The cost of hiring a well-known musician ??

rjay · 16th December 2006, 06:02 PM

A internationally known musician, who recently had a solo deal with one of the majors, has agreed to play lead on a track on my new album. The whole album is instrumental and has no deal at the moment - I have some past success, but if I can't find anyone to license it I'll probably arrange distribution and put it out myself.

I've hired a few other musicians for this album and they've all asked for low fees (like $250 for a couple of hours incl. their studio) and no ongoing royalties. Now, the manager of this famous muso has asked what my T&C's are - basically what I'm offering.

So, what should I offer this guy ?? I've been a huge fan of his for years and was blown away when I heard that he'd listened to the track I sent him, liked it and wanted to play on it. So, there is more than just money at stake for me, but of course I can't bankrupt myself.

All advice and ideas welcome.

A440 · 16th December 2006, 08:14 PM

I would suggest coming clean to the manager..explain to him what you've explained to us..and ask him what he thinks a fair deal would be...if the artist you're talking about really likes your track he may make you pleasantly suprised. After all famous artists are just as into the art of music as everyone else

rjay · 16th December 2006, 08:20 PM

Hi A440,

To be honest, that's just what I did a week ago, by email, and haven't heard since. So, I'm starting to think that it would be better if I made some kind of suggestion. I don't have their phone number either and a Google search didn't turn anything up.

Sqye · 16th December 2006, 08:37 PM

one of a few things is most likely going on.

1. they're busy, or unavailable - my experience
doing ANYTHING music business related around the HOLIDAYS
in the UK can be really insane - people are AWAY.

2. they're waiting to see how serious you are -
playing the negotiating game. less likely, since they're
not going to make THAT much money off of you -
but you never know - after all, they don't know you.
managers get paid to squeeze as much money
as possible out of every situation - that's their job.

3. if the manager thinks you have a low budget,
then his motivation for dealing with you is going to be VERY LOW,
since he WON'T MAKE MUCH.

example: $2500 x 15% = $375

if he's really busy, and a genuine successful business person,
you may have to chase him around to get him to pay attention to you

4. they never got your e-mail.

at any rate, you may have to be a pain in th a$$ to get their attention,
but since it's the holidays, i wouldn't start worrying too much, yet.

good luck.

..

composer · 16th December 2006, 08:59 PM

Isn't the standard UNION rate $200 an hour?

bigbone · 16th December 2006, 10:03 PM

the union rate is a bout 300 $ (give and take ) for a 3 hours session, but some
studio cats can ask double scale , you got to remember that those are rate
but it doesn't mean you can't charge more, it's a minimum scale.....
you got to know how to deal.......

untitledtopher · 16th December 2006, 10:09 PM

big agreement with sqye its the holidays, all musicians are very busy right now, i know i have 3 gigs coming up in the next couple days, things will die down after the holidays an i'm sure you'll get a response of some sort.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hiring Api 560, 550a and 550b in Melb. Australia?	Ski spiggy	High end	3	30th November 2006 02:48 PM
Hiring an orchestra...	keithrt99	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	17	29th September 2006 06:18 PM
GIK now hiring Sales/Tech support	Glenn Kuras	The good news channel	0	3rd March 2006 03:45 PM
Hiring some 4038's this weekend... API and ?	Ol' Betsey	So much gear, so little time!	2	28th October 2005 12:50 AM

16th December 2006, 06:02 PM	#1
rjay Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 132	The cost of hiring a well-known musician ?? A internationally known musician, who recently had a solo deal with one of the majors, has agreed to play lead on a track on my new album. The whole album is instrumental and has no deal at the moment - I have some past success, but if I can't find anyone to license it I'll probably arrange distribution and put it out myself. I've hired a few other musicians for this album and they've all asked for low fees (like $250 for a couple of hours incl. their studio) and no ongoing royalties. Now, the manager of this famous muso has asked what my T&C's are - basically what I'm offering. So, what should I offer this guy ?? I've been a huge fan of his for years and was blown away when I heard that he'd listened to the track I sent him, liked it and wanted to play on it. So, there is more than just money at stake for me, but of course I can't bankrupt myself. All advice and ideas welcome.

16th December 2006, 08:37 PM	#4
Sqye Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: undergound railroad Posts: 5,764	one of a few things is most likely going on. 1. they're busy, or unavailable - my experience doing ANYTHING music business related around the HOLIDAYS in the UK can be really insane - people are AWAY. 2. they're waiting to see how serious you are - playing the negotiating game. less likely, since they're not going to make THAT much money off of you - but you never know - after all, they don't know you. managers get paid to squeeze as much money as possible out of every situation - that's their job. 3. if the manager thinks you have a low budget, then his motivation for dealing with you is going to be VERY LOW, since he WON'T MAKE MUCH. example: $2500 x 15% = $375 if he's really busy, and a genuine successful business person, you may have to chase him around to get him to pay attention to you 4. they never got your e-mail. at any rate, you may have to be a pain in th a$$ to get their attention, but since it's the holidays, i wouldn't start worrying too much, yet. good luck. .. __________________ Sqye (sky) *wired planet new music CREDITS link directly above ipod player *wired planet *fallen planet "he who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death" .... Thomas Paine

16th December 2006, 10:09 PM	#7
untitledtopher Gear maniac Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 153	big agreement with sqye its the holidays, all musicians are very busy right now, i know i have 3 gigs coming up in the next couple days, things will die down after the holidays an i'm sure you'll get a response of some sort. __________________ Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it. - John Lennon untitled topher.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

16th December 2006, 08:14 PM	#2
A440 Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 423	I would suggest coming clean to the manager..explain to him what you've explained to us..and ask him what he thinks a fair deal would be...if the artist you're talking about really likes your track he may make you pleasantly suprised. After all famous artists are just as into the art of music as everyone else

16th December 2006, 08:20 PM	#3
rjay Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 132	Hi A440, To be honest, that's just what I did a week ago, by email, and haven't heard since. So, I'm starting to think that it would be better if I made some kind of suggestion. I don't have their phone number either and a Google search didn't turn anything up.

16th December 2006, 08:59 PM	#5
composer Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 350	Isn't the standard UNION rate $200 an hour?

16th December 2006, 10:03 PM	#6
bigbone Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: montreal Posts: 562	the union rate is a bout 300 $ (give and take ) for a 3 hours session, but some studio cats can ask double scale , you got to remember that those are rate but it doesn't mean you can't charge more, it's a minimum scale..... you got to know how to deal.......