Typical Freelance dayrates?
SicksT cycle Hum
I was curious what the typical Day rate is for those of you in other parts of
the country (U.S.) and the rest of the world. Basically, a "solid" sound
engineer takes home about $200 a day (sometimes more) in the Dallas Fort/Worth
area. In Houston it was $250. Keep in mind that it didnt matter whether I was
A-1 or A-2 and I didnt bring any gear( besides a basic tool bag) and thats for
local work not touring.
Has anyone else noticed a serious slump in gigs and a lowered wage being
offered in the past 6-8 mo.? I know alot of great engineers looking for work in
the D/FW area. I'm wondering if this is a "universal occurrence" or something
more regional. Lot's of gear and personell gathering dust around here.
Logan Kilburn
George Gleason
"SicksT cycle Hum" <sickstc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010821154330...@mb-fw.aol.com...
> Hi all,
> I was curious what the typical Day rate is for those of you in other parts
of
> the country (U.S.) and the rest of the world. Basically, a "solid" sound
> engineer takes home about $200 a day (sometimes more) in the Dallas
Fort/Worth
> area. In Houston it was $250. Keep in mind that it didnt matter whether I
was
I know we talked about this but in Syracuse average is 125 to 150 for a A-1
and that includes load at shop drive the truck, set up and direct crew(if
any) run show ,collect money,book your rooms(if needed) tear down and unload
at shop
and at this time none of the jobs for system techs are full time positions
all of it is pick-up
none of the under national tour guys have anything except the owner as full
time payroll
George
SicksT cycle Hum
>I know we talked about this but in Syracuse average is 125 to 150 for a A-1
Yeah I know and if we were any closer I'd be knockin' at your door. That money
is alot better than none at all, plus I would enjoy the opportunity to work for
you.
>and that includes load at shop drive the truck, set up and direct crew(if
>any) run show ,collect money,book your rooms(if needed) tear down and unload
>at shop
Thats the norm here too in most cases.
>and at this time none of the jobs for system techs are full time positions
>all of it is pick-up
>none of the under national tour guys have anything except the owner as full
>time payroll
Even alot of "full-timers" arent full time around here anymore. Makes it even
harder for us freelancers!
Logan
Cameron Grant
Wow, what a can of worms YOU just opened!
thinking..............
SicksT cycle Hum
Good, that was my intention. I'm gathering some info. Any (nice) comments are
welcomed.
There's a certain madness to my method!
Thanks
Logan K.
-G.
here in Cleveland, anal rape you. The Cleve rate is close to what George said. It
also included all the work George described.
The last company I worked for, paid $150 for A1 or A2, and $125 for A3. I was the
A3. I told them to get fucked for the extra $25 bucks. It wasn't worth my time.
"But we really need you to mix monitors"
"I really need at least $200"
That's about as far as it went.
Easily, a quarter million bucks worth of equipment, and they can't pay $200. Gimme
a break!
Places like NY, and Orlando pay much better. I imagine La pays pretty good to,
since everything else out there is so expensive. As a bonus, you get to work with
the FOH guy for Bon Jovi. :) It seems that EVERYBODY in the La production scene
did FOH for Bon Jovi.
"Excuse me, the doors are open... can you tell me why security is not in position?"
"Whoa.. dude, relax, I did Front of House for Bon Jovi... everything's cool"
"yeah, that's great, now can I please have my security guys?"
You get the point.
-G.
SicksT cycle Hum wrote:
--
A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in
human history -- with the possible exception of handguns and tequila.
SicksT cycle Hum
>the FOH guy for Bon Jovi. :) It seems that EVERYBODY in the La production
>scene
>did FOH for Bon Jovi.
John Von Blowme, hehe. I'd even sit through that show right now ! i guess I am
gettin desperate. lol
anything but Insane Clown Posse'. I hate cleaning up all that Rootbeer.
Logan
BobbyK
Well, here in the great white north, we're looking at about CAN$2-300 per
day (12-16 hour, sometimes more) for a System Tech/Engineer. Plus expenses
(meals/hotel/transport provided). This is typical for a lot of mid-level
rock&roll work. Corporate and A-Level rock&roll pay a bit more, and touring
is roughly US$1000 / week for a system tech, more for a FOH/Mon engineer.
Interested in hearing more from around the States.
Bobby.
Michael Gaster
WHAT!!!!!! PEOPLE ARE GETTING PAID FOR THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!
....Oh I'm Pissed now!!!!!!!
