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?
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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?
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.
this might help.
http://www.promusic47.org/wages/Cphono.asp
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.
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!
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!!
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.
well, the clips would be great!
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!