Re: [Harp-L] how much are you getting paid at your gigs?

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My intention is not to continually disagree with Larry but I thing he's slightly of the mark here...  There is money in every town and you have to figure out how to get it.  Phoenix is a terrible town for music yet at one point I was booked four nights per week and getting a minimum of $100 per man per three hour gig with the exception of sundays where we got $75 for a two hour gig.

A lot of the locals couldn't figure it out and when they asked how I got that. My answer was, I asked for it.  Figure out who your audience is and target them. Every town has people who will love what you do. Make yourself known and they will come.  Show the clubs that you provide value and they will let you write your own ticket.



>-----Original Message-----
>From: icemanle@xxxxxxx [mailto:icemanle@xxxxxxx]
>Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 06:21 AM
>To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] how much are you getting paid at your gigs?
>
>It depends on internal and external factors.
> 
>External factors are the economy and the region of the country. For instance, Detroit has become a dead zone for club gigs - area runs off of US auto industry which has tanked. Clubs are closing left and right. D.C. is still recovering from anthrax and sniper scare - people don't come out of their homes like they used to. NYC has lost most of its blues clubs/jam sessions in Manhattan.
> 
>Internal factors include ability to hustle up gigs. Even in Detroit, there are still corporate gigs and private parties, but it takes a certain motiviation on the part of the musician to cultivate them. Lots of musicians (especially blues musicians) haven't developed the skills nor the presentation to make an appointment with an F&B Director of an organization or hotel/banquet hall and sell their services.
> 
>Here in Orlando, I get minimum $100/gig for local clubs and $150 - $300 for corporate/private parties. This is in a 4 piece band and the $ I mention is my own take home pay. Granted, the club dates are only a few a month, but this area is in a growth spurt in development and population, so the regional economics look promising for the future.
> 
>The Iceman
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