Wedding Singer rates

AnneJane

Hi,
I am getting married next july in Roscommon and are looking into singers for the mass cermony. We have only got one quote so far.... 200euro. I am just wondering if this is the going rate for a church singer??

franjack81

Hiya, I sing for weddings in west cork and i charge 150 euro but i think 200 is probable the going rate

D3PO

is it just a singer or a singer with an accompaning musician ?

if its the latter thats actually damn good price.

AnneJane

Good question!!!! The quote came from a third party who was looking into it for me. Never even thought about who would actually play the music or if they use cd's?? Guess I need to do some more investigation into what the quote was actually for!

AoifeCork

Hi AnneJane!

150-250 is your going rate for the average professional singer/musician.. Bear in mind that you do get what you pay for and the more you pay-the higher the standard, naturally. Take into account that you may have special requests that the singer/musician may have to go and learn, travel costs,importance of ceremonial music in general (lot more pressure on the church musician(s) as it is crucially instrumental to the flow of the mass altogether as opposed to a band/dj playing to a large crowd for entertainment value..), cost of learning a trade such as classical/contemporary singing, etc. for example: If a person gets a singing lesson a week for 3/4 years,it could end up costing them around roughly 3000 euro altogether! If you invest that kind of money, you will want to make it back from your talent..

Shop around, you may find somebody who will sing for 150, maybe a family member might play the guitar to ease accompanist costs, etc. But be warned-you may get a few shocks from professional church musicians. As I say, anything from 150 up to 350/400 could be quoted to you!

Best of luck finding someone and if you want anymore advice re Wedding music, just pm

D3PO

yep Id agree with the last poster.

To put some context on it OP I have paid €500 for my church singer and musician.

Yes thats on the higher scale of things but you get what you pay for and for an award winning singer its a price I was willing to pay.

AnneJane

Cheers for the advice, it has helped alot. And I'm clearer now about what I'm looking for!

headmaster

Even at €150, it's a ridiculous amount of money for an hours work. The celtic tiger is still living, does the tax man know those people? he should if he doesn't. That might bring the price down.
Non declaration of income 01-6474000

D3PO

headmaster wrote: »

Even at €150, it's a ridiculous amount of money for an hours work. The celtic tiger is still living, does the tax man know those people? he should if he doesn't. That might bring the price down.
Non declaration of income 01-6474000

How do you get 1 hour ?

Travel time back and forth for a start could be one hour or more. They would generally sing to the awaiting guests before the ceremony perhaps for 30 mins, the bride is generally late probably fair to say 30 mins on average and the ceremony then perhaps 45 mins

that could be 2 hours 45 right there. Then what if you ask for any specific songs to be learnt the time involved in that. The time involved in a pre wedding consultation regarding what songs are wanted at what time.

The if its a musician and a singer thats only €75 each. Hardly a kings ransom.

Of course you assume that they have no costs aswell, costs of advertising, website, petrol, phone calls to people enquiring about their services etc.

Word of advise headmaster dont go into business yourself you would be bankrupt in a matter of months. :rolleyes:

headmaster

D3PO wrote: »

How do you get 1 hour ?

Travel time back and forth for a start could be one hour or more. They would generally sing to the awaiting guests before the ceremony perhaps for 30 mins, the bride is generally late probably fair to say 30 mins on average and the ceremony then perhaps 45 mins

that could be 2 hours 45 right there. Then what if you ask for any specific songs to be learnt the time involved in that. The time involved in a pre wedding consultation regarding what songs are wanted at what time.

The if its a musician and a singer thats only €75 each. Hardly a kings ransom.

Of course you assume that they have no costs aswell, costs of advertising, website, petrol, phone calls to people enquiring about their services etc.

Word of advise headmaster dont go into business yourself you would be bankrupt in a matter of months. :rolleyes:

Actually, i've done quite well for myself in business. I notice you didn't mention vat or tax of any kind in your costs, i wonder why? It would do you well to mind your tone and learn respect as well.;) Anyway, if you've nothing to worry about, you've no problem. End.

D3PO

headmaster wrote: »

Actually, i've done quite well for myself in business. I notice you didn't mention vat or tax of any kind in your costs, i wonder why? It would do you well to mind your tone and learn respect as well.;) Anyway, if you've nothing to worry about, you've no problem. End.

There not my costs I couldnt sing to save my life.

As for taxes of course they should be paid. This obviously leads to higher costs not lower ones though so what exactly is your point ?

Im intrigued how you think 150 quid minus costs and taxes is a rediculous amount of money to charge, for whats likely to be somewhere between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours work to somebody who wouldonly have the ability to work for one client a day max.

Do explain oh business guru

brightspark

You can add up to another hour for vocal exercises before arriving at the venue too, which have to be done daily regardless of having a client that day.

D3PO

exactly.

Look I have previous on this forum for complaining about certain suppliers / industries and their costs. People are free to searc hmy posts to see this.

On the same token I'm also realistic in regards to what is a fair and reasonable charge for services.

In my view these charges are fair and reasonable, people dont have to agree wtih me but to call them rediculouos is OTT in fairness.

AoifeCork

Headmaster-Its very unfair to suggest that €150 is exactly what the musician takes away from the wedding, when vat, tax, petrol costs etc are included you're talking about 80/90 euro, which for an average 5/6 hours (consultation with client, performance time, practice time, travel time) is not as shocking as you believe.

Fair play if you have done well in business, but please do not start lecturing on a (tough and very competitive!!!!) business that you know very little about.

I myself am still a full time student but have listed myself as self employed so I don't pay as much tax as other professional musicians I know. But they do pay their share to the taxman like everybody else I assure you... You would swear its the wedding musicians of Ireland that have bled the country dry by the way you're talking!

clint_silver

headmaster wrote: »

Even at €150, it's a ridiculous amount of money for an hours work. The celtic tiger is still living, does the tax man know those people? he should if he doesn't. That might bring the price down.
Non declaration of income 01-6474000

So taking a different defence then the others, on the 1% chance the singer would still do the gig for someone who tried to blackmail them why do you think a cash price plus the vat would be less then a cash only price?

Wind up post for me. Advocating blackmail.

Cheapo

Don't mean to Hijack this conversation, but we are getting married soon and was just wondering do we really need a singer at the church? The Wife to be would maybe like an organist to play "here comes the bride" but that about it - what are people thoughts on this?
many thanks..

clint_silver

Cheapo wrote: »

Don't mean to Hijack this conversation, but we are getting married soon and was just wondering do we really need a singer at the church? The Wife to be would maybe like an organist to play "here comes the bride" but that about it - what are people thoughts on this?
many thanks..

Can do that if you want. No rules on it. To hire a pro organist would cost you 150-200 for the church as he's gotta be there for he duration anyway. the priest might have a church organist that you could hire for 1-2 songs but you might even be better having someone press play on a cd.