Ceremony Music--What the eff?

I think that's crap, ESPECIALLY at a church!! It's so unfair what people get away with charging!

I know, right? what is everyone else paying?

*bump*

Girlllllll, my church's organist is $200 and the cantor (soloist) is $150. We have to pay them EVEN IF WE DON'T USE THEM...as in, even if they're not physically even at the church!

Our DJ isn't charging us extra as long as it's at the same place, other than that, Idk.

Wow Rosie that sucks!

I tried the vendor search on here for someone to play ONE song on guitar and piano for our ceremony. I told them 200 was my offer and ALL the vendors on here in my area refused. I am using the church organist and not sure what she charges, but the church is free so whatever she costs I'm fine with it.

I guess we got lucky! Our synagogue let us make our own CD of the music, and play it at the ceremony, so we didn't have to pay any ceremony musicians at all.

OMG, I need to learn how to play the piano. $200 for an hour? That is insane.

I am paying 175 each for a trio. But in defense of the musicians, lessons at anywhere from 15-25 per hour for several years, practice, instruments, sheet music, travel time/cost to get to the site and giving up their Friday nite or Saturday...Yeah, you do the math.

Well, ladies...I got my start in the business as a wedding musician, and still am, if requested. I am old enogh to be your mother (!), and my lessons were $30-40 per hour by the time I was in high school and college. but...that's beside the point. we don't just sit and play a few songs...or at least I don't. I spend time with the couple discussing what music they would like and attend the rehearsal--so, already 2-3 hours. I am present for 90 minutes - 2 hours on the wedding day. I play a solid 30 minutes for the prelude, 15 minutes for the postludes, andany other music during the ceremony. And, if you are late starting, I have to come up with another 15 or minutes of music. BUT...besides the physical and mental energy to keep playing accurately AND appealingly(Notsur if that's really a word!), I have to watch what's going on to get the timing right. so and so is being seated, the moms are coming up now to light the candles. Two of the bridesmaids ran down the aisle,

The next two are toooo slow, the ring bearer and flower girl are screaming, but I don't know if they came up the aisle or not cuz they are too little for me to see, plus I have to watch my music because the bride needs her cue...okay pause BIG VOLUME---the bride is doing her thing, so I don't know how much of "her music" I'm going to end up playing, and I want to finish with a grand sound. Oh, BTW, did I even mention that I still learn new music so I can offer a variety of pieces to play? so....that's why we charge what we charge. And to the person who said the fee was too high especially at a church....why should a church always foot the bill? The church only has as much money as people give, and since most people barely give anything, then how can the church afford to give freebies? I think I sound angry... I'm not...just frustrated.

Sorry for the typos....and in re-reading, it really is heated. But please understand that there is ALWAYS more than meets the eye...or ear, in this musical case!

If we aren't allowed to use my iPod, then FH has a friend who learned organ from his mother. He will probably do it for free. I don't want the usual music which is why I'm really hoping the church will allow my iPod.

We were quoted $200 for a saxophonist for 1 hour for our ceremony. I am not sure we will be using him.

We are looking at using a cd or ipod to do the ceremony music and my fh buddies are bandmates, one of them will be setting up and dj'ing our party after...as he has at many other events and does great, no charge.

Paid $350 for harp and flute. It was beautiful and well worth the money spent.

Ok so all i have to say is I am not paying for the pianist piano lessons. she went and got lessons because she wanted to play piano. that is not my fault. i play piano and i would never charge anyone that much. is it really so difficult to sit down with someone and pick songs and then play them? I didnt argue with the girl, I am going to pay her for her time. but really if there is just one person playing music for an hour it shouldnt be more than $100. $50 dollars an hour, the hour she is there and the hour she spends in rehearsal is more than fair i think. My mother is a nurse in the hospital and helps to save peoples lives. She makes around $30 an hour. She went to school for four years and had tons of student loans. She would never tell a patient that she can only help them if they paid x amount, because she racked up so much in student loans.

I completely respect that musicians need to make a living too and I would never want to pay someone unfairly. but $100 (cont)

An hour to play the piano in a small rural church is a joke. Sorry if that offends anyone, its not meant to. Im just venting. but it seems crazy to me that we will pay a pianist $100 an hour but teachers/nurses and other people whos job it is to help others etc. dont make as much as a non-famous, moderately talented piano player.

And as far as giving up their saturday night? my wedding is at 1:30 and they will be there for less than an hour. the rehearsal will be about half an hour at around 6:00. they are hardly giving up their weekend. i just wish people would realize that if they're not hannah montana they cant jack up the price for admission.

wow i am over tired, sorry if this is incoherent or rude. If it is rude please accept my apologies. I am getting deliriously tired. havent slept yet.