Going rate for a Ceilidh Band

Subject: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:35 AM

I am thinking of organising a Ceilidh. I have done this before but not for a few years. What can I expect to pay for a band with a caller?

I am thinking of local bands who have not made major festivals or CDs, given that many bands who not well known often have music available on CD.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,Jane Bird
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:41 AM

Rates can vary, but probably start at £300 + caller @ £100 and you won't go far wrong. If you can book a band that doesn't have to travel far they might be able to do you a lower price.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: nickp
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:43 AM

Gosh, I wish we could charge that much! Mind you if we added in the travel we'd be way over that!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:44 AM

Just how long IS a piece of string ?

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Will Fly
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 08:01 AM

The band I play in usually charges between £50-£100 per person - and there's 5 of us - sometimes 6. Wedding receptions usually get charged top whack at £500-£600. Our drummer is also our caller - two for the price of one.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 04:20 PM

Chorlton in Manchester....?

brian peters plays for a ceildh band. I think he lives glosssop way - which isn't a million miles away. Perhaps he could do you a good deal for fellow mudcatter?

why not send him a PM?

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 05:03 PM

Thanks drummer - good thinking

Les

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 05:08 PM

"The band I play in usually charges between £50-£100 per person - and there's 5 of us - sometimes 6. Wedding receptions usually get charged top whack at £500-£600."


We're lucky if we can get half that

Gerry

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 05:12 PM

For Cheshire/Manchester the Boat Band either does a percentage deal with a guarantee(ie some formula like £250 or 80% of the door, whichever is the greater), or a fixed negotiated fee in the region of £100 a head for three musicians plus a caller, plus a bit for travel.Something in the region of £450ish.
You know how to find us!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 06:54 AM

Thanks Greg,

seems like a good deal. We are early in the planning so it might be a while

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 07:52 AM

Anyone wishing to research the mechanics of putting on a cveilidh/barn dance in Manchester would do well to get a ticket soon to the following(Dave Polshaw currently has a thread going on the subject of Swinton Folk Festival).

Swinton Folk Festival 2008
17 October - Ceilih with the Boat Band at Swinton Sports Club.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:24 AM

Well I will put a plug in for Boat Band ! Good lads (And Lass) all

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:31 AM

I have heard rumours that the next Boat Band CD is a Jimi Hendrix inspired album entitled "Are we Experienced or Wot?"

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 08:35 AM

Les, there is a difference between hearing rumours and starting them.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: John J
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 09:21 AM

Hi Les,

I'll have a chat with you tomorrow night at the Beech.

John

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Howard Jones
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 09:55 AM

Albireo's charge will vary depending on the type of booking ie a private party would be about £350-£400, a wedding or similar at least £500. For a ticketed public event we'd negotiate a fee, and would consider a percentage of the door.

Howard Jones
www.albireo.co.uk
www.myspace.com/albireoceilidh

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 10:02 AM

Thanks to you all...............and the Beech tomorrow what a life!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 02 Sep 08 - 07:50 PM

Go to the 'Foolish Virgins Ceilidh Band' webpage. Talk to Bill Sables, our caller and British Mudcat founder.
See if we can't help you?
Cheers,
Roger

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Helen Jocys
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 02:52 AM

Before my son (JJ) gets to you Les, we have a band and caller. We're 'Marmalade'. We've done a few ceilidhs including a wedding in Hale lately. Our title comes from the fact that we meet for breakfast every Saturday, then practice. We are local - Urmston, Flixton, Sale for the main part.   The last event (the wedding) we charged £300 but we are open to discussion. Flute, whistle, accordion, guitar,fiddle - sometimes two of the latter depending on availability. All female outfit. We're on your doorstep!


Didn't see you at Shrewsbury BTW.

Cheers,

Helen.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Joseph P
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:11 AM

All sounds very cilvilised, meeting for breakfast!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:20 AM

Helen your post brought back many happy memories of weekends round a big old gate legged table groaning with breakfast food. Then tunes flowing like the cups of tea Thank you.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,cannyscribbler
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:56 AM

Ob-la-di Ob-la-da
life goes on
Bra
La la how the life goes on..

