10 Nov
2025
10 Nov
'25
11:55 a.m.
Hello! I agree it can be tricky with people you know, especially if you
know them well-
For close friends or family I would do like you say and joyously call
for free, out of love for them.
For an acquaintance I would quote my usual amount - though I do vary
what amount that is, based on my understanding of their financial means.
I enjoy weddings and have a good repertoire built up, so I feel good
about calling a dance for relatively little ($150-$200 CAD) so they can
afford it (knowing the band will add a bunch more to the cost and i only
call to live music)-- and I feel grateful for the extra cash. However
if it was someone I really didn't know-and I knew they had a big
budget-- I would likely do $300 - this based on conversations with other
callers around here and their going "professional" rate, and our desire
not to undercut each other.
This person does sound like they are inviting you to think creatively
about payment, and perhaps they are hoping you will ask for something
other than a cash fee.
Once I was delighted when some dancing acquaintances paid me my quoted
cash fee, but also surprised me with an offer to stay free at their
"island home" off the coast of Nova Scotia for a weekend of my choice.
That was fabulous!
Since then, I've had the idea to barter with other folks getting
married- sometimes for events in the countryside I waive my travel
fees, for example, if they provide me with a meal and a place to stay,
and I make a little vacation out of it with my partner.
Have fun!
Kat K in Nova Scotia Canada
Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers
<mailto:contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net>
Monday, November 10, 2025 3:31 PM
Hi all,
A good friend I made through contra dance has asked me to call some
dancing at her wedding reception. (She is also a budding caller who I
mentored for a while as she was getting started.) As soon as I said
"yes", she asked what compensation would be meaningful to me, which
strikes me as a thoughtful and thought-provoking way to put it.
While I ponder my answer, I'm curious to hear what other callers
charge for wedding dances. If there's a range, would you ask
differently for newly-met people vs. friends from your dance community
vs. close friends and family? What other factors would you consider?
For myself, for very close friends I have sometimes refused payment
out of love, considering it a wedding gift to them. Others view their
own wedding as a time of outward generosity and wouldn't dream of
paying less than the customary amount, whatever the heck that is. (I
am also an occasional wedding officiant and faced the same conundrum
there, but at least have a more well-defined range of fees from the
local community to fall back on when either side considers full
payment to be needed.)
I have called enough family events that I know what to bring and what
to expect as a caller. I'd just like to focus on compensation here,
unless there's something about the work that's needed from the caller
that would influence what you ask.
Joseph Erhard-Hudson
Moscow, Idaho
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