Cover band Prices

Father Todd_Unctious

Right, first time posting here after a few months of reading!

starting out in a new cover band after a few years off. Played in a cover band during the boom, typical pub/club/college set list, rock with a mixture of pop. I know the pub trade is down a lot now, lots of pubs closed and cuting down an entertainment costs. It has been 5 years since I last played a cover gig on a weekend, and im not sure what we should charge. during the boom we were getting 500-900 a night depending on the size of the venue, im assuming most pubs would show us the door if we asked for that now :eek: I was thinking of 100 a man (were a 4 piecem 2 guitars, drums and bass)

I realise people may not be willing to publically discuss their prices, but t would be a great help!

Cheers
Todd

Laserface

i'm in the same boat...played years ago for 400 - 600 per gig

just recently started another cover band and we were shot down already when we asked for 300 (75 a man)

are there any gigging cover bands or venue owners out there that can shed some light?
whats the current going rate?

cooleys reel

Howya lads, Money has gone down in places but it all depends what you were getting during the boom years. I am into the ballads and throw in alot of comtemporary stuff depending on the crowd. I was in a very popular 4 piece Trad band back then and we got max 500, most been 400. Maybe we were undercutting ourselves but we certainly had lots of gigs.
I am finding now for a 3 piece its still around 300 but not as easy to get. The 2 piece is around 250. Most of the gigs were in the suburbs.
The reason I think the money is hard to get is too many musicians are doing gigs for nothing. There are 3 piece Trad and rock bands doing 3 hour gigs for 60 eu a piece particularly in temple bar. I played for awhile there and I know what is being offered and I know alot of 3 piece brilliant musicians still there on a 60/80 euros. And some of the pubs in temple bar are packed. Granted they don't bring PA but when guys like this are playing in the most populated area for nothing then its a knock on effect throughout the rest of the county and greater leinster area.
So the only thing I can say is don't sell yourselves short cause if we all do that we'll be playing for nothing. Bad enough P/T musos but even worse if fulltime musicians are prepared to play for nothing.

Father Todd_Unctious

Thanks for the replys. U guess we will try for 75 a man so, unless we have to travel a fair distance.

PMI

The money is still out there, 75 a man is crazy ?!? the prob is some bands went in too low to get the gig only to lose the venue anyway giving the venue a taste of low prices and de-valueing the product.

The problem an up and coming cover act will have is putting bums on seats which will take years....so the venue cant risk to much on you but again starting too low price wise is gonna harm you long term and wont give you access to the higher paying gigs for a few reasons, if you have some hell hole in the diary and the higher venue see's it (while your trying to get gig there), they already know what your earning and will ignore you anyway, it happens and has happened.

I would say bare min starting out is 100 a man in your back garden, believe in yourself, not everyone is a musician its not like serving fries, which we can all do if we wanted to.

Be prepared to say no, it will pay off if you want this long term