How to properly ask to get paid?

I'm a beatboxer/ vocal percussionist and i've been performing open mics, and FREE SHOWS since 2003. i have never been paid once. im just too chicken to ask for money and am afraid to be dropped from the show.
my main question is: how do i ask for compensation properly? how do i make it sound professional and all.. if someone could write me or give me some pointers on how to ask to get paid that would be great.

 

i'm a tech(automotive) and when i do sidejobs i always feel awkward to. when you're receiving the info for your next gig ask in a straightforward manner what the compensation is and that will lead into either you setting an amount, so have one in mind, or them offering you an amount.

 

the thing is i dont know how much to charge at all. im thinking 150-200 for local shows and 300-350 for long distance traveled shows. im not sure what im asking for is too much or too little.

i need to make a contract for them to read before i perform.. that i need help with.

 

My craft is to entertain people, but i dont have an hourly charge because the most i'll perform for is 10-20 minutes. asking flat out is cool too, but i want to make it seem professional.

 

Talk to the person putting on the show (Promoter/Club owner/who ever). Tell them that you have been doing the shows for free, but you need too start to see some compensation for it. If they say "we can't do that.." Then it's time to find another gig.

Are you using their gear, or are you bringing in your own?

 

all i bring is my personal microphone, the rest would be their gear. If the system set up sucks i bring my own speakers and amp.

i just feel bad turning down shows like that.

 

I hear ya, hate to turn down shows. You need to get paid though. The venue is making money off you. A simple generic contract, stating Show time, length of show and what the pay scale is. The contract is there to protect you and the client.

I the system is not what you think it should be or to your standards and you have to use your own gear, then in your contract state that there is a "rental charge" for using your gear. Make it a low price. That way if something gets broken then your not coming out of pocket to repair.

 

I co-run an IT consulting company and also I do side jobs as well. I have found when your starting out to come in a little low and feel out their reaction. If they don't think twice about the price I would go a little higher next time. If their eyeballs fall out when you say it you might want to work on the delivery (as in: maybe we can work on the price if there will be future work). Charging a little less for a repeat customer is better then no customer at all.

 

thanks man! i greatly appreciate the advice.

 

thats true.. i would start low.. considering a lot of the performers get paid 300+ i just dont want to charge too low. so my standard would probably be 150 for the night, considering i also collaborations with other artists. these customers would be annually only

 

I think you need to make a list of expenditures that you incur while traveling to such events and use that as your benchmarks. For example if you are 100 miles away then you could ask for a refund of lets say 60 cents a mile (just hypothetically) so your round trip will yield 120 bucks for example. I think given numbers people will be a lot receptive to pay you. Now on the other hand if you live 10 minutes away.... you might have a better saying that your guitar is on its last legs and you are trying to save up and buy a new one..

Honesty is a double edge sword. Sometimes you need to tell them what they need to hear if you know what i mean

 

When I was playing gigs, I'd tell them that the sets were free. I charged fees for hauling and setting up the equipment.

 

ha, such is the life of a beatboxer/dj/mc..... if the club is filled with people to come see you tell them that you some money or you'll bounce, if you are really filling the place up they'll pay.

make a youtube vid and if it gets a 100,000 hits send the club a linc and show them you got a fan base.

get a website and if that website gets hits tell them that you'll sport thier logo on your page, same goes for facebook/myspace and twitter. All three of those site are great for building hype.

Ask for a cut of the door money if your the headliner, if people come you get paid, in fact if your headlining you should get 100% of the door money!

 

true that.. and i did tell them that, i have to take a day off of work to perform for that night. if i dont work, i dont get paid! and if i do the show, i at least have to get paid the amount i lost for taking off.. make sense?

 

Good approach...

 

that's also true, but to be honest people are telling me that i am a very underrated beatboxer/performer.. cuz im not youtube popular.. i put other beatboxers to shame with my skills.. really though.. it takes a lot to perform this craft and to keep the crowd feelin it for 10 minutes, ya know? i never thought about that.. i guess im gonna have to man up. if the show doesnt come to agreement, then they lost me.

 

Don't ever work for free. Favors don't pay bills.

 

If you truly are that good, then it shouldn't be hard to become more popular. One awesome youtube video could help put money in your pocket for years. The more fans you have, the more marketable you are.
Underground= lesswork/less money....sell out already!

 

lol underground is cool, i love smashing on other popular beatboxers.. but i just wanna keep my skills low key. i understand the sell out nature, but youtube comes with an image.. and you need to look "cute" on your videos. haha ..homo.
but thanks guys for the advice! i'll most definitely try all these approaches.

 

lol underground is cool, i love smashing on other popular beatboxers.. but i just wanna keep my skills low key. i understand the sell out nature, but youtube comes with an image.. and you need to look "cute" on your videos. haha ..homo.
but thanks guys for the advice! i'll most definitely try all these approaches.