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Yes they are, Carl, and as I intimated, it makes it hard to charge full price. The politics of fitting into an Irish community is complex and generally we find kindly ways to bring the point around. The ones who would read this post already charge full rates. The others would not care what I think. The people who would hire me can go to my web site and hear my sound samples. I’m not ashamed to hold the line for full price. I actually had one very rich person who went ballistic because he wanted me for his wife’s birthday party. I held my ground and one hour before the party he finally relinquished and agreed to full price. We used to have a society here that helped people set prices but no one wanted to lead so it fell by the wayside. Usually the society can compare prices and give people assistance in knowing what to charge.
David, I got a kick out of your post!!! Yes, how many of us have heard the old phrase: “play for me and you’ll get exposure!” People die of exposure!!
In San Diego, we used to have a folk harp society that would compare rates that we charge. I had a teacher who told me to be professional from the start. She said get professional sound equipment because you will eventually need it so why not start with it. She taught me to charge full price from the beginning. I was VERY embarrassed at first to do that, but I found that people didn’t know the difference between the days I was brilliant vrs. the days I was “off”.
I’ve been a professional musician (vocalists/pianist) since my childhood, and majored in music (voice/piano). However, I discovered the harp relatively late in life (18 years ago.) So I went through all the “beginner” trauma that folks talk about in this post. However, I feel that many of us (myself included) do this to earn a living. We have spent years in musical studies, paid a small fortune for our instruments, and go through quite a bit just to show up for a gig. (did anyone ever wish they had taken up the penny whistle on a cold rainy night when you’re slogging through wet and rain to move your harp and all your equipment into a venue?)
That said I proudly charge my full fees and know that if someone feels it’s too high, they will not hire me. Which is fine. They will hire someone else for less who will drive the market down for the rest of us. But at least I will not sell myself out for less than the worth of everything I offer as a musician.
We seem to have two groups in San Diego. One group earns their living otherwise and just plays for fun and charges minimal rates. The other group are doing this as their profession and charge professional rates. We just live together peacefully. It is frustrating because since the economic drop off in 2007, the middle class is gone. All those wonderful parties we used to play, at full rate where they’d give huge tips at the end as well, are gone and we are all left playing in a market where people are looking for a bargain.
But I figure I’m still with a roof over my head and food on the table and I get to do for my living what I live and breathe and love…. so life is good!!
Hello. San Diego here. I am not sure what everyone charges in this area, but I charge $350 for the wedding. It includes a brides preview where she can meet with me and I will play songs for her to help her decide what she wants. (usually an hour, although I just had one go 3 hours!!)
It includes 1/2 hour prelude, all the music for the wedding, and usually a shorter postlude. Attending the rehearsal is usually an extra $100 although sometimes if I haven’t been to the venue before, I attend at my own cost just to be sure of what I’ll encounter.
If they want me to continue for the cocktails/dinner I charge $100 per hour. If there’s a major relocation of venue &/or sound system I charge $250 for the first hour and $100 for each hour after that.
If they just want cocktails/dinner and not the wedding I charge $250 for the first hour and $100 for each additional hour.
I charge $.50 per mile beyond my immediate community.
I require protection from the elements for my harp.I bring my own sound when required at no additional cost. Often, a church will set up their own sound or in many cases, we don’t need it. I have a small battery operated sound system for parks and places where there’s no electricity available. I will provide the microphone for the couple when requested.
I also have a band / ensemble that can offer Celtic, folk, classical, renaissance, sacred, classic oldies, torch songs, etc. If they are hired, I ask $150 to $100 per hour per musician for their services (depending on where they are performing in the event) I have several musicians to draw from: guitar, flute, violin, bodhran, banjo, mandolin, etc.
I also have a classic rock band for the reception. The band gets the same as the wedding musicians listed above. (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, all four are vocalists) I don’t play harp with them!!!! 🙂
And I am connected with Irish dancing troupes if they want dancers or a ceili for the reception. The dancers usually dance for $100 for two 10 minute sets. (although I have a gig coming up next year where they are paying $1000 to get the dancers to drive 3 hours into the mountains on the same day as the big parade that no one wants to miss)
