going rate?

[Jane]

What is the hourly going rate for hiring a tabla player to play during dance class? Also, are they tipped?

 

[Samira_dncr]

I really have no idea, but I'd love to hear if anyone else does this.

 

[Shanazel]

I'm not sure what musician union scale wages are, but I'd find out and offer to pay that amount unless the tabla player happened to be my husband- then I'd offer to sleep with him.

Professional musicians paid a professional fee shouldn't expect to be tipped.

 

[Jane]

That's a great idea! Where do I find musician's union wage info? Chamber of Commerce?

I wish my husband played an instrument, he just fly-fishes. A lot. :lol:

 

[alosha]

:lol:

Not even touching the endless array of innuendoes I can come up with for fly fishing!

:lol:

 

[Jane]

Ha! Funny I never thought of that! :lol::lol:

I always thought making fake bugs out of feathers and yarn was weird enough...

 

[Shanazel]

Alosha, you are so warped. I like that in a person.

There are a number of sites on line re: wages. Here is one: http://www.lacountyarts.org/free_musicianwagescale09.pdf

You can also call a symphony office (Billings has a symphony, I believe) or a college music program- someone at either place should have a clue.

 

[Jane]

What a brilliant idea Shanazel! My friend is the pres. of the Billings Community Orchestra, I have written her. As soon as hear back, I'll post it.

 

[Lydia]

i pay them like they would get payd for a gig ,simply because they looze their evening and can not perform if they come to me.....sometimes they come for free because i book them all treu the years and even when i can not go, i give them gigs for themself and i never take commision from anybody ...so they want to do me a favour back and come for free

 

[Shanazel]

Thanks, Jane. It's the type of brilliance that comes from living with a musician for thirty years. :lol:

 

[Jane]

i pay them like they would get payed for a gig ,simply because they looze their evening and can not perform if they come to me.....sometimes they come for free because i book them all thru the years and even when i can not go, i give them gigs for themself and i never take commision from anybody ...so they want to do me a favour back and come for free

Yes, this makes sense. The class I would use the drummer for would be on a Tuesday night. I don't believe he would lose any performance gigs on a Tues. However, it would only be for special occasions because he lives pretty far away. I will just talk to him and work something out. I found out the going rate here is $50 an hour, which is more than I make teaching the class per hour, so I will have to negotiate something we both think is fair.

 

[PracticalDancer]

Yes, this makes sense. The class I would use the drummer for would be on a Tuesday night. I don't believe he would lose any performance gigs on a Tues. However, it would only be for special occasions because he lives pretty far away. I will just talk to him and work something out. I found out the going rate here is $50 an hour, which is more than I make teaching the class per hour, so I will have to negotiate something we both think is fair.

So, here is an idea: since it would be for "special occasions," you could defray the cost by having the students chip in to have him as a guest instructor. You should not have to pay out of pocket; it should be those who benefit from having him as a special purpose teacher. 10 students at $5 a pop doesn't seem so bad, does it? (assuming that your teaching location OK's it.)

Regards,

Anala

 

[gisela]

Yes, I was just thinking about some drawing classes many years ago where we usually had to chip in for a croquis model. Everyone thought that was fine and fair so you could always present the idea to your students. I am sure they will see that they will get a lot out of the few extra bucks.

 

[Shanazel]

Fifty dollars an hour? Damn. Good thing I'm married to my drummer and can entice him with my female wiles.

 

[Jane]

The chipping in thing would save me a lot. I think I'll do that :think:

 

[Shanazel]

Jane, I asked my husband what he makes hourly as a concert musician. He says it varies between groups, but generally somewhere between $15-20 per hour. Fifty dollars an hour is pretty nice work if you can get it; I make approximately half that teaching dance. If you asked at the Billings symphony, I suspect they quoted you price per performance or rehearsal rather than hourly rate. If this was the individual's stated rate, was he figuring in travel time as well?

 

[Jane]

Jane, I asked my husband what he makes hourly as a concert musician. He says it varies between groups, but generally somewhere between $15-20 per hour. Fifty dollars an hour is pretty nice work if you can get it; I make approximately half that teaching dance. If you asked at the Billings symphony, I suspect they quoted you price per performance or rehearsal rather than hourly rate. If this was the individual's stated rate, was he figuring in travel time as well?

I think it was cartage and performance. I had better clarify huh?

 

[Aniseteph]

The chipping in thing would save me a lot. I think I'll do that :think:

We had a live tabla workshop last year and I think the cost, and the minimum number of students for it to run, was a little higher than usual to cover his fee. I had absolutely NO problem with that - it was a fantastic experience and worth every penny.