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My friend asked me if I'd like to play along in a guitar duo for weddings.Jazz standards, occasional vocals, switching between guitar and bass. I was wondering if any of you have experience in a small wedding band, and if so, what kind of rate people pay.I know rates vary, so lets just use his typical gig: his band is marketed toward small to intimate size occasions (anniversary, wedding, cocktail parties etc) and we'd play the whole reception / dinner (2.5-3 hours). If anyone has advice, let me know. This is new to me, and it will be different than his 4 pc band was - so we aren't sure what to charge. Of course, bands here are all over the map for fees.

In my area, I would say you could charge from 500 to 1,000 depending on the budget of the couple. They usually spend more than that on flowers.Your fee would also be influenced by your local economy.Weddings are a good way to make some nice extra money on the weekend. Congrats on the gig!!Mazz

One of the best way to research rates is to act as if you were hiring - do a search on "wedding bands - your town" and see what shows up - many will have their rates on their websites. You can also look at wedding planners who may have rate sheets for music as well.

Weddings are a good way to make some nice extra money on the weekend. Congrats on the gig!!Between this gig and the new job MAYBE I'll get paid before the rally comes around Thanks Debra - I forgot about wedding planners as a source as well.

May 23, 2009, 11:16am, mazz wrote:In my area, I would say you could charge from 500 to 1,000 depending on the budget of the couple. They usually spend more than that on flowers.Hey! Mazz is correct. Don't give them a low-ball figure.I'd say, for all that work, $500-$1000 is a reasonable price for your talent and your time. You have to add your 15+ years of private lessons, as well as practice time. What does that come to? About 10 cents an hour. That's a travesty.The best paying gig I EVER got on keyboards was at a Bel Air mansion, worth about $30,000,000. They loved the music and fed us (in the kitchen with the slaves), and I made $500 that night, hauling my P.A. system in my van. I burned out my clutch getting up their driveway.In addition, I have REFUSED low-ball $ gigs just on the principal of it. DON'T be a "gig whore." It's not worth it.Sorry for my honesty, but that's my experience.Best Regards,Ern

I've done gig like this for years. Solo, duo, trio... The $500 - $1000 range is in the ballpark.Good luck!

I agree with the above price quotes, and would add just a couple of things:1. Many people have little or no idea of what is involved in music for a wedding, in particular, its functionality and purpose. It is important to educate your potential clients about how music works at a wedding. Here's a little how to article about it that I put together (w/ some outdated prices!):http://www.ehow.com/how_4470984_choose- ... ding.html2. It's good to figure in travel, set-up, rehearsal time, and whether or not you will be accompanying any guest singers (fairly common) or leading any of the traditional rituals e.g. first dance, dad/ daughter dance, fanfare to announce various parts of the event e.g. dinner/ cake cutting/ toasts, etc.3. Searching Google for "wedding music prices" can give you a good idea of what some musicians are charging in different parts of the country. In the Pacific Northwest, musicians in duos generally charge about $100/ hour per person.4. Oops. Another tip. Always ask for payment BEFORE the actual wedding day (either at the rehearsal dinner or at set-up). That way, you don't have to be tracking down payments in the middle of festivities. ,Suz

