Question: How do our prices compare?
Answer: Very well. Our rates begin at just $150!
What Are Average Prices?
If this is your first time hiring high end local entertainment comparing what you get for how much is likely your initial shopping strategy. You have probably done several web searches and browsed pages of lists of local band websites. You may have visited sites that list available talent such as The Bash, Gig Salad, The Knot, Thumbtack, Zola, Gig Roster, and WeddingWire. You will likely see many of the same bands advertised on each of those sites with profiles that detail their services accompanied by photos, videos, and reviews.
At this point you have probably seen what bands are popular in your area but may still have no idea what fees to expect. One of the reasons it is so hard to find absolute prices is that every event is different, often requiring customization.
On this page you will find reconnaissance on band pricing to educate you on what to expect to pay for quality live music. Remember that each band is different, not just in terms of pricing, but how they sound and what they offer as well. Make note of what differentiates each act and why each seems special and what it is you most appreciate. After reading the information on the following links you will likely be relieved by how much value is offered by the rates of The Matt McCallie Orchestra.
Diamond Empire Band:
On the local St. Louis scene this band advertises prices as high as $33,700 for a 16 piece big band.
Starlight Orchestra Blog:
The Starlight Orchestra has multiple articles in their blog that list the prices of competing acts. You might be surprised to learn that many DJs charge $2,500-3,500. On the high end DJs charge up to $50,000 per event.
Bands like The Starlight Orchestra start around $12,000 for a 10 piece band and if hiring more musicians increase to around $30,000 for a wedding ceremony and reception.
They also list some of the prices for superstar acts. To hire Jennifer Lopez for your event would cost around $1 million. You can have The Rolling Stones make an appearance for $9 million. We're obviously no longer talking about the average St. Louis wedding bands but hopefully you are starting to get an idea of what sort of numbers to expect.
This following link will take you to an informative blog written in three sections. Start with part two if you want to begin with prices by clicking here.
Solon Z and the Sapphires:
This is a Boston based big band that, like The Matt McCallie Orchestra, has a big band instrumentation that includes a full strings section. Also like us, they offer bundled packages with set pricing for convenience. Their string quartet starts at $1,299. Their 24 piece big band costs $8,399 for a three hour engagement. Just a solo vocalist goes for $799.
Of note, they have clearly spent a healthy amount of effort and investment on their website but as of 2016 they have only one video to showcase their talent and nearly every photo on their website is from that one performance.
A major difference between The Matt McCallie Orchestra and their band is that we play thousands of songs covering almost every popular style while their band doesn't even play a hundred songs. Click here to see their other bundle prices.
J-Mann Music:
Pricing for a soloist starts at $150 for an hour and another $100 per musician per hour for most events. A trio for three hours is $1,200-$2,000 for weddings and corporate functions. Their wedding and ceremony bundle runs $2,500-3,500 for a total of three musicians; a soloist or duo at the ceremony, a duo during cocktail hour, and a trio during dinner and dancing.
Ocdamia Strings:
For most events pricing begins at $200 per musician for the first hour and $50 per musician for each additional hour. Their DJ rates run $750-$1,500. At wedding receptions they charge $3,500 for saxophone, keyboard, drums, bass, guitar, a singer, and lighting. They also offer bundles like a solo violinist for two hours for a bridal party event for $400, solo sax for three hours at a groomsmens' party for $400, and violin and piano for an hour and a half during the wedding ceremony for $600, all discounted to $1,300. Their travel rate beyond the first 20 miles is $1 per mile.
There are now two string quartets in St Louis, MO named the St Louis String Quartet, the name The Matt McCallie Orchestra has been using for its string quartet since 2012. These are acoustic ensembles with no amplification, lighting, or custom song arranging.
Martha Stewart:
Martha Stewart has an article that not only discusses what prices to expect to pay for a wedding band, she also lists the skills unique to wedding bands and explains their value. For smaller wedding reception music bands she suggests $2,400 to $4,000 as common. To hire a larger Latin or big band ensemble for four hours she expects fees to be around $10,000. You can read more here.
Weddingbee:
Here is a blog in which couples discussed the quotes they received and what they paid with bands and agents when searching for music entertainment. Some of the highlights show average band pricing in Chicago at $15,000 and $16,000 in New York. String quartet pricing packages were $2,000 to $12,000.
Wedding Stats:
Here is a site claiming the average cost of a wedding band with 4 musicians for four hours cost $3,357 in 2015. Using that same math an 8 piece band would cost $6,714. A 12 piece band would cost $10,071 and a 16 piece band would cost $13,428.
