Cost of violinist at wedding??
Discussion
DoubleSix said:
Quick sanity check if you don't mind folks!
Just organising last few things for my wedding and violinist has quoted £170 for a 45min registry office ceremony.
Appreciate she will need to set up etc but this seems a ridiculous amout no?
Musician here. Just organising last few things for my wedding and violinist has quoted £170 for a 45min registry office ceremony.
Appreciate she will need to set up etc but this seems a ridiculous amout no?
It's perhaps slightly on the pricey side for one musician for 45 minutes, I agree. Are they playing alone/with backing tracks, however, or do they have a pianist? If so, that has to be factored in, obviously.
However.
What many people don't appreciate about what we do is that it is by no means just the time we spend at each particular gig - there are hours of practise and preparation time for each gig, years of training (also aware that isn't unique to this industry, but you get me), travel, instrument (most professional standard violins are worth upwards of £10,000, and that's a conservative estimate), instrument maintenance, sheet music purchases, and countless other things that are just an everyday part of this profession that escape me...
The simple fact is, when all this is broken down, it quite often works out as less than minimum wage, even if we're busy and working frequently.
Now I'm not sure of the exact situation here, but that's just a little explanation from my perspective.
GetCarter said:
M.U. rate for a 3 hour session is just under £130. An amount is also allocated for using own instrument.
But better musicians can charge up to £600+ for the same session.
He/She can ask what they want - it's up to you what you pay.
Pay peanuts and you'll get a monkey mind.
Yep. Concisely and very well put.But better musicians can charge up to £600+ for the same session.
He/She can ask what they want - it's up to you what you pay.
Pay peanuts and you'll get a monkey mind.
DoubleSix said:
Oh, I should add, before anyone accuses me of being tight or (heaven forbid) poor; whilst the sums in question are small I've found the only way to stop the cost of this wedding spiraling dangerously towards ludicrous is to question EVERY cost and nail it down where possible.
It's been quite refreshing if admittedly rather un-British of me!!
No.It's been quite refreshing if admittedly rather un-British of me!!
The only way to stop the cost of the wedding spiralling dangerously towards ludicrous is to rein in Bridezilla.
Violinist at a wedding? Bad move IMVVHO.
Unless you can afford Nigel Kennedy, give it a miss. Your guests, and the region's cats and dogs will thank you for it.
Mobile Chicane said:
No.
The only way to stop the cost of the wedding spiralling dangerously towards ludicrous is to rein in Bridezilla.
Violinist at a wedding? Bad move IMVVHO.
Unless you can afford Nigel Kennedy, give it a miss. Your guests, and the region's cats and dogs will thank you for it.
Ha ha really??The only way to stop the cost of the wedding spiralling dangerously towards ludicrous is to rein in Bridezilla.
Violinist at a wedding? Bad move IMVVHO.
Unless you can afford Nigel Kennedy, give it a miss. Your guests, and the region's cats and dogs will thank you for it.
Seems very commonplace... I've certainly enjoyed solo violin buskers who weren't Mr Kennedy's equal.
speedysoprano said:
Musician here.
It's perhaps slightly on the pricey side for one musician for 45 minutes, I agree. Are they playing alone/with backing tracks, however, or do they have a pianist? If so, that has to be factored in, obviously.
However.
What many people don't appreciate about what we do is that it is by no means just the time we spend at each particular gig - there are hours of practise and preparation time for each gig, years of training (also aware that isn't unique to this industry, but you get me), travel, instrument (most professional standard violins are worth upwards of £10,000, and that's a conservative estimate), instrument maintenance, sheet music purchases, and countless other things that are just an everyday part of this profession that escape me...
The simple fact is, when all this is broken down, it quite often works out as less than minimum wage, even if we're busy and working frequently.
Now I'm not sure of the exact situation here, but that's just a little explanation from my perspective.
Indeed - my father, as an organist will cost around £100 for a wedding (again, fees set by the musicians union), which is probably only around 15 minutes playing.It's perhaps slightly on the pricey side for one musician for 45 minutes, I agree. Are they playing alone/with backing tracks, however, or do they have a pianist? If so, that has to be factored in, obviously.
However.
What many people don't appreciate about what we do is that it is by no means just the time we spend at each particular gig - there are hours of practise and preparation time for each gig, years of training (also aware that isn't unique to this industry, but you get me), travel, instrument (most professional standard violins are worth upwards of £10,000, and that's a conservative estimate), instrument maintenance, sheet music purchases, and countless other things that are just an everyday part of this profession that escape me...
