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Post new topic Todays recording rates $ ?
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Author Topic:  Todays recording rates $ ?
Richard Tipple


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2006 9:39 am    
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Just wondering what the going rate is these days for a session steel player.
I have a couple of offers to do some session work but dont know what rates are these days
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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2006 9:45 am    
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This thread contains a lot of info. It's a few years old but, unfortunately, the rates haven't really changed in that time (or since I was in High School, for that matter!)

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum15/HTML/000337.html

[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 09 November 2006 at 09:45 AM.]

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Mark van Allen


From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 9 Nov 2006 9:54 am    
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Hi, Richard, a bit of a tricky question as factors like local market, session budget, and availability of steelers come into play.
Around here (Atlanta) many of the pro level session guys are charging $50 -75 per song.
One banjo player I know charges $85 an hour, and seems to price himself out of some sessions.
For me, I factor in travel time and amount of work in the offing, ie: for one tune all the way across town, $125, $50 a song after.
A lot of overdub sessions I get are for one or two songs, and after hearing the steel, they drop me in on 4 or 5 others.
Yesterday I did 6 songs in 4 hours, $60 a song. On major label, T.V. and advertising calls I have gotten as much as $650 for one song. Wish they were more frequent!
I always bring a dobro, even if they don't think they'll need it... Some sessions pay doubles for another instrument, and some producers will add dobro to several songs once they hear it!
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Al Marcus


From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2006 9:23 am    
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Richard- I have been a member of Local 4, Cleveland since 1945.

Here are their rates that I just got in the mail recently.
.
For Profit over 10,000 units.
Local Recording- $90.00 per hour- Three hour call. Overtime $30.00 per 15 minutes after 3 hours.

Leader-100% over side Musicaian scale.Leader adds 5% pere sideman to AFM-EPF and Adds 20% in payroll taxes per sideman.

For profit-Under 10,000 units.
$75.00 per hour-Three hour call. Overtime is $28.50 for 15 minutes after 3 hours.
Leader or single musician is $100.00 per hour-Three hour call. Leader or single musician is $40.00 per 15 minutes after 3 hours.
Additional charges are for Cartage,Doubling, etc.

Theatrical Show Scale , performance service. $175.00 three hour call. Rehearsal Service-$40.00 per hour-two hour call.

Symphonic,Ballet,Opera and Chanber Music. $150.00 three hour call.
Rehearsal Service $40.00 per hour. Two Hour call.

There it is....al

(edit for spelling)
------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/


[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 10 November 2006 at 08:58 PM.]

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Richard Tipple


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2006 9:40 am    
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Thanks fellas
This really gives me a base to work with.
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2006 12:33 pm    
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I won't record for under $150. I just had some guy from the internet low balling me. He wanted a rehearsal and a session for $100. He is probably on the net now looking for somebody cheap. I could use the $100 but I know I would feel crappy about the whole experience.

------------------
Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website



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Jim Cohen


From:
Philadelphia, PA
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2006 7:54 pm    
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Thanks, Bob. I took the gig.
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David L. Donald


From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
Post  Posted 10 Nov 2006 10:26 pm    
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Jim, should just about cover the gas,
The NYC hotel is on you!
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 11 Nov 2006 8:38 am    
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It does get weird these days with recording rates. There are tons of guys with pro tools le at home that have never dealt with full time musicians. There experience is so isolated that they have some pretty strange ideas. One thing the home pro tools guys bump into is that the internet is full of no playing clowns that promote themselves over the net. They get some "pro musician" that wastes there time and money. These issues are not much of a problem in the studio referal system. You play a session for a producer and do a good job and you get other sessions from it.

It is very tricky trying to discuss recording rates with guys that have no real world experience. After blowing off a bunch of sessions because the "artist" was so completely clueless I think I have found a solution to getting my rate and not seeming like a dick. But I'm keeping that one to myself.

------------------
Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website



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