Agencies:
Bare in mind that an agent is working to make money for themselves by adding an average of 20% to what the musicians actually earn. Agents often do little work for each event but the relationship between an artist and their agent can be mutually beneficial.
If a band has an earnest, skilled, and hard working agent the band can benefit from increased exposure to potential clients and may acquire performance opportunities they would miss without the agent's connections. The agent will earn more by booking a band more frequently and at higher rates. Just keep in mind that they are not your entertainer, likely won't be part of your event, and are usually only interested in their commission. Agents also create an additional go between during negotiations and planning. For simple events like charities, corporate events, festivals, and concerts this can be ideal. For more involved events like weddings you may want a direct line to the musicians so there is less opportunity for miscommunication or time lapse to relay information.
Here is an agency listing four hours with an acoustic jazz combo anywhere from $750-1,500. One of the reasons a small acoustic group is lower priced is that no amplification is required. Amplification can easily add hours to a job on and off site of the performance. They also list exclusive party and wedding bands at $10,000.
Here is another agency listing four hour trios starting at $2,000 to $5,000 and 7-12 piece bands at $6,000 to $10,000. They also list pricing for wedding ceremony musicians for 30-90 minutes ranging from $150 to $500 per musician.
Here is another agency with a healthy list of acts organized by price range. Their categories start at up to $1,500 for a duo and go to a section listing several bands at over $10,000.
Headline Booking Group:
Ever wonder what it would cost to hire your favorite recording artist? Headline Booking Group is an agency that can make that happen. They book various types of entertainers including comedians. Their lowest price range is artists who charge $20,000-$100,000. Here are some artists you may know and their price ranges:
Visit our booking page and download our event form to find our most up to date price lists. The prices listed reflect our most popular options and almost everything is customizable.
$20,000-$100,000:
.38 Special
Aaron Neville
Air Supply
Becky G
Ben E. King
Big Band Voodoo Daddy
Big Sean
Billy Ray Cyrus
Blue Oyster Cult
Blues Traveler
Bob Newhart
Bobcat Goldthwait
Boyz II Men
Brad Garrett
Brian McKnight
Buddy Guy
Busta Rhymes
Carlos Mencia
Carrot Top
Chaka Khan
Charlie Daniels Band
Cheap Trick
Collective Soul
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Darrell Hammond
Dave Attell
Denis Leary
Dionne Warwick
En Vogue
Flava Flav
Gavin DeGraw
George Benson
Gloria Gaynor
Grand Funk Railroad
Indigo Girls
Jakob Dylan
Jerry Lee Lewis
Joan Jett
John Tesh
Jonny Lang
Kansas
Kathy Griffin
Kool & The Gang
Linda Ronstadt
Live
Lonestar
Madeleine Peyroux
Manhattan Transfer
Marc Cohn
Marlon Wayans
MC Hammer
Mike Epps
Mos Def
Paula Cole
Peter Cetera
Randy Newman
Randy Travis
Richard Marx
Rick Springfield
Roberta Flack
Sawyer Brown
Shawn Colvin
Sinbad
Steve Tyrell
Styx
Sugar Ray
Survivor
Taj Mahal
The Commodores
The Oakridge Boys
Three Dog Night
Toto
Tower Of Power
UB40
Vanessa Williams
$100,000-$250,000:
Adam Lambert
Al Green
Alabama
Alice Cooper
Anita Baker
Aretha Franklin
Arsenio Hall
Babyface
Ben Folds
Big & Rich
Bill Maher
Blondie
Boz Skaggs
Brandy
Brian Setzer Orchestra
Bruce Hornsby
Cake
Cee Lo Green
Chicago
Chris Botti
Chris Isaak
Clint Black
Colbie Caillat
Common
Damon Wayans
Dana Carvey
David Lee Roth
David Spade
Dennis Miller
Dierks Bently
Dwight Yoakam
Emmylou Harris
Erykah Badu
Foreigner
Frankie Vali & The Four Seasons
Gary Clark, Jr.
George Lopez
Gladys Knight
Hall & Oates
Hank Williams, Jr.
Heart
Herbie Hancock
Howie Mandel
Huey Lewis & The News
Ice Cube
Idina Menzel
India Arie
Jackson Browne
Janelle Monae
Jason Mraz
Jessie J
Jewel
Jill Scott
Jim Gaffigan
Jo Dee Messina
Josh Turner
Joss Stone
Kacey Musgraves
Kellie Pickler
Kelly Rowland
Kenny G
Kenny Loggins
Kenny Rogers
Kris Kristofferson
Leanne Rimes
Lee Ann Womack
LL Cool J
Ludacris
Lyle Lovett
M.I.A.
Mannheim Steamroller
Mark Ronson
Martin Lawrence
Martina McBride
Maxwell
Melissa Ethridge
Michael Bolton
Michael McDonald
Mike Tyson
Missy Elliot
Ne-Yo
Olivia Newton-John
Patti Labelle
Penn & Teller
Queen Latifah
Reba McEntire
REO Speedwagon
Sara Evans
Smokey Robinson
Ted Nugent
The B-52's
The Beach Boys
The Black Crowes
The Doobie Brothers
Trace Adkins
Travis Tritt
Trisha Yearwood
Vince Gill
Wayne Brady
Whoopi Goldberg
Wyclef Jean
Wynonna Judd
Wynton Marsalis
$250,000-$500,000:
Alan Jackson
Alanis Morissette
Alison Krauss
Allman Brothers Band
Barenaked Ladies
Beck
Billy Idol
Blue Man Group
Bob Saget
Bonnie Raitt
Brad Paisley
Carole King
Celtic Woman
Chris Cornell-R.I.P.
Counting Crows
Crosby, Still, & Nash
Darius Rucker
Daughtry
Def Leppard
Demi Lovato
Diana Krall
Diana Ross
Ellen Degeneres
Elvis Costello
Englebert Humperdinck
Eric Church
Flo Rida
Goo Goo Dolls
Gretchen Wilson
Hunter Hayes
Il Divo
Irish Tenors
James Blunt
Jamie Foxx
Jane's Addiction
Jason Aldean
Jason Derulo
Jay Leno
Jeff Foxworthy
Jessica Simpson
Joe Walsh
John Fogerty
John Mayer
Julio Iglesias
Kendrick Lamar
Kid Rock
Larry the Cable Guy
Lionel Richie
Liza Minnelli
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Mandy Moore
Marc Anthony
Maroon 5
Matchbox Twenty
Meat Loaf
Meghan Trainor
Miranda Lambert
Montgomery Gentry
Natasha Bedingfield
Paul Anka
Rob Thomas
Sammy Hagar
Sarah Brightman
Sarah McLachlan
Seal
Sheryln Crow
Steve Miller Band
Steve Winwood
Stevie Nicks
Sugarland
The Pretenders
Tom Jones
Tony Bennett
Weezer
Willie Nelson
Over $500,000:
AC/DC
Aerosmith
Alicia Keys
Andrea Bocelli
Annie Lenox
Barbra Streisand
Barry Manilow
Bette Midler
Beyoncé Knowles
Billy Joel
Black Eyed Peas
Bob Dylan
Bon Jovi
Bryan Adams
Carly Simon
Carrie Underwood
Céline Dion
Cher
Chris Rock
Christina Aguilera
Coldplay
Daft Punk
Dave Matthews Band
Dolly Parton
Don Henley
Duran Duran
Eagles
Ed Sheeran
Eddie Vedder
Elton John
Eminem
Enrique Iglesias
Eric Clapton
Faith Hill
Fleetwood Mac
Foo Fighters
Garth Brooks
George Strait
Gloria Estefan
Green Day
Gwen Stefani
Harry Connick, Jr.
Hozier
Jack Johnson
James Taylor
Jamiroquai
Janet Jackson
Jay Z
Jennifer Lopez
Jerry Seinfeld
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Fallon
John Mellencamp
Josh Groban
Journey
Justin Bieber
Justin Timberlake
Over $500,000 Continued:
Kanye West
Katy Perry
Keith Richards
Keith Urban
Kelly Clarkson
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Lady Gaga
Lenny Kravitz
Little Big Town
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Michael Bublé
Miley Cyrus
Motley Crue
Neil Diamond
Neil Young
Nickelback
Norah Jones
Paul McCartney
Paul Simon
Pearl Jam
Peter Gabriel
Phil Collins
Pink
Rascal Flatts
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Ricky Martin
Rihanna
Ringo Starr
Rod Stewart
Rush
Santana
Shakira
Shania Twain
Stevie Wonder
Sting
Taylor Swift
The Rolling Stones
Tim McGraw
Tina Turner
Toby Keith
Usher
Van Halen
