Just curious...what are the going rates these days?

Roadhouse · Post by **Roadhouse** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

I was just wondering on a typical Friday or Saturday night what the rate was for bands in this area?

If you're in a band...how are you doing in venues, $$$ wise?

Any input would be helpful and appreciated.

Thank you,

The Roadhouse

KyleMayket · Post by **KyleMayket** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

That might be a bad question.

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

Not to be rude, but I don't think too many bands are going to give out that information.

witchhunt · Post by **witchhunt** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

I usually ask for $15,000.00 and a "cruising" motorcycle.

Sorry.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

Most local bands demand all the brown M&M's be removed from the candy buffet.

Roadhouse · Post by **Roadhouse** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

If I was looking to book bands.
What can I expect to pay for a decent band?

I don't want to offend a band. But times are tough.

Constructive help would be appreciated.

JayBird · Post by **JayBird** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

If a band is as kick ass as they say they are...then let them play for the door. It's that simple. There are a bunch of bands that'll blow smoke up your ass and tell you how BIG of a following they have. More often than not...they're full of crap.

A good price for a FIRST TIME band is $200-$300, if you're paying flat rate. However, if you do not have much of a built in crowd and plan to rely on the bands to pull your crowd...go the door deal route. Then see how big of a draw they have. It's up to you from that point on if you want to rebook and pay more/flat rate. On the other end of the spectrum...if you have a nice crowd of "x" people each weekend no matter what, then you don't want to give the band a huge pay day. The band wasn't the reason for that crowd, so why give them all you door money. There are tons of bands that do not do one damn thing to promote a show. Once they get that flat rate there is no reason for them to bust ass and promote the show. They are getting paid no matter what.

Roadhouse · Post by **Roadhouse** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

Excellent Jaybird...Thank you very much.
The reason I asked...
My uncle opened a club... Booked the same band Thurs-Sun as a Grand Opening... They convinced him $1500 a night was a decent price. He aslo put them up in a hotel for the weekend. And covered all their food/drink expenses. Thursday bout 125 people 7pm- 1am. and Friday Night 130 people...eh. Saturday and Sunday...maybe 65 people total for both nights. I was furious after I heard about this. The band did promote and promised to pack the place...no dice. My uncle felt like he let the band down (!!!)... I think my uncle got ravaged by a bunch of punks. He hasn't been able to book bands sine them because he took a big hit. He has had DJ's for three months now and I want him to get bands again but he's skeptical. I think he charged a $3 cover... So, I will mention what you said Jaybird...Thanks again.

Merge · Post by **Merge** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

That band took total advantage of your uncle. $1500 a night is outrageous.

poolpimp911 · Post by **poolpimp911** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

I know I am going to get some flack for this but I dont care.

First, $1500 for a local band is unreal.

Second, take everything that Jaybird says with a grain of salt. Most bands like "X" plus the door or $400 plus as a flat rate. If it is a well established and PROFESSIONAL band most of the time they would ask this much. It also depends where the bar is and how big it is and the size of the stage area.

Next, if it is a just started band of people trying to make a name for them selves or people that have played before and are starting a new band they may only ask $300-$400. But with equiptment cost and Sound guy's cost (unless you own your own gear) they have some overhead.

You also have to look out for bands that are not from hear that make their living with this band. They may try to ask for $1000 plus. I know of a bar that fell for that and still continue to pay certain bands WAY MORE than what the deserve.

BigJohn · Post by **BigJohn** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

$100 and the door for everybody if they bring a crowd they get paid if they don't your out $100 and don't book them again .... and let them collect at the door have your guy check I.D.s that way they can't say your holding out on them if there's no money at the end of the night and they have a big crowd it's there guy to blame ...

slackin@dabass · Post by **slackin@dabass** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

i think for a band's first time at any venue, they should make no less than 2000 pesos.

honestly, though... if the band has to pay for production, pay them that, plus the door. these are situations where it is really convenient to have in house sound. then you wouldn't have to pay for production. you could just give the band the door.

hicksjd9 · Post by **hicksjd9** » Wednesday Jul 01, 2009

There are a few bands around that legitimately make 1000+ a night. Bands like Emily's Toybox, Green Eggs (back in the day), etc. routinely make a lot more than that, but generally bring in a huge crowd anywhere they go. I'm not saying that is anywhere near common locally, but if a place did book a band like that, the band would expect that kind of money--and rightfully so.

I think that $400-500 is a common number around here for established bands that bring a crowd, but you have to be sure they are going to draw.

A local establishment near you often does a guaranteed pay of 175 plus the band gets 2 out of every 3 dollars at the door (the bar keeps the other buck). The band AND the bar win in this situation. I think that is a fair arrangement to start out. This specific establishment I'm speaking about has someone who collects the cash at the door and they are very honest about it. Bands can tell whether the door man/woman is honest after a very short time of playing for the door. As a bar owner, if you build a good reputation for being fair to bands you will be able to pick from the cream of the crop in our area and you will get good crowds because of it. If a band fails to draw after a few shows, dump 'em, but I would seriously give them more than one show (especially in the summer!).

Colton · Post by **Colton** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

If you make enough money to get yourself home, eat, and survive until the next gig, be thankful.

