03/30/2024
CLIENT – How much will it cost hire your band?
MUSICIAN - $3,000 dollars.
CLIENT – That’s too expensive for a band!
MUSICIAN – How much do you think it should cost?
CLIENT – We usually guarantee bands $1500
MUSICIAN – I’m sorry we can’t afford to come out for that.
CLIENT – That’s $1000 an hour. We’d be losing money.
MUSICIAN – Well we don’t want that for you. Perhaps you could perform and save yourself the money of hiring a band.
CLIENT – But I’m not a musician…
MUSICIAN – For $1000, I can teach you everything you need to know to perform. You can then use $500 to pay yourself for the show, and you’re still saving $1,500. Then you can perform as many shows for your venue as you like and will be saving money every weekend.
CLIENT – Deal!
MUSICIAN – Great! To start, you need to buy proper gear. You will need a Guitar, a Pedal Board, a Microphone, in-ear monitors, a mix console, and PA system, and some other things.
CLIENT – I can’t buy all that gear for just one job!
MUSICIAN – Ok. I can rent you my gear for another $500. You’re still saving $1000.
CLIENT – That’s cutting my savings, but I will rent your gear.
MUSICIAN – Perfect! I’ll be back Monday and we can start.
CLIENT – Wait! I can’t Monday. I only have time today.
MUSICIAN – I’m sorry, I only teach others on Mon/Tues. I have to prioritize my time and my gear needs to be in other rehearsals and shows Wed-Sun.
CLIENT – Ok then. I will sacrifice my day off on Monday.
MUSICIAN – Right, me too! Oh, I forgot. If you’re going to do a band performance, you need to hire band members. Going rate is $300 per band member, so if you have a 3 piece behind you that’s $900. Plus $100 per guy for rehearsal prior to the show. So $1,200 for the players.
CLIENT – Wait… that’s $1000 for the lessons, $500 for me, $500 for gear rental, $1,200 for the players and rehearsal… That’s $3,200!
MUSICIAN – Yes, my friend. And if you hired me I’d still have to rent a vehicle large enough to fit my band, pull a trailer full of gear & pay for fuel and meals for the crew, just to get to your town and back home.
CLIENT – Maybe you should come do the show for $3000.
MUSICIAN – My crew and I will happily do that. And for the record, it’s likely I won’t make a cent because I’m giving you a deal at $3000. The money that would come to me will go into the laundry list of expenses. But nothing brings me more joy and makes me feel more alive than stepping up to the mic and giving your town a memorable experience.
CLIENT — Why are the other bands accepting $1500?
MUSICIAN — They haven’t discovered their worth yet, and they are making it really difficult for me to earn mine.
People are not just paying for a music, they are paying for knowledge, experience, gear, time, travel, family sacrifices, and other things you bring to the table.
Don’t let others dictate your worth.
[Edited from an Unknown Author]
