra quote
at least $400 per sideman, for casual gigs, while Mummers play for just
about nothing. Musical pay seems to be dependent upon with whom you perform.

One thing I do is quote ALL gigs at 2 hours. Then charge more if the client
wants to go to 3 or 4. Works like a charm. Elliot Kennan of The Spirit of 29
Jazz Band, now in San Francisco area, taught me that when he lived here for
a while in the early 90 and we gigged together. I was quoting 4 hours as a
standard gig and quite surprised how easy it was to make the switch and
increase everyone's earnings.

Cheers,
Steve