McNeil Pro Drumming
Member
Good idea! Hope you get lot's of gigs.
Make sure you charge "per hour of your time" as opposed to per set. Those two 45 minute sets can easily be stretched over a 6 hour period when it comes to weddings and special events and the way they are scheduled
Weddings often run late and even though there will probably be something of a schedule decided ahead of time, chances are you will simply end up playing at random intervals designated by the couple or wedding planner as the event goes on (always playing second fiddle to everything else that is going on, whether it is speeches, planned dances etc..). This is especially true if you are asked to provide background music. If you are being asked to provide a concert (which is not common for a wedding) or if you are being asked to play music at specific important moments during the reception/ceremony (which can happen occassionally even for jazz groups) then you can expect a bit more consistancy in terms of following the planned schedule. Regardless of the schedule, just be ready to play when they asked you to be ready, even if they are not ready and you end up waiting. You're being paid to be "ready" even if the couple are not. If you charge "per hour of your time" you can play the waiting game with a smile on your face!
For all the reasons I mentioned above it's probably best to charge "per hour of your time". If you are providing background music then it's probably best to just market your set times as "we can start and stop the music at any given point during the event" (and subtely make it clear that you do need a few short 10 to 15 minute breaks if the playing times become long). During the booking process, you don't want the couple to worry for even one second about "fitting" you into their event so the completely custumizable set schedule is a good way to approach it (you already hinted at this actually).
I guess you are dealing in British pounds so I have no idea what a going rate would be for a gig over there So, the rate you quoted could be very reasonable (I wouldn't know). But in general it is best to avoid undercutting your competition whatever you decide to charge. They've worked hard to raise the standard so you might as well take advantage of it
I would definitely use a contract. When I'm a side musician I don't always use a contract because if I don't get paid all I've lost is my time, some expenses and I didn't get paid $150 or something. That would be very annoying, however it's much worse if I am leading a gig and I book a bunch of musicians and I don't get paid. Those musicians are booking time out of their schedule and turning down other work and/or personal opportunities based on the assumption that they are getting paid. If I don't use a contract and the client doesn't pay, then I am on the hook for $500 or more. If I don't pay out of pocket to those musicians they are not going to want to work with me again. So, best to use a contract and include a cancellation clause as well (because again it's annoying when your gig falls through on a weeks notice when you've already turned down other work for that date). In general, the contract helps to filter out people that would try to mess with you. Most people that would cancel on you or try to back out on the pay wouldn't sign a contract. I know the AFM in North America will apparently handle legal issues for you if you use a union contract (as I do) and the client doesn't pay. Not sure how the musicians union in the United Kingdom works. Something to look into.
In general though it's a great idea to get into this. Go get those gigs!
Make sure you charge "per hour of your time" as opposed to per set. Those two 45 minute sets can easily be stretched over a 6 hour period when it comes to weddings and special events and the way they are scheduled
Weddings often run late and even though there will probably be something of a schedule decided ahead of time, chances are you will simply end up playing at random intervals designated by the couple or wedding planner as the event goes on (always playing second fiddle to everything else that is going on, whether it is speeches, planned dances etc..). This is especially true if you are asked to provide background music. If you are being asked to provide a concert (which is not common for a wedding) or if you are being asked to play music at specific important moments during the reception/ceremony (which can happen occassionally even for jazz groups) then you can expect a bit more consistancy in terms of following the planned schedule. Regardless of the schedule, just be ready to play when they asked you to be ready, even if they are not ready and you end up waiting. You're being paid to be "ready" even if the couple are not. If you charge "per hour of your time" you can play the waiting game with a smile on your face!For all the reasons I mentioned above it's probably best to charge "per hour of your time". If you are providing background music then it's probably best to just market your set times as "we can start and stop the music at any given point during the event" (and subtely make it clear that you do need a few short 10 to 15 minute breaks if the playing times become long). During the booking process, you don't want the couple to worry for even one second about "fitting" you into their event so the completely custumizable set schedule is a good way to approach it (you already hinted at this actually).
I guess you are dealing in British pounds so I have no idea what a going rate would be for a gig over there
So, the rate you quoted could be very reasonable (I wouldn't know). But in general it is best to avoid undercutting your competition whatever you decide to charge. They've worked hard to raise the standard so you might as well take advantage of it I would definitely use a contract. When I'm a side musician I don't always use a contract because if I don't get paid all I've lost is my time, some expenses and I didn't get paid $150 or something. That would be very annoying, however it's much worse if I am leading a gig and I book a bunch of musicians and I don't get paid. Those musicians are booking time out of their schedule and turning down other work and/or personal opportunities based on the assumption that they are getting paid. If I don't use a contract and the client doesn't pay, then I am on the hook for $500 or more. If I don't pay out of pocket to those musicians they are not going to want to work with me again. So, best to use a contract and include a cancellation clause as well (because again it's annoying when your gig falls through on a weeks notice when you've already turned down other work for that date). In general, the contract helps to filter out people that would try to mess with you. Most people that would cancel on you or try to back out on the pay wouldn't sign a contract. I know the AFM in North America will apparently handle legal issues for you if you use a union contract (as I do) and the client doesn't pay. Not sure how the musicians union in the United Kingdom works. Something to look into.
In general though it's a great idea to get into this. Go get those gigs!