JayBird · Post by **JayBird** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

Poolpimp...you said to take everything I say with a grain of salt, but then basically repeated what I said. I've been around enough from the local to the national scene and I think my resume speaks for itself. What have you done...no need for an answer because if you're the Poolpimp I know, then you haven't done anything so why would your words mean more than mine.

Shitty bands asking for too much and not producing crowd numbers is why clubs/bars go with cheap DJs. If a local band can produce huge numbers, like I said, it's up to the bar to decided if they rebook and pay their wages.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

Colton wrote:If you make enough money to get yourself home, eat, and survive until the next gig, be thankful.

Haha,I agree with Colton

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

Being an established band with a following is a good negotiating chip NOT TO PLAY FOR THE DOOR! There are some good club owners who are tight with the door, but we've been shafted more than once by lazy door people who let their friends in for free or people who skim the door money. Plus as Ryan says, if your room is big enough for full FOH sound reinforcement but you don't have in-house sound, then bands are going to be very hestitant to take a risk on hiring production if they don't have a gaurantee. On door deals, we always make sure there's at least a guarantee to cover our production costs. If not, we walk.

To answer the original question - there's no exact formula for how much a band is worth. You're not going to get Green Eggs for the same price as the start-up band with four gigs under its belt. The size of your room and sound situation are going to play a factor. If a band can put up two 12s on sticks for a PA, they're probably not going to charge as much as if they have to hire pro-sound. Both parties BATNA or Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement plays a role (i.e., can the band shake hands and go play the club down the street for what they think they're worth? Can the club shake hands and get a band cheaper that will still draw the same?).

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

JayBird wrote:If a band is as kick ass as they say they are...then let them play for the door. It's that simple. There are a bunch of bands that'll blow smoke up your ass and tell you how BIG of a following they have. More often than not...they're full of crap.

A good price for a FIRST TIME band is $200-$300, if you're paying flat rate. However, if you do not have much of a built in crowd and plan to rely on the bands to pull your crowd...go the door deal route. Then see how big of a draw they have. It's up to you from that point on if you want to rebook and pay more/flat rate. On the other end of the spectrum...if you have a nice crowd of "x" people each weekend no matter what, then you don't want to give the band a huge pay day. The band wasn't the reason for that crowd, so why give them all you door money. There are tons of bands that do not do one damn thing to promote a show. Once they get that flat rate there is no reason for them to bust ass and promote the show. They are getting paid no matter what.

Please get out of this thread. He was asking bands, not "nutriders". I don't care if I just blew my chance to open for the old drummer from papa roaches new band he just started with Edsel Dope's sister. It had to be said. You've been fucking over local bands for long enough. Listen to Big John, dude was the best club owner to work with ever, and if you bring the people, you make the cake. 100 ppl @ 5 bux plus his 100=600 bucks. I'm good with that.

KeithReynolds · Post by **KeithReynolds** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

D A M N

hahaha youre right though.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

DirtySanchez wrote:
JayBird wrote:If a band is as kick ass as they say they are...then let them play for the door. It's that simple. There are a bunch of bands that'll blow smoke up your ass and tell you how BIG of a following they have. More often than not...they're full of crap.

A good price for a FIRST TIME band is $200-$300, if you're paying flat rate. However, if you do not have much of a built in crowd and plan to rely on the bands to pull your crowd...go the door deal route. Then see how big of a draw they have. It's up to you from that point on if you want to rebook and pay more/flat rate. On the other end of the spectrum...if you have a nice crowd of "x" people each weekend no matter what, then you don't want to give the band a huge pay day. The band wasn't the reason for that crowd, so why give them all you door money. There are tons of bands that do not do one damn thing to promote a show. Once they get that flat rate there is no reason for them to bust ass and promote the show. They are getting paid no matter what.
Please get out of this thread. He was asking bands, not "nutriders". I don't care if I just blew my chance to open for the old drummer from papa roaches new band he just started with Edsel Dope's sister. It had to be said. You've been fucking over local bands for long enough. Listen to Big John, dude was the best club owner to work with ever, and if you bring the people, you make the cake. 100 ppl @ 5 bux plus his 100=600 bucks. I'm good with that.

Thanks Brian-maybe I wanted to have a chance to open for the old drummer from Papa Roach's new band he just started with Edsel Dope's sister.

DirtySanchez · Post by **DirtySanchez** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

lol. I'm sorry. As long as you can sell my share of the tickets too, I'll still do it.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

DirtySanchez wrote:lol. I'm sorry. As long as you can sell my share of the tickets too, I'll still do it.

Haha,consider it done.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

I don't know if that's a good idea, Brian.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... =281397146

The tickets can't go through the wash. You'll have to remind Bushy to clean out his pockets before doing laundry or you may never get to open for the band with the old drummer of Papa Roach and Edsel Dope's sister ever again.

Big-H · Post by **Big-H** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

150 and door is usually the goin rate or a 4-500 guarantee.

onegunguitar · Post by **onegunguitar** » Thursday Jul 02, 2009

bassist_25 wrote:I don't know if that's a good idea, Brian.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... =281397146

The tickets can't go through the wash. You'll have to remind Bushy to clean out his pockets before doing laundry or you may never get to open for the band with the old drummer of Papa Roach and Edsel Dope's sister ever again.

Hahaha,thanks for reminding me Paul!!!