May 23, 2009, 10:56pm, suzdoyle wrote:I agree with the above price quotes, and would add just a couple of things:1. Many people have little or no idea of what is involved in music for a wedding, in particular, its functionality and purpose. It is important to educate your potential clients about how music works at a wedding. Here's a little how to article about it that I put together (w/ some outdated prices!):http://www.ehow.com/how_4470984_choose- ... ding.html2. It's good to figure in travel, set-up, rehearsal time, and whether or not you will be accompanying any guest singers (fairly common) or leading any of the traditional rituals e.g. first dance, dad/ daughter dance, fanfare to announce various parts of the event e.g. dinner/ cake cutting/ toasts, etc.3. Searching Google for "wedding music prices" can give you a good idea of what some musicians are charging in different parts of the country. In the Pacific Northwest, musicians in duos generally charge about $100/ hour per person.4. Oops. Another tip. Always ask for payment BEFORE the actual wedding day (either at the rehearsal dinner or at set-up). That way, you don't have to be tracking down payments in the middle of festivities.1. Many people have little or no idea of what is involved in music fo13810 post=140080 time=1243148192]I agree with the above price quotes, and would add just a couple of things:r a wedding, in particular, its functionality and purpose. It is important to educate your potential clients about how music works at a wedding. Here's a little how to article about it that I put together (w/ some outdated prices!):http://www.ehow.com/how_4470984_choose- ... ding.html2. It's good to figure in travel, set-up, rehearsal time, and whether or not you will be accompanying any guest singers (fairly common) or leading any of the traditional rituals e.g. first dance, dad/ daughter dance, fanfare to announce various parts of the event e.g. dinner/ cake cutting/ toasts, etc.3. Searching Google for "wedding music prices" can give you a good idea of what some musicians are charging in different parts of the country. In the Pacific Northwest, musicians in duos generally charge about $100/ hour per person.AT THE VERY LEAST! You are underpaid. Think about all the private lessons, the multiple hours you practised, the many hours you practised for this gig. ---- It's amazing how we UNDERVALUE our talent and our artistic abilities. Mozart and Beethoven would have told their patrons to "Take a BIG BRAUTWURST" down the throat if there was any questioning about paying for the music they were playing in the ballroom, a long time ago. And so it goes ----Ern

Thanks for all of the great feedback and experience sharing - this looks like it will be workable for both of us. I'll post how I make out and let you know what rates look like.

May 23, 2009, 10:56pm, suzdoyle wrote:I agree with the above price quotes, and would add just a couple of things:1. Many people have little or no idea of what is involved in music for a wedding, in particular, its functionality and purpose. It is important to educate your potential clients about how music works at a wedding. Here's a little how to article about it that I put together (w/ some outdated prices!):http://www.ehow.com/how_4470984_choose- ... ding.html2. It's good to figure in travel, set-up, rehearsal time, and whether or not you will be accompanying any guest singers (fairly common) or leading any of the traditional rituals e.g. first dance, dad/ daughter dance, fanfare to announce various parts of the event e.g. dinner/ cake cutting/ toasts, etc.3. Searching Google for "wedding music prices" can give you a good idea of what some musicians are charging in different parts of the country. In the Pacific Northwest, musicians in duos generally charge about $100/ hour per person.4. Oops. Another tip. Always ask for payment BEFORE the actual wedding day (either at the rehearsal dinner or at set-up). That way, you don't have to be tracking down payments in the middle of festivities. ,SuzRegarding accompanying singers or learning new material requested by the couple: Make a policy that they have to provide you the songs and sheet music if necessary well enough in advance in case you need to change the key, etc. Make sure you get a rehearsal with the singer. Unless they are a pro, they will be nervous, so put your big ears on and be ready to "dance".Regarding deposits and payment: Ask for a deposit of, say, 20% up front. The deposit should be non-refundable if they cancel within 30 days or so (the date beyond which you probably will have trouble finding another gig), or just make the deposit non refundable as a policy. You can tell them that the deposit will lock in their date.Request that the best man (or better yet, the wedding planner) handle the check. It's best if you don't have to track down the bride or groom during the reception or before the wedding. They're usually too distracted and shouldn't really be handling business details on their wedding day. Just make sure you get the check before you play in case the best man gets hammered (it's been known to happen! )There should always be an extra fee if they insist that you be present at the rehearsal (if you're playing the wedding). In my experience, there's no need for you to be at the rehearsal unless there's some elaborate program. Usually you'll connect with the officiant and work out some signals so you'll know when the parents are being seated, the bride is ready, etc., etc.Try not to move and set up the gear in your gig clothes. Get there early enough to make sure everything works perfectly and to give yourself time to freshen up.You can never have too many extension cords. Even if you leave some of them in the car, I recommend having a total of about 100 feet of extension cord with you at all times. They could decide to move the ceremony out under the trees at the last minute and you don't want to be scrambling for extension cords. Don't assume the electricity is handy, particularly in old buildings or outside.Can you tell I've played tons of weddings in my day?? Mazz