[Dixielandjazz] Fw: The results of your email commands

[Pat Ladd]

Hi Bob,
I don`t believe that you go in for a job without having a good idea what 
your bottom price will be..

It depends of course on how busy you are. If you have clients lining up to 
book you then of course you can afford to be picky and stick the price up a 
bit..

I once talked a pub landlord into allowing my newly formed band to play from 
7.30 pm until. 10.30 pm (pub closing time in those days) one evening a week. 
He paid us £1 each plus our beer. As this was in effect a rehearsal for us I 
considered it fair. The gig lasted about 5 years and I jacked the price up 
bit by bit until we were being paid quite well. There were also quite a few 
gigs came up as a result of someone hearing us play in the pub
I have a young relative who runs a band. Promoters book one reasonably well 
known band for a rave and then `allow` other wannabees to play on the same 
bill for the `exposure`, and no pay.. When he told me that he had plenty of 
gigs on I asked what he charged. I was horrified to find that they were all 
this type of `exposure` gig or `charity` jobs.
I gave him a good lecture and told him I had often played for my beer but 
never for nothing
He held a meeting with the band and relayed what I had said. They took it to 
heart. Fixed a price below which they would not go in any circumstances, 
Stopped all `charity` gigs unless the caterers were doing the job for 
nothing as well, packed in the `exposure` gigs and spent a bit of money on 
advertising and they have been doing very nicely
If I had a cold call for my band the only questions were when and where and 
how many musicians required. I could give a price on the phone, always 
confirmed by letter. I would never , ever, considered asking how much they 
could afford or what the budget was. I have never had a plumber ask me what 
the budget was when he tendered for a job.
Perhaps the difference is that we do not (generally) have `wedding planners` 
and such. If someone asks for a price they are usually spending their own 
money, not a clients.
Horses for courses I suppose, as usual.

Pat