I wondered what Marmalade were doing now!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: mandotim
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 06:27 AM

We're not a Ceilidh band as such, but we do play barn dances and the like with an American feel (bluegrass, blues, Old Time dance tunes). Our fiddler is the caller. We charge £450 for a five piece band (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass). Wedding fees tend to be higher, up to £600. It's worth booking bands direct; agencies tend to put a 15% fee on top of the band charge.

See us at http://slipperyhill.co.uk/
,and have a listen at music . If you want to see some chicken scaring photos, go to gallery . Good luck with the search!
Tim

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 07:34 AM

mandotim,

Just seen your pitcher - I'd never've guessed you like dressing up!! 8-)

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,Chris P.
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:50 PM

Since we're pretty close to you I'm up for some free publicity too, as long as my link works, that is.

http://www.myspace.com/tenterhooksstringband

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,Chris P
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 04:51 PM

Try again.

http://www.myspace.com/tenterhooksstringband

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 03 Sep 08 - 05:31 PM

Hey. Great to know that the Foolish Virgins are still getting a mention on mudcat.Seems like years ago that I was running it. Give Bill a ring. You can't get us but there is a new band for local ceilidhs in Orkney called "Beyond Hope".(We are based in St Margaret's Hope and travel further, so technically we are beyond hope and musically................well) Watch out for the web site soonish !! (Months probably) Around £350-500 sems about right unless you are doing for friends, but it can be pushed quite a lot higher)Good luck.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 04:02 AM

Does this count as price-fixing?

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 04:42 AM

I'm all for musicians getting paid a decent rate for the job.

Band members will probably leave home around 6pm, provide and set up the PA, make great music, give everybody lots of fun, dismantle the PA ang get home around 1am.

I bet most of the people at Ceilidhs get paid more than the members of the band will. I defy most people not to enjoy a Ceilidh and compared with a trip to the Theatre, Premiership footy or live rock venues Ceilidhs are both cheap and incredible value for money.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:24 AM

Les reckons around "Band members will probably leave home around 6pm"

I wish!! Most bands I know would prbably be setting up then for a 7:30 or 8:00 start. So distance dependent, add your journey time to that for leaving home. At the other end of thse scale, with a midnight finish, you'll be looking at leaving a venue "around 1 am once you've broken down the gear, packed the van or cars, and divid up the fee in the car park in the dark. 11 30 finishes seem a little more common these days... which helps a bit.

Yes, ceilidhs are both cheap and incredible value for money...good luck with organising yours Les... the band you book will at least be working for someone who understands/appreciates them

On another tack, I find it interesting that most bands who responded seem to charge more for weddings

Baz
ABU

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:29 AM

. . . seem to charge more for weddings

Why not - everyone else does! Everything from cakes to stationery is more expensive if it's advertised as 'wedding'

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:30 AM

"On another tack, I find it interesting that most bands who responded seem to charge more for weddings"

Charging for music is often finding a mid-point between "what are we worth" and "what can we get"! Generally speaking, wedding budgets tend to be higher than, say, birthday parties, and musicians can get more because people are prepared to pay those prices for those sorts of functions.

A case in point is Near Year's Eve. I don't do them any more but, when I did, such was the demand that you could virtually - within reason - name your price, or at least find a venue that was prepared to pay your price. It used to be a standing joke, in my musical social group that if you couldn't get a gig on New Year's Eve, you'd never get one.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:34 AM

Baz - Re Charging more for Weddings ! They are ALL 'One Off' jobs , and HAVE to be 'Right' , and often involve a LOT more than just setting up and doing the Gig .

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Will Fly
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:48 AM

"Re Charging more for Weddings ! They are ALL 'One Off' jobs , and HAVE to be 'Right' , and often involve a LOT more than just setting up and doing the Gig ."

