What is typical per-song studio charge for PSG?

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 24 May 2012 11:16 am

When asked to do studio work, I never quite know what my rate should be. My gut feeling is about $75/song, but I know that if I count my time to prep, go to the studio, set up, do any number of takes, tear down and drive home, my hourly rate is pretty small.

I'm wondering what the typical range is- like Paul Franklin at the top of the range and working down from there.

Also, what is the typical cost for a deal where the artist sends you a track, you lay down something in your studio, and send it back?

I'm trying to remember what I got paid for sessions in the past- I think the high end was $250 for 3 songs.

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 24 May 2012 11:56 am

Around here about $75-$100 a song seems the going rate

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 24 May 2012 11:59 am

For a local player who does good work but hasn't had a lot of commercial airplay,$75 per tune sounds like a bargain for the producer,and therefore a good place to start.I'm sure the players whose work does get commercial airplay command much more.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 24 May 2012 12:51 pm

Lynn,

If I can record it at my place and send it on I quote $70/track and I'm VERY liberal with my time.

If I have to pack up and record elsewhere I'll quote a "day" rate depending on my mood

I prefer to track in my own little space for a lot of reasons.

h

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 24 May 2012 3:35 pm

deleted...sorry bout the multiple posts

john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 24 May 2012 3:36 pm

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john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 24 May 2012 3:37 pm

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john widgren · Post by **john widgren** » 24 May 2012 3:39 pm

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Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 24 May 2012 3:50 pm

I am a newbie, and have no hopes or intentions of earning my living playing steel. But I have to say, if you guys are charging $75 a song to do a track, even if you record it at home, that is crazy! I wonder if that would even cover the amortization of the home recording equipment many of you guys have, much less return a decent hourly wage. If this is a track for some band that is hawking cd's from the stage, well, I can see it. But anything serious, you all should up your rate, IMO.

To answer the original question, I read somewhere Lloyd G. saying he was earning 6 figures doing studio work and that was 30 years ago, when 6 figures actually was still a huge wage. Even if you figured he worked 300 days a year (6 days a week), that is over $300 a day. So I would conclude the top players are making more than that now for a day in the studio.

This little pamphlet is interesting:

http://www.berklee.edu/pdf/parents/musi ... laries.pdf

According to it, even a church pianist or organist should make $100 a session (hardly an all-day affair).

Here is American Federation of Musicians rate sheet:

http://www.afm.org/uploads/file/emsd_gs ... VISED).pdf

A 3-hour session sideman earns $387, plus additional contributions for pension and health. See? I told you you guys where too cheap!

Probably more relevant to most of you is this contract for "low-budget recordings":

http://www.afm.org/uploads/file/emsd_gs ... 202012.pdf

Rates there are $217 (plus the pension/health).

I believe these are rates for the full session, not hourly rates, but only a union can surpass a lawyer at writing contracts that are impossible to understand, so maybe a pro will step in and correct me!

I guess it comes down to, is this a hobby for you, or are you serious about earning a living (or part of one) from playing? I would encourage anyone in the latter category who is an excellent steel player to charge any serious low-budget recordings the same as the union low-budget rates. You can always fudge on the hours, and just call it a "day rate" and put in a long session, but insist on the base rate. I think you are worth it! If they don't think your playing adds that much value to their CD, then they probably don't need you!

Just my opinion. I hope it helps!

Doug

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 24 May 2012 4:08 pm

I am a newbie, and have no hopes or intentions of earning my living playing steel. But I have to say, if you guys are charging $75 a song to do a track, even if you record it at home, that is crazy!

It may be crazy but, this is all market driven. You only have to check your local Craigslist to grasp the supply vs demand concept.

As an example, check your local studio rate ads. You'll see rates as low as $25-35/hr in my market.

I'm not tracking for the "stars". I work mostly boutique, low budget projects. I find that for that market I am actually near the top end of the scale.

Union rates are irrelevant. No one around here tracks at a union shop.

fwiw. ymmv

Welcome to reality.

h

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 24 May 2012 4:21 pm

Douglas Schuch wrote:I read somewhere Lloyd G. saying he was earning 6 figures doing studio work and that was 30 years ago, when 6 figures actually was still a huge wage. Even if you figured he worked 300 days a year (6 days a week), that is over $300 a day. So I would conclude the top players are making more than that now for a day in the studio.

Well, that was, after all, Lloyd-freakin-Green!

A friend had the late Buddy Charleton play on about 5 tracks on his CD several years back, and Buddy charged $75/song. This low rate astounded my friend- that he could get a world class steel player for $75/song.

I think I am going to say $75/song for recording in my house- going to the studio will be more. I really would like to record for this particular artist and I don't want to price myself out of the gig.

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 24 May 2012 4:58 pm

Well, that was, after all, Lloyd-freakin-Green!

At that level, (particularly union) I doubt there is much variability in rates...but a huge variability in who gets the calls. That was what I found when I use to work film freelance (both union and non-union).

RE: Buddy Charleston, $75 a song: I am astounded too!

RE: I think I am going to say $75/song for recording in my house- going to the studio will be more. I really would like to record for this particular artist and I don't want to price myself out of the gig.

