My band, The All New Genetically Altered Jug Band, has an opportunity to play for a "corporate" dinner in October. An hour show during cocktails plus some insrumental interludes during dinner (total time from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) It turns out to be about 250 miles away. In my initial phone conversations with the booking agency I quoted a rate ($700) a little higher than our normal rate for a 2 hour show and said I would need to get back to her on what we would charge to cover travel and providing sound (at the time I thought the show was only about 90 miles away).

My band mates, have gotten greedy. One, who actually turns out to be the leader, quoted $500 per person for the show ($2,000), plus $250 for gas, plus $600 for travel time, plus $250 for meals, plus lodging. This totals to over $3k. Another wants $300 per person.

I'm thinking that the booking agency books all over our area, and if we are unreasonable, we not only won't get this gig, but won't get any future gigs with the agency.

Now here is my question: What can we reasonably expect them to pay above and beyond what we charge for the actual show?

How do you figure out what to charge for out of town gigs at events?

Lodging for one night seems reasonable.
Transportation seems reasonable @ 50 cents/mile
Do you typically get extra money for meals?
Do you typically get extra money for travel time?
Is $200 reasonable to charge for Sound?

Note, that we are in the U.S. and I'm looking for what is normal/expected practice here. I suspect things are different in the U.K.

Jim Bunch