Amen to that.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,Howard Jones
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 08:59 AM

Weddings "One off" jobs? With luck, you'll have already done the engagement, later you'll get the christenings(x?) followed by the divorce parties (x2), then start all over again.

A career for life, I'd say :)

Baz list of activities missed out "have to fight the best man for the fee" which is what nearly happened at one of our wedding gigs

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 11:51 AM

If you get the ceilidh band from around the corner and they are good, great. But there are a lot of bands who are not worth the money they charge and others who charge very little and are worth a great deal more. "I don't think there is price fixing" (guest cg) as there is a huge variation.

There is a lot more than just turning up and playing. That's the simplistic view. There are PAT test fees, insurance fees, the cost of good equipment and instruments, web hosting etc, domain fees. Spares and repairs. Practice sessions, liasing with the wedding organiser, avoiding the DJ etc. Presentation etc( Scottish, Barn dance, other type of function). Carting the gear, wear and tear on vehicles. driving ( sometimes) a hundred to two hundred miles each way,Leaving at silly o clock in the afternoon because you have to set up, wait for the speeches, wait for the meal, three hours down time while things over run. Doing the gig, finishing at 11.30 to 12+ then packing away. (Sometimes extracting the fee from the bleeding fingers of the best man or other) then driving home for 03.00 or later, unpacking the cars.Some gigs work out to be 12 hours plus. Even at £500 for a wedding with 60-90 guests, that's really good value for money. I've seen the enormous amounts of money spent on wedding, £1000's.so the band cost is really small in the scheme of things.

On the other hand. Playing for ceilidhs is just the most enormous fun. very seldom boring (Though you do get the gig from hell sometimes)

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 01:32 PM

Its good to see that there is a strong dance tradition in some of these places mentioned above..

so on that note what do people charge for admission to a Ceili dance..
(if there are any organizers reading this)

aside from dances at weddings where people can spend a lot of money
how do other dance societies keep the attendance up?

here (in Canada) its been $10 for years and generally turnouts are not high .. AVeraging around 70-80 people. (Sometimes 140 to 30 on slow nights)
We recently raised the price to $12 (kids are $5) but the society barely breaks even.

Bands get $300, then sound person & equipment usually $180, the callers and other organizers (people at the door, and bar) have never actually been paid, then theres the Hall rental $350 and if we actually had to pay event insurance that would be another couple hundred?...

I know it isnt much for the band (Im a regular player) but there is always a number of bands that are happy to play for dances..

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Howard Jones
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 02:41 PM

Petr, at Poynton Ceilidhs we charge £8 admission. Bands are usually paid a percentage of the door receipts subject to a guaranteed minimum. Bands will usually bring their own PA and caller (and perhaps sound engineer, although often someone in the band will do this as well) and these are included in the band's fee.

However we pay much less than you for the hall rental (it's just gone up to £70).   

Our average turnout is probably about the same as yours and I'm surprised that you consider that 70-80 people isn't a good turnout. Perhaps if you're expecting to fill a large hall these numbers will seem disappointing - we reckon the maximum our hall can comfortably hold for dancing is 110.

Based on the information you've given my first suggestion would be to find a smaller, cheaper hall. Then find out if people would be prepared to pay a little more to ensure that the event keeps going. They may even be prepared to pay quite a bit more if that meant you could bring in some well-known bands and callers.

Shameless plug: Poynton Ceilidhs will be starting the Autumn season on Saturday 27 September with the amazing Asha and callers Dave Jolly and Jackie Allen. For more details of this and our other events go to Poynton Ceilidhs

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 03:07 PM

We went to see an Alan Bennet play at the Lowry, Salford, 2 hours and a bit £20 a ticket. Jason Mountford at the Apolo £20 at least. Decent seat at Man U doesn't exist............. seat at Man City ?????????

Poynton Ceilidh £8 what a bargain it will be a brilliant night out I know it will and I have never been to that particular event.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Jane Bird
Date: 04 Sep 08 - 05:32 PM

Oxfolk charge £9 adults, £6 concessions and various deals for families.

