Average LA session

[Nikk]

Obviously there a bazillion factors involved, but what might be a likely ballpark figure a drummer could expect for doing maybe a one day session for a major label record?

[Randal Walker]

It depends where you fall in the union pay scale, are you a double or triple figure. Or you may be able to comand your own figure. Also included is cartage fees to and from the session. Per 3 hour session it's around 275.00.

[Randal Walker]

this might help.

http://www.promusic47.org/wages/Cphono.asp

[Rhinodentist]

In Jeff Porcarro's last interview with Modern Drummer (November 1988) he says "It's not like I'm a triple -scale $1.000 a day drummer like a lot of drummers. I've been double scale since 1975".

I'm also reliably informed that Gregg Bissonette only charges double scale as well.

[PocketPlayer]

Here's a thought- If Jeff Porcaro didn't charge triple scale, then who can? I mean the guy only did about a thousand sessions or more and played on a zillion hit recordings!

[Rhinodentist]

I would imagine that Vinnie only charges double scale. In fact I'm sure that I've been told that in the past.

But I bet JR Robinson would charge a small fortune!!

[mja61]

From the liner notes of Zappa's "Joe's Garage":

"And we've flown in at great expense (triple scale, no less, ladies and gentlemen), Steve Gadd's clone [i.e. the Vinn-meister] to play the out-chorus on this song."

I don't know if this conclusive evidence he's triple scale, but I guess it's at least something for the amusement of us Vinnie freaks. (I also found it amusing that Zappa gives Vinnie credit for "drums & combustible vapors" on that album.)

I agree that NO ONE (except for Gadd or maybe Anton Fig) has any business charging triple-scale if Jeff was only a double-scale player. I was never all that impressed with any of the other so-called studio "greats" (JR, Baird, etc.). They should be "half scale."

BTW, I've got a tape of Saturday Night Live from 1978 on which Zappa guest hosted. There is a some decent Vinnie footage in there. He plays a big yellow Gretsch kit (a la Tony Williams) and sits about 4" off the ground. It also looks like he's playing matched grip only. If I can find someone with a video capture card, I'll try to make some clips available.

[arin]

well, the clips would be great!

[PocketPlayer]

SNL repeats on NBC after the live show at about 3AM in the LA area. For awhile I set the VCR to record because they aired the early years of SNL. I caught that Zappa gig as well Gadd playing 50 Ways when it first came out- vintage stuff!

I tried to compile my own SNL musical guests video from the early years based on my 3AM tapings. A lot of talent graced that stage. I caught a rare Jim Keltner appearance with Gary Wright playing Dream Weaver...fun stuff!