Re: attitude(how much to ask for)

[Daryl Shawn <highhorse@mhorse.com>]

I'm dealing with exactly this question just now. The owner of a modest 
coffeeshop, where I fully expected to play for tips, asked me "What do 
you charge?" It seems so incredibly arbitrary what I would choose to 
charge in that situation - as opposed to, say, a nice restaurant where 
there's obviously a good amount of money coming in and so I actually do 
ask for what I think I'm worth - that I was a little baffled. I really 
wanted to play there, mainly as I have friends in that city and want to 
present my stuff to them, and this sort of coffeeshop nearly always 
means playing for tips. I didn't want to offer to play for free in a 
situation where money is apparently typical (thus dragging down the 
local market - I was mindful of the discussion here!) - and didn't want 
to price myself out of the gig, so I ended up asking for about half what 
I'd charge a restaurant...and am still waiting to hear back from him.

I'd love to know what other people do in a situation like this. You want 
the gig, and would take anything, but want to hit some mythical average 
you can only guess at.

Daryl Shawn
www.swanwelder.com
www.chinapaintingmusic.com

> Just curious friends,
> so when you deal with club owners or venues how do you
> determine then how much you should be paid,or how do
> you figure out the economics of the city,town or venue
> you are going to play beforehand?I know this is all
> based on negotiation but where do you start and stop?
> cheers
> Luis
>
>