I'm going to follow Howard's example and do a shameless plus, but I'll do this in a new thread.

Cheers,
Jane

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Alexis
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 03:08 PM

I co-organise the New Years Eve ceilidh in Holmfirth. It is a charity and very much family affair. I generally have 3 bands, all playing for nowt and I charge £7.50 a head (plus concessions)I appreciate this may be an exception - a reet good do though

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Mo the caller
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 07:17 AM

I do quite a few weddings and was chatting during the firework interval "we found we had some money left over so we had fireworks". I think they cost £2,000 or so. Made the band seem quite cheap.

Did the list of how long it all takes include the loading and unloading the van at home and checking all the leads etc.?

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 04:11 PM

No Mo. That's the hidden side. Checking the equipment, repairing, travelling miles to find new or replacement parts. Mail ordering the bits. Hours spent designing and maintaining the web site (If there is one) All in all. Most Ceilidh bands work very hard and long hours for the money. It's never going to be "Stadium rock" is it? But doing a gig for 400+ is wicked !!!

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 10:08 AM

We didn't count parking charges either (when it's at a hotel in a city centre).

We had fun and games last night. We were in Liverpool Lime Street and the car park was closing at 5 due to the 'Spider' which has been prowling the street. So the band had to go in the afternoon to set up, home and back by train. Looking at the website I thought that if I left with an hour to spare (for an 9.30 start) it would pretty much be back to normal by the time I arrived. No. Traffic jams, roads closed, and when parked it took 15 minutes to walk through the crowds in front of the hotel, watching the spider climb the nextdoor building. Arrived with 5 mins to spare, then waited for over an hour for them to finish eating.

But yes, it's great when it all works. They were a good crowd and I spent the waiting time writing a new dance (called 'the Liverpool Spider)

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 02:09 PM

"I spent the waiting time writing a new dance (called 'the Liverpool Spider)"

care to share it with us ?

Gerry

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: squeezebox-kc
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

Hot Punch raised the fee to weddings when we realsed that the flowers round the stage cost more than the band so i would consider £400.00 + petrol fair for a wedding gig

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 05:40 PM

Well.....if you insist.

The Liverpool Spider (square sets)
A1 First lady, followed by her partner go round the outside of the set
A2 Head couples circle left and right
B1 Partners do-ce-do and swing
B2 All join left hands the make a spider and turn the star once around waving right arms

Next time 2s round sides circle. Then 3s, then 4s, then heads, then sides, then everyone.

Music 7x32bar American reels.

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 06:48 AM

Heard a story last night ref weddings...some friends had done a wedding the night before. Bride's father made great point in his speech and at every chance later on telling peeps he's paid more for the toilets than the band. Why do we bother?

Baz

PS...I know hy really...

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Dave Hunt
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 08:00 AM

For many years bands have not been charging a decent rate - (especially for weddings!) It should be a minimum of 100 per band member, and more for the caller - who has by far the hardest job - (especially at some weddings) Ain't it right Baz? -nothing like a good fight on the dance floor to make it a pretty tough evening to call!
It's obviously better to have a small band = more per head.
A good three piece, plus caller, is perfectly adequate for most weddings/celebrations,

I have on occassion pointed out that I belong to a union,(MU) and that my union has laid out what it thinks are the proper rates of pay for events. One can always ask the booker - 'Do you belong to a union?' - 'Yes', 'Has your union negociated a rate for you?'
'Yes' - 'So would you say - Oh, it's all right - I'll work for half that money!'Of couse you wouldn't!!

Do bands charge a decent rate for Festivals?

Dave

Subject: RE: Going rate for a Ceilidh Band
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 09:00 AM

I've never had a fight on the dance floor, and wouldn't know what to do if I did but I had a scary moment last month, at a gig where the bar had been well used. Someone decided he didn't want to listen to me, so picked me up in a firemans lift and carried me out of the marquee.
I was thinking of giving it all up, but have had 3 good gigs since then.