Should You Reduce Your Band Booking fees?

With the economy struggling should you be reducing your gig fees to get band bookings?

I've been asked this many times over recent months and my answer is still the same. Getting all the band  bookings you want isn't about cutting your price until a venue accepts your offer.

There's one argument that says the less you charge for playing gigs the more work you'll get and to some  extent it's true. Offering to play for a temporarily or one-off reduced gig fee will often secure an untried band a gig at a new venue. If you want to be taken seriously though you don't just want to be known as a "cheap" act. 

A lot of venues will ultimately associate a band that's very cheap with one that's lacking in quality no matter how good you seem to be. 

The point to remember here is that while a one-off "trial price" can be a good place to start for a new band or an established one in an area you're unproven or unknown, you need to get your price up to your full levels for subsequent gigs or you'll be stuck at the bargain basement level with the no-hopers. 

Keep in mind that your gig fee, no matter how high, is only too expensive to the venue if they're not making enough of a profit on the night. 

You can charge more than any other band in town but if you fill the place to the rafters with the type of punters who drink the place dry (but don't trash it) and the venue still turns a decent margin on the night, no venue will care how much you cost them.....

Tips on setting band booking  gig fees

Tips to bring and keep a crowd at your band booking