31 Jul
2023
31 Jul
'23
12:10 p.m.
I price things approximately:
- $75-150 for just the sound equipment rental, which is basically just
passing my cost from who I'm able to borrow it.
- $250 - $500 for the calling itself, which can depend on how long, whether
there's alcohol, experience of dancers, whether it's a nonprofit/good
cause, other factors, etc
- $50-150 for sound setup, which can depend on how many band inputs, how
long I need to lug heavy speakers up steps and whatnot, etc.
- travel $ appropriate to distance
- another $200 or so for prerecorded music. Honestly, it's just such a pain
to have to manage both calling and music player, choose music in advance
and adapt on the fly, etc. And, if you're not paying ASCAP fees or
expressly have the artist's permission or are using public domain music,
it's technically not legal.
My feelings are that if people don't want to pay artists at least a living
per hour wage, then it's not sustainable and not ethical to undercut a gig.
(Again, notwithstanding considerations like charity or nonprofits, friends'
events, helping out financially struggling org, etc)
I live in Massachusetts, so that may affect cost of living in the area.
In dance,
Julian Blechner
On Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 12:16 PM Rich Sbardella via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Seth,
My going rate is $50 per hour, portal to portal, plus a $50-$100 charge
for a sound system, and $0.62 per mile rountrip.
It may seem high but ONS dances are my specialty, and I am turning dances
down. My minimum rate is $300.
This Sunday I have two gigs. A one hour at $350, and a 2 hour at $500.
Both of these are with pre-recorded music. I generally add $300-$350 per
musician when I use live music, and then the sound system is $100. I am
careful to explain that my fee is all inclusive and includes travel to and
from, insurance, music and music licensing, a professional sound system,
all necessary instruction, and calling the dances.
Alcohol has never changed my rate. I might add an hour or two to a
wedding, because they are never on schedule. I require a non-refundable
$50 deposit for weddings, a non-refundable, but reusable 50% deposit on all
uncovered outdoor dances. (This deposit can be applied to a mutually
acceptable date in the future.)
All that being said, I may on occasion take less. Soon I will be calling
at a regional bluegrass festival for less, but they have included an all
festival pass with camping privileges and limited hospitality. If I am
connected to an organizer, or to an organization, I may call for 50%, or
free.
There are always exceptions, but my standard quote is as described above,
and most customers accept the quote.
Hope this helps,
Rich Sbardella
Stafford Springs, CT
On Mon, Jul 31, 2023 at 11:34 AM Tepfer, Seth via Contra Callers <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hello hive mind
The costs of everything have gone up post-COVID. What are you charging
for one-off dance events, aka One Night Stand dances? Assuming:
- you, the caller, are running sound and providing sound equipment
- there is no band
- It is 90 minutes give or take
- it is NOT a wedding
- no alcohol (hat-tip to Tony Parkes - if alcohol, double your fee!)
If the assumptions above are not true (there is a band, it is a wedding,
there is alcohol, etc), how does that change your rates?
Seth
Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his)
Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
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