[Dixielandjazz] Musicians Pay

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Steve that's an excellent idea about quoting two hour gigs.

That rate for 65 was abut the same as here but the inflation rate has taken 
everything up about 10 times which would put sidemen at about $300.  So we 
haven't kept up at all.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 3:22 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Musicians Pay


> "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
>
>
>
>
>
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