Cost for sessioning? (1 Viewer)

[Groundburst]

Hi

I have recently been asked to stay on in a small unsigned band as a session bassist. The band leader/artist is reasonably well-off and can afford to pay me but I'm wondering what a reasonable price is for:
a) recording (I believe it's better to charge per song than per hour for this)?
b) gigs?
c) rehearsals (or should this be done for free and money just be made from the first two)?

Bear in mind that I couldn't expect the artist to pay me big bucks as it would be my first gig as a session musician. Having said that, I'm pretty proficient at my instrument and have played in many bands over the last 8 or 9 years.

Any help/guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks!!!!

 

[I Bleed Black]

Surely per hour for recording makes more sense than per song. It could take a day to record a song or it could take a week.

 

[pad]

why not ask him what he's willing to pay? or ask a session musician. i'm not too sure there are many session musicians on here.

 

[shower another shower]

get your payment up front. preferably in gold or silver. fiat is for shmucks.

 

[classic seanc]

Ask how much he'd want to pay you, then add in the amount of time and money it would take for another session guy to learn the songs etc, then charge him that amount.

 

[kevin gallen]

On average i reckon

a) recording - €150 for 3/4 hours or so
b) gigs - €100-150
c) rehearsals - €50-80

 

[killy kill]

where's the abuse???!!!

 

[Groundburst]

Surely per hour for recording makes more sense than per song. It could take a day to record a song or it could take a week.

Well if it were to take me a week or even a full day to record basslines for a song I would be quite worried. The point is that because of studio editing/post production techniques these days you can potentially knock out several songs in a 3-4 hour session and so being paid per song means that you would get more benefit from it. I have recorded basslines for 18 songs in two days before.

 

[Groundburst]

On average i reckon

a) recording - €150 for 3/4 hours or so
b) gigs - €100-150
c) rehearsals - €50-80

What is this based on?

 

[egg_]

The point is that because of studio editing/post production techniques these days you can potentially knock out several songs in a 3-4 hour session

Lots of people still do live recording, but if you're dropping in after the fact then by song will probably suit everyone best - more predictable for him, more chance for you to make money ... unless he goes "I don't really think you nailed the groove on that one, dude, would you mind giving it another shot but I'd like you a little behind the beat this time" etc

 

[RED(tape)MENACE]

I'd work out a fee per gig played.
Work out a set number of rehearsal hours per week.
Work out a flat fee for each recording project.