Good luck! I love steel music, and so much is freely available on youtube and other sites because others are willing to give it away. I hope someday to be good enough to get up and play before an audience... and will probably do so for free. I hope this leads to other work you enjoy and helps cover the costs.

All of this reminds me of the Gillian Welch song, Everything is Free:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFle2YoQwWg

"Someone hit the big score,
They figured it out,
That we're going to do it anyway,
Even if it doesn't pay.

"I can get a tip jar,
Gas up the car,
Try to make a little change,
Down at the bar."

I wish only the best to those of you good enough to play great music, even for small wages. You guys are my heroes!

Doug

Chas. J. Wagner · Post by **Chas. J. Wagner** » 25 May 2012 5:39 am

There are more thoughts on this subject in this thread...
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... udio+rates

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 May 2012 7:34 pm

Wow! From $75-$100 a song? And we wonder why we're not hearing as much steel, nowadays.

I've had sessions that went 10 hours, and sessions where I did 7 or 8 songs. Never charged more than $300. I see $100 a song as a "professional rate", and I know that I wouldn't make a pimple on a really good player's ass.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 25 May 2012 9:42 pm

$50-75 Is the normal rate across a lot of the country.
It is possible to get off work, but people have to know that you are either that, or a more efficient and quick worker.
In short, to get paid more, they need to know you are worth more

Kenneth Kotsay · Post by **Kenneth Kotsay** » 26 May 2012 2:35 am

I charge nothing, it's FREE, yup, not one cent do I get for my playing.

I do charge for the rental of my steel, $85.00 per hour when I am in the studio, picks & bars, no charge.

Playing at gigs, I do it free, rental of my steel & amp is $35+ per hour.

I tell the club owner, I love to playing steel, so I donate my time to the folks.

KEN

Adam Goodale · Post by **Adam Goodale** » 26 May 2012 6:51 am

I Charge 60 per song, with a 3 song minimum if the studio is within an hour or so of the house. If its 10 or 12 songs, i try to lower the price to 45 or 50 a song. Some say thats cheap, but it if equals out to 20 or 30 bucks an hour, that's more than a lot of people make working a day job.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 26 May 2012 6:51 am

Donny Says:

I see $100 a song as a "professional rate", and I know that I wouldn't make a pimple on a really good player's ass.

I'm probably not a pimple on your pimple but, all I did was to hang a "virtual shingle" out on the Internet and that resulted in some opportunity. Not much of it is classic country. I'd call most of it "roots rock" or "alternative". I've also had the opportunity to support a few of these projects with a gig or several...So, it's all good as far as I'm concerned.

There's a fair amount of interest, or at least curiosity about the pedal steel within some genres. If a band wants to scratch an itch and try something new I'm willing to give it a shot!

Cheers

h

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 26 May 2012 8:01 am

a "professional rate", and I know that I wouldn't make a pimple...

I would say that a C note would support a Parker 93 pt recommendation...
Donny, how the heck R ya?

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 26 May 2012 8:24 am

Gary says:

I would say that a C note would support a Parker 93 pt recommendation..

And when I have a conflict I give Gimble all my table scraps!

Gary Lee Gimble · Post by **Gary Lee Gimble** » 26 May 2012 9:04 am

Howard, table scraps are not associated with Robert Parker's expertise, but, thanX too much for the consideration as I pass....

Jack Willis · Post by **Jack Willis** » 26 May 2012 4:20 pm

My cats charge me one sardine per song. they are overweight.

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 2 Jun 2012 2:17 am

I have some standard rates but they wax and wane...

If I can do it at home I usually charge $75-100 a tune... if I have to go out to a studio then I do a day rate of $200 and that will get you 4-6 hours or so...

In a way I prefer doing it at home but in a way I like going out to the studio... in the studio I just have to play, no fiddling with levels and all that... I just track and track and track and then I leave... plus whoever I'm working with has some direct feedback on what they want which I think is important.

Of course if I have to go into the city I automatically add on $50 "hassle charge"

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 2 Jun 2012 3:02 am

Although I charge rates that are in line with conversation..but lets be clear, the $387 for a 3 hour session is for an A team player, that may very well be the SCALE rate but the player who gets hired will have a resume.

To quickly jump at a rate such as $100 per song for a small town demo may end as a "no session". When I work with the larger productions it is a 3 hour rate, when I work with a local demo it's dependent on where I have to go, how many tracks etc...for an E- Session, same thing, I negotiate what works for me and the artist...

My Steel Guitar is bigger than me..it wants to play and be heard but it also recognizes I need a fair compensation.

I also recognize that there are plenty of artists trying to make a go of it or get a song heard, they are self funding.

It's not difficult to get a local session on Steel but it may be to get that 2nd session...we have to deliver the goods, whether it's $50/song or $387 for 3 hours...

t

Josh Yenne · Post by **Josh Yenne** » 2 Jun 2012 3:14 am

It also somewhat depends on the tracks also...

I.E.

If I really like the music then it could be less money... is it straight forward padding, or if it is a 8 minute tune and they want 64 bars of pedal steel solo with 6 modulations!?

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