SicksT cycle Hum
> ....Oh I'm Pissed now!!!!!!!
>
OOppppps! I guess I let the cat out of the bag? Sorry just another newbe
mistake!
Actually, thats the reason for the post.
I used to get paid to do it (for many years)
now it seems that everyone wants it for free. I used to think that people had
finally caught on to the fact that I dont know $#@& but after talkin to others
around here
I think it's more serious than that. Someone took all the money and hid it.
Cameron Grant
Day rates......wow, what a complex subject. I'll tell you what things are like
here in the promised land. If you're talking about R&R then you're looking at
$100-$200 for an unlimited number of hours worked per day, usually under horrendous
conditions. By the way, you guys DO have CDL's and proper health cards & insurance
don't you? Clubs? less, but hey you get free beer. Theater is usually by the week,
community is $300/wk on up, legit is $800 a week on up. Is it an IATSE gig? Add
some more. The holy grail in this reporters opinion based on the limited number of
responses so far to this thread and the rates you're quoting, is corporate.
Here in the deep south and in Vegas, A1's start at $350 for ten hours, A2's
start at $300 for same. Time & half (yep we charge 'em) after ten hours, 6 or 8
hour turnaround, double time after midnight and before 6 am, time & a half on
Sunday all day. I know guys that do 6 beans for ten, I also know scum bags that
will work for $250, but the quality of their work usually is reflected in the rate.
So it's important to differentiate between genre's worked and the motivation
for same When I came off the road a few years ago I took a gig at House of Blues
(R&R) for $12 an hour but left after 3 months, I was losing too much money. Am I
blessed? Hell fucking yes, hearing you guys talk about $150 for a full day's work
turns my stomach. I am truly grateful for the niche (rut) I have fallen into.
Understand that I used to work for free, and then, $50 seemed like a good deal for
an 18 hour day.
We've got a few problems right now with low ballers coming in and trying to
snake us on the rate, but that's ok, because the lowballers just make us look
better when they lose it on a gig, or show up late, or any of the other hundreds of
things people do to fuck themselves in this business. I feel for ya out there in
DFW Logan. Come on down to mouseshwitz! There's plenty of room in the pool.
Kersplash.
As far as your addressing the slump, yes we are seeing it here, conventions
track the economy +6 months, and the down turn has affected us somewhat, not so
many canceled gigs just not as many gargantuan production numbers so hence, less
A3's & A4's being booked. Word from Nevada is the same. Still lots of little
breakout rooms which incidentally pay exactly the same as the guy working the main
hall, just not so much OT (or pressure!). Home by 7pm.
Everything works cyclical in this business, my gang of thugs & I have this
theory that if you can just ride out the slump, all the slackers will go back to
painting houses and next year this time we'll all be screening our calls. It's
happened before and history always repeats itself, cyclical. The key for me at
least, is to maintain a cushion and rely on that cushion to get me through to the
next rainy season. So far (knock on silicon) it's worked, again I'm not trying to
bum any of you out or act superior I'm a lucky fucko that's it, and I whole
heatedly invite any of you to come on down if life in small town X starts sucking
too bad. Bring a suit & tie & cut that hair young man. Not that DFW is small town X
(!) just making an example. Sounds like all the full sail guys moved west!
Respect, C.
.
SicksT cycle Hum
>responses so far to this thread and the rates you're quoting, is corporate.
No, the corporate rate is alittle more than the rates that I quoted.
>Bring a suit & tie & cut that hair young man.
I have lots of suits and the hair is already short
>Sounds like all the full sail guys moved west!
Yep alot of them did but I think the current slump ran alot of them off
.>and I whole
>heatedly invite any of you to come on down if life in small town X starts
>sucking
>too bad.
Do you know of someone looking for good reliable help in your area? Where are
you located?
Thanks
Logan Kilburn
(or DFW Logan will work too)lol
Chris Welsh
per
> day (12-16 hour, sometimes more) for a System Tech/Engineer. Plus
expenses
> (meals/hotel/transport provided). This is typical for a lot of mid-level
> rock&roll work. Corporate and A-Level rock&roll pay a bit more, and
touring
> is roughly US$1000 / week for a system tech, more for a FOH/Mon engineer.
>
> Interested in hearing more from around the States.
>
> Bobby.
>
depending on the gig. Even Club House gigs (for days off) average between
$90 and $150 per show with no set-up or striking of PA.
