Getting Paid for Music

[Gert van Santen]

Op 18-9-2010 10:49, ibi sum schreef:
>> So, if you get asked to do music for, say in my case a slideshow/web
>> content/trade booth material, how do you determine your fees?  In the past I've
>> done a couple of projects that I got paid back in say cases of wine or something
>> (e.g. a Norther California winery).  But now I've been asked for some start up
>> company gig and was asked what my rate was, and I had to tell them that I get
>> back to them.  Anyway, for some one who gets paid as a software engineer I
>> couldn't determine how much I should be asking.  DJ gig rates was easier to
>> determine, especially when the hiring club tells you how much they are going to
>> pay, but for specific music projects, I have no idea.  Any suggestions?
>
>
> My only suggestion (and its just that, don't take this seriously -bar)
> is that you charge what you feel comfortable charging - i.e. is it
> $40US/Hr. for 10 hours of work, and so on .. the industry has rates and
> there are 'standards' for this, but its all baloney as far as I'm
> concerned - you're being paid to do something you (presumably) love
> doing, and if you feel the rate is fair, do it.  Forget what other
> musicians tell you, or what 'the industry' dictates is a going rate and
> so on.
>
> Base it on a fixed estimate of time of how long it will take you to do
> the project, also.  Really, you have to give your best estimate, plus an
> additional %20 extra for 'expansion space' in the quote.  But, don't try
> to profit from this - just get paid whats fair.  It *always* works
> better if you, in your heart, think the price is valid and fair.  What
> would you pay for that kind of music to be made, yourself?

I think it also depends on who your client is, and how many 
people will hear your music, and for how long and where it will 
be heard.

Say you make this for a national television thingy, you can 
easily ask something like $1,500 for the music (also depending on 
your experience and the amount of music). But if this is for a 
company presentation of a small start-up , do as Jay says. 
If/when they come back to you next year, you might want to 
discuss the fee again.

-- 

----------
gert van santen
www.gertvansanten.nl