The simple fact is, when all this is broken down, it quite often works out as less than minimum wage, even if we're busy and working frequently.
Now I'm not sure of the exact situation here, but that's just a little explanation from my perspective.
£10000 for a pro violin, I'd suggest that is an underestimate. Many pro players buy an instrument as an investment and pension, paying it off over their career. £100K upwards is not uncommon, with some of the top players having instruments worth half a million upwards. Many will have a second cheaper instrument for outdoor use.
mph999 said:
speedysoprano said:
Musician here.
It's perhaps slightly on the pricey side for one musician for 45 minutes, I agree. Are they playing alone/with backing tracks, however, or do they have a pianist? If so, that has to be factored in, obviously.
However.
What many people don't appreciate about what we do is that it is by no means just the time we spend at each particular gig - there are hours of practise and preparation time for each gig, years of training (also aware that isn't unique to this industry, but you get me), travel, instrument (most professional standard violins are worth upwards of £10,000, and that's a conservative estimate), instrument maintenance, sheet music purchases, and countless other things that are just an everyday part of this profession that escape me...
The simple fact is, when all this is broken down, it quite often works out as less than minimum wage, even if we're busy and working frequently.
Now I'm not sure of the exact situation here, but that's just a little explanation from my perspective.
Indeed - my father, as an organist will cost around £100 for a wedding (again, fees set by the musicians union), which is probably only around 15 minutes playing.It's perhaps slightly on the pricey side for one musician for 45 minutes, I agree. Are they playing alone/with backing tracks, however, or do they have a pianist? If so, that has to be factored in, obviously.
However.
What many people don't appreciate about what we do is that it is by no means just the time we spend at each particular gig - there are hours of practise and preparation time for each gig, years of training (also aware that isn't unique to this industry, but you get me), travel, instrument (most professional standard violins are worth upwards of £10,000, and that's a conservative estimate), instrument maintenance, sheet music purchases, and countless other things that are just an everyday part of this profession that escape me...
The simple fact is, when all this is broken down, it quite often works out as less than minimum wage, even if we're busy and working frequently.
Now I'm not sure of the exact situation here, but that's just a little explanation from my perspective.
£10000 for a pro violin, I'd suggest that is an underestimate. Many pro players buy an instrument as an investment and pension, paying it off over their career. £100K upwards is not uncommon, with some of the top players having instruments worth half a million upwards. Many will have a second cheaper instrument for outdoor use.
The musician will need public liability insurance, travel costs to cover and as the above posters have commented musical instruments are not cheap, £30k for a harp!
Mobile Chicane said:
DoubleSix said:
Seems very commonplace...
So why do it?Genuine question here.
But one needs something for the ceremony and a CD through a crap stereo is the alternative.
I'm not one for convention, but also not one to rail against it purely for the sake of doing so.
dingg said:
Tango13 said:
The musician will need public liability insurance,
Why - do you think she's going to stab someone in the eye with her bow or something?FailHere said:
dingg said:
Tango13 said:
The musician will need public liability insurance,
Why - do you think she's going to stab someone in the eye with her bow or something?
For comparison .... in certain quarters, and sectors of the 'marketplace', I am often hired as a commentator/presenter.
I have a standard rate for one-day jobs, and make that clear when the enquiry comes in. Sometimes that is turned down, the 'client' invariably stating that he can get the job done for - say - half that amount.
But it's interesting to know (trust me, it's so ....)that the alternative commentator chosen is often a disappointment .... and that I would be hired next time for my standard rate.
As you can see from this, the original query was whether the original suggested fee was appropriate ? My answer would be that if the violinist can get this amount on enough occasions, then it is most certainly appropriate.
Market forces, market forces ....
I have a standard rate for one-day jobs, and make that clear when the enquiry comes in. Sometimes that is turned down, the 'client' invariably stating that he can get the job done for - say - half that amount.
But it's interesting to know (trust me, it's so ....)that the alternative commentator chosen is often a disappointment .... and that I would be hired next time for my standard rate.
As you can see from this, the original query was whether the original suggested fee was appropriate ? My answer would be that if the violinist can get this amount on enough occasions, then it is most certainly appropriate.
Market forces, market forces ....
FailHere said:
dingg said:
Tango13 said:
The musician will need public liability insurance,
Why - do you think she's going to stab someone in the eye with her bow or something?Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff