How much $ to expect for playing at a party

[jam8086]

I am currently a senior in high school and a teacher I used to have there asked me to play at his mother's birthday party.  It will be about 3 hours, and he said that I could determine my own price.  I have never played for a price before, how much should I expect?  It does seem kind of awkward getting payment from a teacher though...

[jlh]

I think it would depend on a lot of things... what are you supposed to play?  How much preperation do you need?  How rich are they (I'm serious!)?  How much is your time worth, considering the preperation time as well?

If I were doing that, I'd probably charge between $20-50/hr depending on some of the above questions and others I can't think of now. 

You should always charge the max people are willing to comfortably pay you.  Charge more than that and they won't ask you back, charge less than that and you will be abused.

Oh, and bring business cards and put a cup out for tips! 

[arensky]

$150.

[mike_lang]

It depends in part on the rates of the area, but in high school I charged $100 to contract, plus $50/hr.  I.E., 1 hr = $150 and 2 hr = $200.

[pianistimo]

maybe 1/2 price, at $150.  would give him a break as your teacher.  either that or for free as experience.  i know it's a lot of work - but, you could use it as a relaxing practice session and not get unduly stressed about it. 

3 hours is a long time.  take some breaks.  two hours is a long time.  if you are not being paid full price - you can afford some decent breaks and to eat some food and drink and sustain yourself.  bring along a singer.  it will break the monotony of ALL piano music.  (or an instrumentalist friend - OR another pianist!)

[jam8086]

Well, jlh, you're right, I should have been more specific...

I won't really be performing like in a recital, it will be more of a background, like a pianist in a restaurant.  I will be playing the following...
Bach P&F in A minor, WTC book 1
Beethoven Waldstein (Entire sonata)
Chopin Scherzo No. 2
Liszt Un Sospiro
Gershwin 3 Preludes

I was a little concerned that some of the pieces aren't really suitable for kind of a "background" in some parts, but even though he is a Latin teacher, he is very familiar with classical music, and I told him my current repertoire (above) and he said it would be great!
I know this only totals to about an hour, but I will definitely pick up some things I used to play to add some more time (I think some Debussy would be perfect), and he said I could repeat some pieces, and that some people may even want to hear some things again.

Another very important thing I forgot was to specify American dollars, since this forum is very international.

So I hope that gives you a little more information for your answers.  Thanks!

[pianistimo]

don't forget happy birthday.  i think there's a copy of a neat version under 'miscellaneous' or 'anything but piano.'  will look for it.  here it is:

https://www.free-scores.com/PUBLIC/happy_birthday.pdf

you could modify and change some of it to your liking.  the library is a good place to find more party music, too.  i like to put things into a sort of jazz mode sometimes (maybe after you've done all the classical stuff).  you can modulate from one pop song to another with little transitions that connect like keys.  it's not that hard to compose little 3-4 bar measures to connect songs and makes you sound really professional.  maybe ask your teacher if his mom has some latin songs she wants to hear, too. 

i heard a fandango that was really great.  i think by donald wilson?  can't seem to find the piano solo - but anyway www.free-scores.com  has a lot of stuff to choose from.

[pianistimo]

i found a few more ideas for arrangements of 'happy birthday.'

here's one with some different styles to imitate (click on the 'latin' one!):
www.happybirthdaytoyou.com

also, eugenie rocherolle apparrently has a good one with sunny-birchard (not sure the level)

and www.thebirthdaycd.com/LearnSheetMusic.htm  (the tango birthday could work, too).

you may already have an arrangment of your own - but thought you might like these if you don't.

[alwaystheangel]

My piano teacher always says never charge less than 150 CND for a wedding even if it's for only 1/2 hour.  Might kind of put things into perspective. Like JLH said, you will be abused if you domn't charge enough even if you think they won't, my mother played for her boss's wedding and didn't discuss payments and she was given a corsage and a thankyou letter 6 months later. Her boss is a dentist, he ain't hurting for money, if you know what I mean.