rungles Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 So I've been playing on the Isle of Wight since I was 15 (that's 30 years, man and boy - OK mostly boy). It's a standing joke down here that pubs have ALWAYS paid £120 per night on average but sadly it is actually the case. My uncle plays in a few bands in and around Southend and can't believe how little we get paid as they are getting around £250-£300 a night. I was just curious how much this varies from town to town around the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 NE England - I get offered as low as £120 per pub gig (which I politely decline) but generally get £200; some gigs are £250 (all of my gigs this year have been £200-£250 across 6 bands I have played with) but no more than that. However... I was getting 'exactly' the same fee 20-25 years ago from the same venues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 I don't yet play with a band, but a sound engineer friend of mine does a lot fo 'fixing' of bands. Locally (north mids) it depends on the type of pub. Some go for fewer events but pay more (£300+). Others prefer to have 2 or even 3 bands on one night and pay sod all - and get rubbish as a result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 We (modern rock covers from north Oxfordshire) can get around £250 for a 2 × 1 hour pub set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Rural and small town Derbyshire, £200 - £250 for what usually amounts to 2 hours of music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 (edited) The pub chains that ask for an invoice and pay from their head office, pay much better up here in Edinburgh (around £300 per band). The pubs that pay cash in hand usually pay much less (around £150). My theory is that the bar manager is given a budget and if he/she can pay the bands less than the budget, then he/she can keep the rest for themselves. There's less chance to fiddle, when the bands are being paid straight from head office. Edited May 30, 2016 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 In somerset £220- 250 for a normal saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted May 30, 2016 Share Posted May 30, 2016 Here in Norfolk (and Suffolk when we play there) we get £300 as a starting point for 2x 1hr sets in pubs. We are however one of the longest established bands in the area and can't speak for other bands round here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 (edited) As you guys know for gigging cover bands in the US it's a 4 hour proposition. $500.00 is the top of the scale. We won't do business unless every member walks out with at least $100.00 in their wallet. We able to off set that scale with the higher paying festival and fair gigs in the Sumner, Some of you in the UK will say how can you play for 4 hours. My response, " it's easy, it's fun." Blue Edited May 31, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Midlands area is around £200-£250 for a couple of hours. I think that's a fair price but would not go any lower. We are only a 3 piece though so less people to share it with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 London and Home Counties seems to be around the £250 mark, give or take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paultrader Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 We ask for a minimum of £250. If we're playing in a pub for the first time we'll accept £220 on the basis that it's £250 for subsequent gigs. We've found that if we hold out for this amount we'll get it so I'm sure lots of bands are getting that amount. This is in Oxfordshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 £200 - £250 is the standard pub gig rate down South Wales area. Some places will try to pay less. Usually those gigs go to acoustic duos. We are lucky to be able to charge a little more as we are a 6 piece and don't often play pubs (maybe 10 a year), but £300 is pretty much tops. Standard set will be 2 X 1 hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1464681090' post='3061292'] £200 - £250 is the standard pub gig rate down South Wales area. Some places will try to pay less. Usually those gigs go to acoustic duos. We are lucky to be able to charge a little more as we are a 6 piece and don't often play pubs (maybe 10 a year), but £300 is pretty much tops. Standard set will be 2 X 1 hours [/quote] Another bassist from south Wales here, echoing what FuNkShUi has said. Although lately in Cardiff, pubs are now edging toward the trend of NOT paying in cash Instead, they want you to submit an invoice. This usually means one band member who has his own business submitting the invoice, and he ends up paying tax on it. Of course, we all should be paying tax -but that rather reduces the £200 fee between 4 or 5 band members.. And, given certain politicians' history on paying tax - one feels that £200, which was the going rate around 15 years ago seems rather paltry Especially as Cardiff city centre gigs usually mean you have to pay to park too Oddly enough, we seem to get paid more in the Valleys of South Wales, where you also get paid cash, often get a free drink or 2. And I have to say it, but they seem to prefer their live music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 [quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1464679904' post='3061278'] London and Home Counties seems to be around the £250 mark, give or take. [/quote] True. Unless its a first (audition) gig then its usually only £200. If they like and re book you, then it usually goes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norris Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 In Leicestershire £250-300. There are cheaper paying gigs to be had, but we won't do them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 usually about £250 is the going rate, but it does depend how many punters you can draw, a couple of bands I know that draw good crowds go out for £500 and £650, if you can more or less guarantee filling the pubs they'll pay because they make a profit, if you only get a handful in the pub, they'll be unhappy about paying anything, the university of the bleedin obvious really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 [quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1464681648' post='3061297'] Another bassist from south Wales here, echoing what FuNkShUi has said. Although lately in Cardiff, pubs are now edging toward the trend of NOT paying in cash Instead, they want you to submit an invoice. This usually means one band member who has his own business submitting the invoice, and he ends up paying tax on it. Of course, we all should be paying tax -but that rather reduces the £200 fee between 4 or 5 band members.. And, given certain politicians' history on paying tax - one feels that £200, which was the going rate around 15 years ago seems rather paltry Especially as Cardiff city centre gigs usually mean you have to pay to park too Oddly enough, we seem to get paid more in the Valleys of South Wales, where you also get paid cash, often get a free drink or 2. And I have to say it, but they seem to prefer their live music [/quote] Set the band up as a company. As a micro entity you only have to do a company return (£13) and submit simple accounts every year. It's really very simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 What's shocking is that these regional rates have pretty much stayed the same even since I first started playing. Even 'Minimum Wage' has managed to increase in comparison lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassjim Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 £250.00-£350.00 south east. there are venues that give it all this we only pay £180.00 ect. we just refuse to play there if thats the case. are the pubs practically empty on the IOW? is that the reason they wont pay more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 £250 is what we ask for in and around Manchester pubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rungles Posted May 31, 2016 Author Share Posted May 31, 2016 Thanks all - so bands on the IOW are getting properly stiffed by the looks of it! I wouldn't mind so much if we got £120 'off-season' (the IOW is very tourist-based) and the money went up in the summer but it's the same all year. Not that I'd ever stop gigging but it's interesting to know what you guys get paid in other parts of the country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 [quote name='rungles' timestamp='1464697883' post='3061504'] Thanks all - so bands on the IOW are getting properly stiffed by the looks of it! I wouldn't mind so much if we got £120 'off-season' (the IOW is very tourist-based) and the money went up in the summer but it's the same all year. Not that I'd ever stop gigging but it's interesting to know what you guys get paid in other parts of the country. [/quote] Is it just down to supply and demand? More bands than venues in a geographically restricted area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 Do you get more opportunities to play in the tourist season though (ie midweeks as well as weekends) or is it just fri/sat still? If a venue was putting on 3 or 4 acts a week in the season with a limited budget they would probably have to offer low rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 On the plus side it's only the other bands on the island you will have to compete with, can't see many looking to ferry it across from mainland for £120! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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