To figure out how much to charge for a gig, start with your floor: the number under which the gig costs you money. Add up every hour the gig takes (not just stage time), your drive and gear costs, and a set-aside for taxes. Then quote above that floor, more for Fridays, private events and corporate work, less never.
The calculator below does the floor math for one real gig. Then we'll set your minimums and the words to hold them.
Your floor for one gig
The math: (stage + setup + drive both ways) × your hourly number, plus drive and gear costs, grossed up for the tax set-aside, rounded up to the next $25. Nothing leaves your phone.
Why "3 hours" is never 3 hours
The biggest pricing mistake is dividing the fee by stage time. A three-hour bar gig is load-in, soundcheck, three hours of playing, teardown, load-out and the drive both ways. Add it up honestly and it's often double the stage time. Price the whole night. There's a full breakdown in How Much Should a 3-Hour Gig Pay?
Set your minimums by gig type
Your floor is the same on a Tuesday. The day and the gig type decide how far above the floor you quote, not whether you go under it. Write these down once, so you're never making up a price on the spot:
- Weeknight bar or restaurant: closest to your floor. It's a slower room.
- Friday or Saturday bar or restaurant: higher. That's the night you could be booked somewhere else.
- Private party: higher again. More prep, a learned song or two, and a client who wants it personal.
- Wedding ceremony or cocktail hour: higher still. One shot, no do-overs, a lot of coordination.
- Corporate: usually your top number. Invoice after the event with net terms, and expect them to ask for a W-9.
What should move your price up
- Distance. Pick a free-mile radius and a travel fee past it. Decide it once and you never argue about gas in a text thread.
- More players. Every player needs to take home what you agreed. Costs like the PA come off the top first.
- Your own sound system. If you're bringing the PA, that's gear, setup time and risk.
- Proof. Reviews and repeat bookings are what let you raise a rate. Testimonials are leverage.
- Demand on your calendar. If a date is getting asked for twice, it's worth more.
How to say your price (and hold it)
Say it once, plainly, and stop talking. When they push back, change what they get instead of what it costs.
I totally understand wanting to stay on budget. My rate for [time frame] is $[amount], and I keep it the same for everyone. If we need to come down, I can shorten it to [shorter time frame] for $[lower amount]. Would that work?
That line keeps your rate your rate. You're offering a smaller option, not a smaller price. A shorter set for less money, never the same set for less.
"I'm flexible, what's your budget?" "I'll do the first one free so you can see." "I can bring a crowd."
"For three hours, it's $[amount]." "I don't play first gigs free. I can do a weeknight at $[weeknight rate]." "I keep your people in their seats and ordering."
The $100 Guy
Every market has a player who'll take any gig for whatever's offered. You will not beat him on price, and you shouldn't try. Venues that only book on price cancel on price too. Compete on what the room gets: a full patio, a bar that stays busy, a musician who shows up early and knows who they're settling with. Then put that proof in your booking emails.
Get paid what you quoted
A price only matters if it lands in your account. Confirm every detail in writing, take a deposit on private events, and know who's paying you before you plug in. The full routine is in How to Get Paid for Gigs.
Questions players ask
How much should a solo musician charge for a bar gig?
Start from your floor: the number under which the night costs you money once you count drive time, setup, gear and taxes. Then set a higher minimum for Friday and Saturday than for weeknights. James's own rule of thumb: $200 to $250 is fair for a bar or restaurant night, and $300 to $350 in a higher-end market. Your market may be different, so do the math for yours.
Should I charge by the hour or a flat fee?
Quote a flat fee for a set time frame. It's simpler for the venue, and it stops arguments about breaks. If they want more time, that's a new number.
Is it OK to lower my rate to get a first gig?
Change what they get, not your price. Offer a shorter set or a weeknight for less money. Never the same set for less, and never a first gig free.
Should a duo charge double what a solo act charges?
Not automatically. Start from what each player needs to take home, add the shared costs like the PA and gas, and check the total against what that room can pay. If the math doesn't work for that room, it's a solo room.
Do I need to set money aside for taxes from gig pay?
Plenty of working players do, but the right amount depends on your situation and your state. Talk to a tax pro in your state. The calculator below has a spot for it so the number you quote already covers it.