Is $100 + Meals fair to pay an assistant for a long but easy day?

mysoulishome · Jul 9, 2014

Looking at doing a grand opening, basically playing fun all-ages music and making announcements from 10 am to 6 pm. They want announcements in Spanish also so I would be hiring someone to come along and do that. I will most likely hire a friend of a friend from the local acting/theatre community. Just has to be a warm body with a good speaking voice.

It will be a long day, including travel probably 8AM to 8PM at least. But it will be easy. Aside from setting up and making announcements they can essentially play on their phone, read, walk around.

I am only charging $800, I know $150 is probably more fair for someone but it's easy take-home cash for a Saturday. Is $100 fair if I pay for breakfast and lunch etc?

rhythmgj · Jul 9, 2014

Well, $120 would be $10 an hour for a 12-hour day, so, what do you think? Would you do it for that much? What is the average hourly in your area?

GJ

mysoulishome · Jul 9, 2014

If I was 20 years old I probably would. What would you pay?

Ron · Jul 9, 2014

I would pay at least $200 + meals for a 12 hour day; but that is just me. Help is like equipment, you get what you pay for, and next time I need help I am pretty much assured I will get it. If I took the job knowing I would have to hire help, I would work that into my estimate. If i did not know I needed help until after hire... lesson learned and worth every penny.

DJ J Mac · Jul 9, 2014

If you're asking just a warm body to be there for 2 hours before and after, it had better be more than $100. For 12 hours I would be looking to pay closer to $200.

nextgen1 · Jul 10, 2014

I would be the 200 guy as well. Meal would be separate, the workman is worth his wage and he will work for you again when you need him.

mysoulishome · Jul 10, 2014

Thanks guys

Valerie Hicks · Jul 10, 2014

I would pay someone who is being a front-man at least $200...if it was a walk in-walk out gig. For 12 hours of standing around, my lowball price would be $250 and my top end probably $400.

Ausumm · Jul 10, 2014

nextgen1 said:
I would be the 200 guy as well. Meal would be separate, the workman is worth his wage and he will work for you again when you need him.

That's my philosophy.
Don't treat him like a "once-and-done" employee.
You may need him again.

rhythmgj · Jul 10, 2014

I want to work for Val.

I'm available for set-up/roady/assistant what-have-you-not. Can you afford my flights back and forth to South Dakota? I don't mind going economy on Jet Blue.

GJ

Valerie Hicks · Jul 10, 2014

We generally pay $250+ for just load in/out help...I expect to pay someone representing my company with 'face time' (on stage/on air/etc) to be compensated better than someone pushing boxes! Usually we hire local help when we do hire roadies GJ, but we haven't made it that far east yet ;-)

steve149 · Jul 10, 2014

Valerie Hicks said:
We generally pay $250+ for just load in/out help...I expect to pay someone representing my company with 'face time' (on stage/on air/etc) to be compensated better than someone pushing boxes! Usually we hire local help when we do hire roadies GJ, but we haven't made it that far east yet ;-)

Yea, but your load-ins involve filling semis

.

Valerie Hicks · Jul 10, 2014

semi....we only have one

And in the most difficult venues it rarely takes more than an hour to get everything out of the truck and into the setup location.....

rhythmgj · Jul 11, 2014

Jet Blue. Economy.

GJ

steve149 · Jul 11, 2014

rhythmgj said:
Jet Blue. Economy.

GJ

Maybe if you negotiate down to Cargo Class.

Valerie Hicks · Jul 11, 2014

ok but that's come out of your pay ;-)

rhythmgj · Jul 11, 2014

>>>>Maybe if you negotiate down to Cargo Class.<<<<

I don't think that's legal in the US. If I were flying Aeroflot during the Cold War, perhaps, comrade, perhaps...

>>>>ok but that's come out of your pay ;-)<<<<

OK, but then I want a raise!

GJ

DJ J Mac · Jul 11, 2014

Hey, that kid made it in a wheel well across the Pacific, there's a cheap way to get there. :p:

Valerie Hicks · Jul 11, 2014

rhythmgj said:
>>>>Maybe if you negotiate down to Cargo Class.<<<<

I don't think that's legal in the US. If I were flying Aeroflot during the Cold War, perhaps, comrade, perhaps...

>>>>ok but that's come out of your pay ;-)<<<<

OK, but then I want a raise!

GJ

do you work for the government or something? You seem to have a knack for finding the highest paying job and still complaining about the wages! lol

steve149 · Jul 11, 2014

Valerie Hicks said:
do you work for the government or something? You seem to have a knack for finding the highest paying job and still complaining about the wages! lol

Isn't that an oxymoron ... "working for the government"

Is $100 + Meals fair to pay an assistant for a long but easy day?

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