How Much to Charge for a Music Gig

Do you ask what you're really worth for a music performance? Or perhaps you try to give the lowest possible price so you don't lose the booking. What about all the rehearsal time, massive investment in equipment, and endless back and forth with the venue...how does that factor in?
This video breaks down three different approaches to pricing your live shows based on YOUR situation and taken from my 30+ years of experience as a full-time performer. I've added some extra food for thought, too, and it all happens in less than 9 minutes!
Full article here: daveruch.com/a...

[@MattBrodeurMusic]

Really great tips, and a great way to think about things. I heard a great story from another musician about getting paid what your time is worth. He quoted a 3-hour gig for $1,500 that he would have to fly to. They thought it was a little too expensive. So they asked how about if it's only 2 hours? He replied with, "Ok, then $2,000." What? Why is it MORE? "Because the 3 hours that I am performing is the most enjoyable part. But I still have to travel the same distance and take the same time setting up and breaking down my equipment." They ended up getting together the $1,500.

[@DaveRuch]

Love it! Whenever someone asks if they can help me set up/tear down/load my vehicle, I tell them that's the part I get paid for.

[@rustyshackleford9557]

Excellent advice. Most folks couldn't tell a high quality cheese, wine, band, solo musician or coffee from a total mediocre one. Many buy their fly rod, guitar, skeet gun or boots based on some crazy high price that they perceive as an indicator of quality This works especially well in things that are subjective. I have a cousin who really isn't an artist. He slaps paint on huge canvases and prices his " art" for around a grand!! Folks just assume he is great and buy his work for their office, hotel lobbies. He gets a big chunck of cash for this stuff and folks simply don't know the difference. How many smart kids were in your 1st grade?🤔 Most likely only 2 out of 20. Folks pay $$$ to listen to Neil Young and Bob Dylan sing!!! 🤔

[@RobertVanHorne]

Thanks for the excellent tips on pricing for musicians, Dave. You always have helpful suggestions.

[@DaveRuch]

Glad to do it

[@RhondaDenetMusic]

"Our price says a whole lot about our perceived value." I love that! You continue to offer extremely valuable advice. Thanks so much, Dave.

[@DaveRuch]

You bet!

[@MikeKelsoJr]

This is a very helpful video !! Great info !!👍

[@DaveRuch]

@@MikeKelsoJr glad to hear it!

[@marcokabeyaofficial]

Very helpful! Thanks a lot

[@DaveRuch]

Glad it was helpful

[@HoorayMissMarae]

Thanks for this Dave! I’ve been a fan of your blog for a while now and just discovered your KZbin!

[@DaveRuch]

Yay! Glad you found your way to this video.

[@belyal]

Great discussion, thank you!

[@DaveRuch]

Fancy meeting you here!

[@belyal]

@@DaveRuch I get around

[@saxmanash]

Fantastic advice, thank you sir! I'm definitely going to use this to work out my rates

[@DaveRuch]

Very cool! Let us all know how it goes.

[@saxmanash]

@@DaveRuch Will do :)

[@shable1436]

Always give lessons at 20 to 50 an hour lol

[@ClassicJukeboxBand]

I didn't know you had videos. I'll binge watch you.

[@Kamikaze3557]

Must be a very desirable performer to set a price. They Pay you this amount, whatever it is. Knock on wood for tips. Tips BTW most often have little to do with your talent, I’ve seen those who where not quite there yet with their skill, oval or instrument, but get excellent tips out of folks want to be encouraging in general also personality has a big influence on tips, depending on the venue and attitude of the music style.

[@frankcardellojr.8211]

Any advice on how you break into that school gigs? I love playing for me daughters class and have many classic kid friendly songs.

[@DaveRuch]

Yes, lots! Start here: daveruch.com/advice/how-to-get-gigs-in-schools/

[@lucystarrmusic]

Thank you so much for making this! Brilliant video 😊

[@DaveRuch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@paullongden-musician7113]

Great to see you creating content again Dave. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@DaveRuch]

Thanks Paul!

[@richardpaulthomas]

Thank you for putting this together! 🎶😎🎶

[@DaveRuch]

It was fun! Hoping to do more of these...

[@GonzalesHamilton]

Thank you, dear Dave. Yours faithfully. JF

[@DaveRuch]

My pleasure

[@mikeholper5992]

Very interesting video with helpful, practical advice. Thanks for sharing.

[@DaveRuch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leannbarker572]

Thank you...

[@DaveRuch]

Glad it was helpful

[@ukulele-covergirl]

I don't work cheap.(neither does my dentist) ~ 🌺

[@Qrayon]

Liability insurance? Why would a musician need liability insurance? I've been playing as a solo musician for over 40 years, and I never heard of such a thing until about 4 or 5 years ago, when a local cruise boat told me I'd need it to get the gig. Add to that the fact that they didn't pay that much, and I said forget it. Why would a musician need liability insurance? That sounds crazy to me. It's the venue owner who needs liability insurance, not the musician, I would think.

[@DaveRuch]

Right, I've running into it more and more lately, too. It's frustrating but seems to be a deal breaker now for some venues. Fortunately there are insurance companies that offer one-day policies for like $55 or so, so I have been able to save a few gigs by going that route and just adding the expense to the amount I charge.

[@Qrayon]

@@DaveRuch Do the venue owners give a reason for the liability insurance requirement? It just doesn't make sense to me.

[@Qrayon]

@@DaveRuch Do you have a gig tonight?

[@DaveRuch]

@@Qrayon Imagine if you're setting up your PA and one of your speakers falls off the stand and hits a customer in the head. My sense is those are the kinds of things they're trying to protect themselves from.

[@Qrayon]

@@DaveRuch Oh. Well, I guess I'll put my amp on the floor. Thanks for the explanation. You working tonight?

[@devinnemeyers4008]

Very helpful and more in line with what I’m trying to do. I spent the last 10 years playing coffee shop and bar gigs that didn’t have much of a budget. Granted, I had fun doing it but you’re right, it wasn’t sustainable. I ended up burning myself out completely due to needing to have a second full time job on top of many performances. I really appreciate the tips.

[@DaveRuch]

I pretty much did the same thing in terms of burning out from too many long gigs over too many nights in a row trying to put a living together. You can't beat that experience in the trenches though!

[@ariannawasserman]

❤thank you so much!

[@DaveRuch]

👍🏾

[@mrbuilding]

Golden advice!

[@DaveRuch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@didimack7542]

You’ll almost never get more money from a venue than what they pay you at the start. So first develop your product. Don’t try to play out when you only know 3 chords, or when you only know 15 songs, or when you don’t yet feel comfortable talking between songs. Play free for senior centers, family gatherings, and T2T events before you start to look for paid gigs. BE A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE YOU ASK TO BE PAID LIKE A PROFESSIONAL. Then set your price and stick to it. Then……….BE A PROFESSIONAL. No cargo shorts…no t-shirts…no flip-flops. Start on time, return from breaks on time, and don’t be needy or greedy (bring extra extension cords, batteries, and a cooler with beverages).

[@DaveRuch]

Generally agree with all of this, although if I'd waited to be totally comfortable talking to an audience before I started playing out for money, I might never have done a paid gig!

[@juniordunkley2751]

Dont listen to this guy hes one of these guys that lives off his wife's salary

[@DaveRuch]

🤣🤣 Uh, no.