To pick up on a side theme of the "what should clubs provide" thread, how much should you reasonably expect (or deserve) to be paid for playing?

I think that any time you can walk out with $100 it's a great day, not that $100 is enough or even fair.

musicians should really be paid on a comparable scale to other skilled workers....I think my abilities are on par with my plumber or auto mechanic.....I don't think it will ever happen, but it should!

by the time you consider rehearsals, individual practice, and the cost of the necessary gear, $100 a gig works out to a lot less than minimum wage

how do you guys justify to clients how your "wedding" rate is higher than your "club" rate? I've had my hand called on this more than once.

say what you will, and there's a LOT to say, not all of which is good, but the union system really is pretty fair to the musician. You charge for what you actually do: travel, doubles, cartage, over and above an appropriate base scale. It can be a little cumbersome at times, but it's really a well thought out system.

don't ever open your case for less than a C note

really, you're not a professional unless you're charging professional rates and delivering a professional product. These guys playing for less than $100 are just hobby players wanking off.

It has to be enough to support you and/or your family to be considered a pro

Depends on the gig. Restaurant, bar with quartet vs. trio, wedding reception, etc. people spend alot jst flowers for a wedding so it comes with the territory that u will charge more or they would expect to pay more for that type of gig. A bar gig with a rock/R&B band ie. dance band at a club brings in alot of money so they can pay more and they expect to be charged a certain amount. Travel and distance play a role in the pricing. On average though I never take less than a $100. for any gig. I agree with Paul once you average practice, gear cost, rehearsals etc. your making less than minimum wage but I guess that's where the love what u do factor comes into play to justify it all.

I think you should charge what any skilled craftsman like an electrician or plumber charges. Those fields are similar in that they require a lot of expensive equipment to do the job and years and years of training. I wish I could charge what my lawyer charges, or what my accountant charges me just to do my taxes.

if you work cheap, it's on you for agreeing to do so. If you don't get offered what you think you should, go practice and quit whining.

just like everything else, the pay rate will vary by locality. I do think the use of plumbers wages as a guideline is basically fair. In all fairness, it is probably better applied to solo performers than to groyps. After all, plumbers do not usually work in packs like musicians.