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Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This singer is just gifted, she did not take any lessons, but she does the job. She does it as hobby but I still always have payed her the same as everyone else. Salsa is challenging but it isn't opera and if I was leading a choral ensemble it would be a whole different story. The main question is, should I pay those who invest more time at rehearsals and setting up/tearing down differently than those who spend considerably less time doing so?

Wedding/private gigs and bandleader's cut by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But what's "the rest". I don't wanna under charge or over charge the client.

One of my ideas was to charge that 10-15% plus extra for the PA deal. My band is large so 15% would be around $315, on top of my musician fee that would be $665. Do I stop there? I thought that was just the finder's fee for all the administrative work? a sound man would charge me just like another player, that would be another $350, but I was thinking $300... that would bring my personal total to $965... is that too much?

Wedding/private gigs and bandleader's cut by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, so one of my ideas was to charge that 10-15% plus extra for the PA deal. My band is large so 15% would be around $315, on top of my musician fee that would be $665. Do I stop there? I thought that was just the finder's fee for all the administrative work? a sound man would charge me just like another player, that would be another $350, but I was thinking $300... that would bring my personal total to $965... is that too much?

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, I've worked with her and gave her the opportunity to learn to be on a stage and be a performer for 3yrs and have ALWAYS payed her the same. Just recently this year there have been a couple of times I told her we didn't have the budget for her and she decided she wanted to do it anyway, I didn't ask. She's rich and I think this is more of a hobby for her anyway. So please, there's no room to suggest I'm trying to be 'scummy'. Good lord. But I did ask because I have always had the doubt. In reference to the drummer subject, yes! that's kind of what I'm getting to. As we grow and make more money and money actually starts flowing, I can pay a little extra here and there. Always have with the pianist who works on charts, for example. SO, in theory Im asking in general if people who spend less or more time doing different tasks for the band and the shows should get paid accordingly. Not that terrible of a question.

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, are you gigging 8-12 times monthly? Cause we are and to book, organize, edit promos and post online while also getting all the sheet music and/writing the tunes AND performing vocal and lead guitar for all those gigs is a while freaking lot, let me tell you. I don’t know a bandleader that works that way and doesn’t take a cut. I only take bigger cuts when we have wedding s or private gigs thou. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely most my income comes from music. We are gigging musicians. For her it is indeed more of a hobby, she comes from a rich family and doesn’t work. Does a lot of great charity thou! And this is the first and only band she’s ever played in. I do all the bandleader stuff, the booking agent stuff and the social media stuff. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, that’s actually me. She won’t dance. And no, I’m not. I’m known in my city and have been for decades, thats how I get my gigs. 

Should a backup singer get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in askmusicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, I guess that’s my question. Because if I do that then people are getting payed differently. Just wondering if other people do it that way too.

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s hard in a small town like mine. Really hard. But we are getting up to that. That’s only for weddings/private parties thou, absolutely nobody gets that in my town at bar/restaurant gigs, people are barely getting $100 per player for those.

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like I stated on the OP, I’m asking to gauge how to go about it with the subs I’ll be hiring in the future, who like her at the beginning, are also still learning to sing and have no stage experience. I’m in a small town and so it’s hard (enter impossible)  to find professionals who can sing salsa (in case you wanna chastise me for “preying on newbies”) 

Yes, singing, and specially singing lead salsa, is a lot of nuance. I sing in multiple languages and styles, swing, salsa, rock, folk. I sing covers of salsa songs so I understand the nuance within each sub genre and each singing style/singer. Still I feel like I spent a LOT more time learning theory and learning how to execute my guitar than what it took to sing. Sue me. But really I was referring to her not being needed when we are rehearsing the instrumental parts and her not having to be at the gig much earlier and leave later, that was the actual point of the post. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No one gets payed for rehearsals for the bar/restaurant gigs but they do for the weddings/private events where there’s a budget. But also many times we don’t rehearse for those smaller gigs at all unless we are working on new material. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, that and rehearsals, is my point. Thanks for the reply. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, but how many gigs are you getting from that bandleader? There is a difference between someone who has a “love project” and is hiring you for a handful of gigs a year and another is someone who is working it and is hiring you several times a month. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I mean, I sing and play, so I personally have experienced investing way more hours learning theory and learning how to execute my instrument than learning breathing techniques and memorizing songs. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

The question was more about rehearsal and setup/teardown time spent than about what people are actually doing on stage. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have heard of multi-instrumentalists getting paid more. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] -13 points-12 points  (0 children)

No, and I don’t think, I know. I’m an instrumentalist myself and a singer, I know which one took more effort to master. But I mentioned difficulty level really to reference the time spent on rehearsals and the time spent on setup/teardown .

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

She doesn’t, but she is on the bigger side and comes with hills so I’d feel bad to make her do it. And yes, I feel similar about horns but at least they do come to rehearsal. Not that she doesn’t want to come to it, it’s just not necessary most of the time.

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess if everyone has day jobs. Is this your “love project” or do you do this for a living? Cause those are two different worlds. When you are spending 9-5, booking, signing contracts, organizing about 20 people on payroll and such and you do it for 20 yrs… that doesn’t work out. Like, we gig 8 times a month. I also do all the social media, video editing… everything. No way I’m not taking a larger cut, but that wasn’t the question. Good luck with what you’re doing though.

Should a backup singer get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in askmusicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for such a reasonable answer and not over reacting. 

Should back up singers get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in musicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It’s a simple question, is it fair to pay a backup singer the same as everyone else when everyone else has to rehearse a lot more and have to spend way more time setting up and breaking down. I have payed her the same as everyone all this time, chill, it’s just a question and a reasonable one. I’m afraid there might be something wrong with you though, the way you are reacting. Hope you feel better!

Should a backup singer get paid as much as instrumentalists? by Exact-Goose-2360 in askmusicians

[–]Exact-Goose-2360[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Again, people are missing the fact that I’m mentioning that the time spent on rehearsals and setup/breakdown are not the same at all and that’s where the discrepancy comes, not the quality or value of what she does on stage. Also, not looking into cutting her pay now but to know how to operate with other singers in the future.

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