For those of you who are playing a lot of weddings, funerals, parties, gigs, etc., what are you charging these days? And what is your reasoning for charging what you do? The reason I ask is because I’ve now played a few paying gigs, and I’d like to be fair in what I charge. Thanks.
Hey Travis,
What tunes have you been playing at these events?
Weddings: Various Waltzes (processional), Various Marches (recessional), Wendel’s Wedding, if asked to do a solo in the middle of the wedding (the Tony Cuffe tune - hear Jerry O’Sullivan’s whistle version on one of his CDs - The Gift?)
Funerals: Amazing Grace, O Danny Boy. I’ve played only one funeral, though. If I were to do more, I would think about Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Be Thou My Vision, and others.
How 'bout yourself? What are you playing?
never played either, just curious as to what sounded good and appropriate on the pipes for these occassions.
jeff
Travis,
I have sung songs/hymns at weddings & funerals and I usually charge about $150. Takes me a rehearsal and the actual event and I figure I’ll make about $60/hour. To me, if I have to break up a weekend, at least it makes it worthwhile. Occassionally I will play an additional piece on the pipes - usually at no extra cost, but my organist/music director says I shouldn’t give it away. I should really be charging an extra fee - probably another $60 for the effort.
Our band plays a variety of O’Carolan tunes, and other slowed-down tunes for the Processional. We envite the couple over to listen in advance to pick which tunes they’d like, and which tunes will be played for which part of the ceremony. Our last two weddings, both couples have picked “The Pleasures of Hope” for their Recessional during the bride and groom’s exit. It’s a bouncy little HP, and quite happy sounding. That would be followed by other dance tunes including reels, jigs and HP. For the Wedding March (the bride coming in), we often refer another musician for that unless the couple really wants a particular tune we’re comfortable learning. Most brides have some favorite song or tune they’re stuck on, and have been all their life.
The last time I played the pipes for a wedding I charged $200.00 firm, and $100.00 an hour after the first hour. This was back in 1993, so Things may have changed. I stopped playing weddings and funerals because they depressed me. 
Funerals: Local one stops at the funeral home, church or cemetery $150
Each additional stop gets another $25
Longer distances add another$25
Weddings: These depress me more than funerals, so the starting price is $200. Each additional stop is another $25. No rehearsals. That’s another gig.
I rarely charge more than $200, unless the mother of the bride is a real nudge. 
Thanks. Your feedback is what I was looking for. I’ve been asking between $100 and $150 for these kinds of gigs, and I use some of the same reasoning as you guys in determining exactly how much to ask.
When you play at the funeral, is there a certain standard way you do it or is it always different? Do you play as a central figure (people aren’t doing anything except listening to you) or are you background (while they do different things)? Do you ever play at another funereal gathering (like a wake?)
Just played a wedding this weekend, just me and a fiddler. We charged $400.00 for music preceeding the ceremony while guests were entering, all the music during the ceremony, and about an hour of music outside during a short champagne reception outside the chapel.
i always check the social register first. the guy who works at mc donalds pays mc donaldland fees. doctors and lawyers pay doctor and lawyer fees. fair is fair.
I always thought guys who work at McDonalds hire hip-hop DJ’s
Say it ain’t so…
word.