Re: [Harp-L] Re: re: how much do you get paid for a gig?

["Chris Michalek" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I know in the year 2000 Bobby McFerrin cost $32,000 per set.

The Huey Lewis Band makes $140,000 per night as of a year ago this is according to a trusted source.  That's the probably the best a blues harmonica player will ever make.

Stevie Wonder will cost you $1.5 Million + per night

Bela Fleck makes $5000+ per show.



>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bob Cohen [mailto:bcohen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 03:10 PM
>To: 'Paul Bowering'
>Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: re: how much do you get paid for a gig?
>
>
>On Jul 31, 2006, at 5:45 PM, Paul Bowering wrote:
>
>> Yeah, but then there are greats like Jason Ricci
>> driving around in a broken down van and having to
>> crash at your house. If that's the best he can do
>> where does that leave the rest of us shcmucks?
>
>Making $50 to $75 a gig if you're lucky.  I remember reading  
>somewhere that blues represents about one percent of record sales  
>nationwide.  We're talking simple supply and demand.  In the grand  
>scheme there's very little demand for our beloved form of music.  The  
>money follows the paying customers.  Being a great blues harp player  
>is simply not appreciated by enough people to demand the high  
>prices.  Do you think Rick Estrin or Kim Wilson or Charlie  
>Musslewhite makes Robert's money?  I rather doubt it.  Classical  
>music is a special case because there's a certain amount of cachet  
>among the wealthy to be seen supporting "the arts."  It's what you do  
>when you're at a certain level on the food chain.  And even in that  
>milieu, as with all the arts, the upper one or two percent make 99 or  
>98 percent of the money. The "lower" 98 or 99 percent fight over the  
>scraps.  In fact, as successful as Robert is by blues standards, I'd  
>be willing to bet that he doesn't make close to what say Perlman or  
>YoYo Ma or any others of that ilk makes for a similar date--despite  
>being a colossal talent (I know I studied crom last year with him in  
>Copake).  That's why nearly all parents cringe when their children  
>ask them to spend $40k a year at a to be a creative writing, art or  
>music major.
>
>Bob Cohen
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