whats it worth?

Chris Erbacher · From: Sausalito, California, USA

how much is the regular going rate for a steel player who can sing lead and backup harmony vocals while playing steel? who is doing this?

Elton Smith · From: Texas, USA

I don't know.If your doing that you tell us.
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Here in the Bay Area, not much... Seriously.
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Ray Walker · From: Smithfield, NC, USA, R.I.P.

I do it routinely here on the East Coast and am called upon to actually do the lead singing for a lot of songs with one band. I get the same pay as everyone else in the band.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

What people seem to be getting paid for gigging varies so much that I doubt you could find a regular going rate for anything. But being able to sing lead and harmony while playing steel has never, in my experience, attracted a premium rate. Whatever everyone else is getting.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I play steel and sing lead and harmony vocals, and over the years have gotten calls from bands to hire me as an add-on member typically for summer weddings and festivals, or fill-in for another player who can't make a gig.
If it's a band that I actually like/want to play with, and a gig that I like (easy travel and load in/out), I do it for an even share of the money.
If it's a call out of the blue I ask what they are paying, and if it's at least $100 bucks I consider it, but I'm hoping it's a wedding that pays like $400/member for a 5-piece.
If I want $100 dollars these days I typically just stop at an ATM, then go h0me and play steel and sing some Merle Haggard songs.
Mama Tried into Sing Me Back Home. Smile

I got a call for a gig last summer, out at the coast (that means "overnight" to me), and they told me it was a $600 one-nighter. I told them I couldn't do it for less than $300.
They paid me $300 and split the other 3 amongst themselves.
I turned it into a family weekend at the coast (I could not have done that for $100 plus $25 for gas).

Barry Blackwood · Posted 29 Sep 2011 7:17 am

Did it for years - same pay. Actually, with my singing, it's a wonder they didn't dock me ….

Dan Najvar · From: McDade, TX

Pete I REALLY love your comment about the ATM!! Here in Fort Worth about all a singing steeler can get is the same as a non singing steeler...$100. But there are players that probably get more if they have been associated with a well known singer. More at times if you are a full time member of a band. There have been a few times that it wasn't enough for me to haul out the Session 500 and the Sierra and fill up the tank. Club life can be rough!! lol

Adam Goodale · From: Pflugerville, TX

It all depends where your at and how good you are...
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chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

five dollars.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Unless you are in some strict union gig where multi-instrumentalists make more that a person who only plays one instrument, you will probably make the same as the rest of the band. I don't know of any of that type of gig around the Bay Area. For the most part, gigs in the Bay Area right now pay between $50 and $100 (4 pc band)each per night. There, of course, are the rare exceptions.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I'm getting a 'double' for doing some backing vocals on my current 'Always, Patsy Cline' gig here in Naples. Still, that's only $120 per show (or rehearsal).

This theatre, though, is very particular about paying proper rates anytime they hire musicians; as three of the other players are from the Tampa Symphony (and are familiar with every twist and turn of the AFM rates) they couldn't get away with short-changing anyone.
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Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

My hat's off to all you guys who can sing and play steel at the same time! I never could make that work on steel,although it's a breeze on six-string.Around here (Denver/Front Range/Northern CO)there never has seemed to be much of a buzz about singing steelers,probably because any band who could afford to carry steel had at least a couple of top-drawer singers-that's usually why they could afford steel in the first place.Country bar gigs hereabouts generally pay about a C-note per player,assuming a 4-piece and an equal split.

Rich Peterson · From: Moorhead, MN

It's in teresting that $100/night seems to be typical across the country. And that's what it was 30 years ago. One part of the economy that is not threatened with inflation. Sad

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