$$$$ = How much???

Pat Irvin · From: Kansas City, Missouri, USA

I am looking into booking a gig at a local Casino and was wondering what people were making on gigs they are playing. I know there are lots of variables(length of gig, who you are playing for, reputation, etc...). Some of you may not feel comfortable posting what they make(or just won't want to) and I understand that, but I think it could be a service for the rest of us know what the going rates are across the board at different gigs.

So!! Where are you playing? And what are they paying?

I'd really like to know what ballpark bands are getting for a Casino gig.

Thanks

Pat

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2003 Zum D-10, Peavey Nashville 1000, Peavey Session 500, Session 400, 1954 Fender Custom T-8, Late 60's Fender 400 8x0, 1968 Fender Telecaster, PodXT

[This message was edited by Pat Irvin on 20 November 2006 at 10:46 PM.]

Russ Wever · From: Kansas City

Pat -

When I'd be home, I'd used to play often in the Harrah's with DeLisa, . . . four, five, six years ago -

Us four 'sidemen' would get right at a hundred each. I don't know what DeLisa got (if any different than us).

This was for playing three or four hours in the 'court' area, and not a lounge nor showroom. It went thru an agent, so ya'd hafta figure him in, too.

Hope ya do some good with the casinos, but I'm ready for another Wednesday at Harrys anyday!

~Russ

[This message was edited by Russ Wever on 21 November 2006 at 06:21 AM.]

Alvin Blaine · From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA

I've been working in Vegas for 20 years, I won't step foot in a Casino for less than $200 a night.

Craig A Davidson · From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA

I would really hate to post an amount because the next thing you know you have bands going in under your price and the next thing you know we have a bunch more 50bucks a night jobs. I'll just say the ones I am playing are somewhere around what Alvin is getting.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Going back to the 1950's, I was happy with $15.00 on Friday night, and $20.00 on Saturday night. Before you scoff, that was "above" average in those days. Whether I worked on both Friday and Saturday, or just on Saturday night, depended on how well we would eat the following week.

Of course it's all relative, the same thing exists today...such as $3.00 per gallon for gasoline, as opposed to .19 cents a gallon back then.

Each player must decide what he is worth depending upon his "needs".....not what a union or another player says is the threshold for not accepting a playing job.

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www.genejones.com

Colm Chomicky · From: Kansas, (Prairie Village)

You guys are really good. So don't be shy about your price. Your song list is an encyclopedic expanse of great music --proven by the way you can accommodate most any request. Pat, you also belt out top notch vocals.

P.S., Same as Russ, I'm looking forward to another Harry's Country Club ! Last time I thought I died and woke-up in Bakersfield.

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

According to this: http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

Gene made the equivalent of $103.06 for a Friday and $137.41 for a Saturday in 1955. That would work for me playing a regular club from 8 - 12 or whatever. Seems like bars around here at one point all agreed that $300 was about average, so trios do pretty well, 5 - 6 pieces substantially less. Then there are always the bands that will work super cheap in order to get the gig...like was mentioned above.

[This message was edited by Mike Winter on 21 November 2006 at 10:56 AM.]

Jim Harper · From: Comanche, Oklahoma, USA * R.I.P.

We are just like Gene said,play on Fri. nite for 15.00 and Sat. nite 20.00 then we had a kitty jar that some time,s the crowd would put 2-3 dollar,s in and if we got 25.00 in 1950 we were happy camper,s. We have been playing some 100 year anniv. for some town,s here in Okla.and we get 100.00 per man,usually 5 piece,s for 2 hour,s show.==Jim Harper

Pat Irvin · From: Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Thanks everyone for the input, it all helps.

Russ can't wait for you to get back into town and come down to Harry's for the "Marathon".

Colm, thanks for the compliments. Stop in again sometime(we are off this week for Thanksgiving).

TRAP TRULY · From: Mobile , AL

Before the storm last summer ,the casinos in biloxi, ms were paying about $200- $300 a night ( 2 or 3 45 min. sets per night)per man depending if your were backing a singer or taking a equal cut as a band. Twice I made $550 (per man) for high roller parties for 1 set. The good old days!!

[This message was edited by TRAP TRULY on 22 November 2006 at 08:15 AM.]

Joe Casey · From: Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)

I like what Smiley Roberts once said on the Forum. "He wouldn't work if they tried to pay him what he is worth". He won't work that cheap. Usually the difference between a 500 dollar band and a 1000 dollar band is just the 500 bucks.Ask for whatever your comfortable in playing for. Casinos just want a limited show so people get out and spend. If your good, "Its better to be paid to be good than to be good for nothing",especially when they got more than enough $$ to pay.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Figure that if you play during the week and weekends, you are going to be tieing up your Friday and Sat nights. Look at what on average you make on those premium nights and don't take any less. If your steady last for a while, then you will be turning down work and those clients will stop calling you and when your steady ends, you will have to build all that back up again! Be sure to stipulate in your contract that you make more money for big holiday nights like New Years Eve and such.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

My friend books his band at the Casino's up in Ct, they book at $1500.

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