Chris
Bob Wilson
> I was curious what the typical Day rate is for those of you in other parts
of
> the country (U.S.) and the rest of the world. Basically, a "solid" sound
> engineer takes home about $200 a day (sometimes more) in the Dallas
Fort/Worth
> area. In Houston it was $250. Keep in mind that it didnt matter whether I
was
> A-1 or A-2 and I didnt bring any gear( besides a basic tool bag) and thats
for
> local work not touring.
In Pensacola the local sound dudes ( who are adequate but not GREAT) get
form 150 - 250 to do a one night bar band at a medium - large club.
I manage / drum / set up and maintain sound and lights for my band and have
paid up to 250 to have someone set up and run sound for a four hour gig at
the local military base, the band grossed 600 and 250 went to sound.
Since I acquired the Peavey system I have averaged 30 per gig for the band
(gross) and split the proceeds 8 ways, so the guy I trained to run the
system got about $35.00 per gig. He decided to quit accepting any $ cause
he was doing it for fun and to learn, but makes an average wage of $300 per
day cash in his A/C job plus he's buying my old house and is a friend. I
read in rec.music.makers.bands that one should expect to pay 375 for a sound
system for a gig so we are obviously in a depressed or saturated area, but I
also haven't seen / heard anyone doing sound here that warranted even 300
per night except the tours that come through.
I work on call part time loading in and out and sometimes running or
babysitting the board at the city theatre and the municipal auditorium and
though not union, I make much more $ doing this than I do with our band or
running sound. I have spun CD's and tapes with my old small system for 3
bills a night for weddings and parties, I don't do this for the $ ( the band
stuff).
I have also been repeatedly informed that the cash for band services in this
area is much farther behind the inflation rate than the military was in the
early 80's.
I am fortunate to be retired and financially secure, but to make a living in
the Florida panhandle, music is not the choice I would recommend.
Bob Wilson
Mike Borkhuis
of
> the country (U.S.)
I'm in the Rochester, NY area. Currently I'm getting $100/day for a bar
gig, $150-$250 for larger shows/festivals depending on the show and budget.
Mike Borkhuis
Worship Technology
wors...@rochester.rr.com
"If sense was common, everyone would have it....."
SicksT cycle Hum
>gig, $150-$250 for larger shows/festivals depending on the show and budget.
>
phones stopped ringin'. lol but ......
Anyone know what Branson Mo. is like this time of the year?
Alan Starr
<camm...@alpha66.com> wrote:
> Here in the deep south and in Vegas, A1's start at $350 for ten hours, A2's
>start at $300 for same. Time & half (yep we charge 'em) after ten hours, 6 or 8
>hour turnaround, double time after midnight and before 6 am, time & a half on
>Sunday all day. I know guys that do 6 beans for ten, I also know scum bags that
>will work for $250, but the quality of their work usually is reflected in the rate.
Cameron is right on target for the Boston area also!
That's about the rate up in here; I personally get $300-$350/day ( and
I charge OT for Saturdays as well as Sundays). Almost all corporate
work, based on a 10-hour day. Some guys are a little more, some guys a
little less, but that's the basic market rate.
BTW, that's not including any gear - that's just me showing up with a
Sharpie and some headphones.
Some might knock it, but I actually *enjoy* most of the corporate work
I do! Easy hours, professional co-workers, you get well-fed, all
expenses covered (and I spend about 15-20 weeks/year on the road). I'm
getting too old to sleep on van floors for $300/week! 8^)
In my downtime, I record bands for free in my studio, which I enjoy a
lot more now that it's on MY terms!
Alan
--
Alan Starr
Audio Engineer
alan...@erols.com
Boxboro, MA
SicksT cycle Hum
>I do! Easy hours, professional co-workers, you get well-fed, all
>expenses covered (and I spend about 15-20 weeks/year on the road). I'm
>getting too old to sleep on van floors for $300/week! 8^)
Thats what I am looking for in the present tense.And my bones dont like floors
"of any kind, anymore.
>In my downtime, I record bands for free in my studio
Thats the future for me someday, I hope.
A goal actually. I'd like to have a decent home studio someday that is self
supporting( in one form or another)
As for now, I would enjoy some steady. work.
Logan
George Gleason
audio contractor Doing service work and instals for DMX,AEI,3m,and local
churches,resturants and retail
pay averages 60$ a hour plus travel but it is not "roadie" work NO Attiude
allowed and you have to KNOW system design(not hard to learn) be handy
with tools and great troubleshooting skills
George Gleason
Cameron Grant
lot more now that it's on MY terms!
I miss that, I records drum machines and samplers, are there still musicians ouit
there?! :-)