There’s the old saying that “I can’t get experience without you giving me experience,” or words to that affect. You need to learn the ropes and get your feet wet in whatever it is that you do. But along the way to getting those reps is finding out how much you can expect to get paid in the process.
Yes, it’s true. Two weeks after writing a blog advocating for fair wages for music artists, I’m here today with the prequel. In other words, what exactly are those fair wages?
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Just like getting a job so you can put down that you have worked somewhere before (singular or plural), you need to know first how much someone can expect to be paid as a performer before you start complaining about what you're being offered or making demands.
Here’s the thing. Performers need to be open with one another about how much they’re getting paid for different shows. There I said it. I know, “Oh my gosh, it’s taboo! Nobody talks about pay!”
Hear me out because there are a lot of reasons to do this.
Not in any particular order, but, first off, think about it this way. I can sense there already being discomfort at this idea. However, you’re willing to share contacts. You’re willing to share rehearsal space. You’re willing to say, “I could just come to you, and we can write at your place if you’re having car trouble rather than cancel the write.” You’re willing to do something as “extreme” as, “You can just use my guitar.”
So, why wouldn’t you do something like share what the amount is that you got paid for a certain gig? That’s really the way you can find out – when they use the expression “what the market will bear” – what, in fact, the market is bearing. And I need to add that you have to find out from other people, plural, not just one person.
Still struggling with this? Swap information, then. Tell someone, “I’ll tell you what I made over at [venue] if you’ll tell me what you made over at [other venue].”
In this day and age of collaboration being such a popular buzzword, how much a performer is getting paid shouldn’t be such a state secret. Nobody likes to talk about pay, but the fact is that you need to and finding out from one another is the only way you’re going to know other than just taking a venue’s word on it. And nothing against the venues, but how do you know that they’re not under cutting you and telling you one price and it turns out they paid somebody else a higher rate.
Sometimes in a situation like this it’s helpful to take a step back and ask yourself why you’re worrying. What fear do you have in asking someone how much they got paid for a gig? My educated guess is that it’s one of two things. Either you’re concerned that they won’t tell you or there’s a fear that they’ll think, “Wow, you don’t know how much to charge.”
On the first of those, maybe they won’t tell you, but you never know until you ask. It’s actually that simple. And guess what? If you don’t ask at all, well then no, you won’t know. So, give it a shot. After all, the industry is already loaded with “No” responses or just never getting an answer back, period. Therefore, this ask should be no different.
And when it comes to, “What might they think,” well heck, you could have that same worry when it comes to your song choice, your voice, your guitar, your wardrobe, and more. Unless they come right out and tell you, there’s no way of knowing what someone else is thinking, so it very likely is just all in your head.
Keep in mind that it’s your career and you’re asking because you want to get ahead. After all, you don’t want to leave money on the table!
Now of course it should go without saying that this isn’t for you to blab all over town. There has to be a strong sense of trust and confidentiality. Don’t have this conversation with someone who’s going to tell everyone they meet. But use your judgment and don’t apologize. Make the ask and then stop talking.
Think of how much happier and how much more confident you’ll be as you move forward in your career and plan your finances. That in itself is a whole different type of satisfying payoff.
For more than twenty years I have been helping indie music artists, authors, actors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, filmmakers, small business owners, and more. What challenges are you having in your creator career that I can lend some insight to? Connect with me so you can take advantage of all my experience, and I can help and keep you moving forward.