Paying your band members.

[jttacct]

I play for Local Group they're a very good ladies gospel group. Here lately we have been doing alot of traveling.My question is what price should I be charging for my services as bass player. The group thinks that since they pay for motel and food that the musciain should not be paid at all  please help me!!!

[uriahsmusic]

if anyone else is getting paid...you should get paid!

[MikeGee]

This is a very sensitive topic I'd like to see other's response. I play for 2 services at my home church and I think I would pass on the pay check. Musicians at my church arn't paid unless they are also a Pastors.

[basedigrace]

if anyone else is getting paid...you should get paid!

This is correct. If anybody traveling on the gig like singers, pastors, other musicians, drivers e.t.c is getting paid so should you. This subject isn't as sensitive as you think. If your providing a service for someone you should be paid in return. That is unless you like working for free and totally happy with that.

[MikeGee]

That is unless you like working for free and totally happy with that.[/quote

This is a blessing and a curse. I have a strong calling on my life to surve. Thinking about this topic brings tears to my eyes, because I know I am not doing my part. When I pray before doing an Electrical side job, I hear do it for nothing. So I do.

[BassMan2000]

I also play for my Home Church and I play for free. The only time I charge is when I travel. I feel anytime I leave my Home Church to play
at other events I should get paid.

Hope this help.

P.S.
If you don't need the money, Then it does'nt matter.

[fenderjazz]

I would say $100 dollars per gig is at least a good place to start. I hope they didn't actually tell you that they don't think you should be paid. It's one thing for them to not pay you because they can't afford it, but If they have the money and just don't want to pay you then you probably should quit. In this case they probably have little or no respect for you and your craft or they are trying to take advantage of you. You are doing a professional service for them and you should be compesated for your time. If you decide to negotiate a fee for your service make sure you and your bandmates stick together as much as possible. If the singing group is looking for an excuse not to pay you they might try to play you against the other band members.

[funkinater]

There's a couple of things to look at here.  One, how much is the group making as a whole per gig. When you take into account that there are probably 4 musicians plus singers, that's a lot of people to pay.  Sometimes you have to chalk it up to ministry and exposure.  There has been alot of times where I've went and played a service for free but it's given me an opportunity to do something else for pay.  Even churches today are starting to realize the importance of taking care of it's musicians. I've always gone to a church that never payed it's musicians.  There's kind of a taboo that says church musicians should do everthing for free and for the Lord.  Now adays churches want a rippin music department and it takes more than one practice a week to make that happen.  I think sometimes we as musicians put more work into the praise and worship, and choir than does the preacher in his sermons.  Just remember to do everything in a good spirit but don't let people take advantage of you either.
Funkinater

[sixstringpoet]

i cannot disagree with anything in this thread, but i believe that God has given us the talent to use for his glory, and whatever is right he will pay us. so for my home church i dont ASK for anything. ( i must say though that we are all workers in the field, Pastor, usher, deacon, musician etc. if one gets paid then....... hey you get the picture).

Now for any other engagement i have to get paid, unless i really want to do the gig. I do not let anyone intimidate me into doing anything for free with any " do it for the Lord" talk. that being said, if you like the gig and you are learning in the process, do what feels right for you. I will take a free trip paying only room and meals  to anywhere i have not been before over a stay at home gig with pay anyday. peace.

[bradleymoorer]

since I have gotten a little better I have not charged, now I feel like someone said previously that if everyone else is getting paid then is only right that you get paid. If you are content with not being paid and playing to God's Glory, then The Lord will reward you. Peace!

[Luvphillyman]

I see it like this; if you're doin something you love, and you're taking it upon yourself to do music with a certain group (be it church or what-not) then it doesn't seem feasible to get paid.  However, if you're asked to take out extra personal time for something "extra" that is a slight inconvenience (takes you away from home, infringes on personal/family time) then by all means, you should be compensated for your efforts.