Did steel players earn more in big name bands?

[Gary Hoetker]

Nm

[Barry Blackwood]

Not necessarily..

[Bill L. Wilson]

Hopefully, they make a lot more than I do........Can you imagine Vince handing Paul $100 after a gig? Yeah, me neither. On the other hand, if I was fortunate enough by some miracle to even be asked to play for Vince. I’m pretty sure he would expect me to pay him for having to put up with my Steel playing.

[Steve Green]

I've often wondered the same thing about studio musicians.

Do the studio steel players get the same money for playing on a cut by "Billy Joe Nobody" who never even gets a record deal or sells a album; as they would for playing on what becomes the next Highway 40 Blues, Farewell Party, Look At Us, etc?

[Bob Hoffnar]

I've often wondered the same thing about studio musicians.

Do the studio steel players get the same money for playing on a cut by "Billy Joe Nobody" who never even gets a record deal or sells a album; as they would for playing on what becomes the next Highway 40 Blues, Farewell Party, Look At Us, etc?

In my experience the pay is for the session so it's the same. If it is a union session you can collect royalties for secondary use sometimes. I had a tune I played on be part of a commercial and the royalties were significant.

[Brian Hollands]

Bob, out of curiosity is the "Union" BMI or Ascap or something else for studio work?

[Donny Hinson]

I'd guess that a top-rated session player would make several times what the best "artist band" player would make.

[Dick Wood]

I've known several guys playing with the big names making anywhere from $400 per show to as high as $3000 a show so it's all over the place

It depends on who it is and how long you've been with them from what I've found.

[Donny Hinson]

I've known several guys playing with the big names making anywhere from $400 per show to as high as $3000 a show so it's all over the place...

Pedal steelers?

[Dick Wood]

Yes and that didn’t include the per diem. I’ll PM you Donny.

[Bob Hoffnar]

Bob, out of curiosity is the "Union" BMI or Ascap or something else for studio work?

Secondary use payments come from Local 802 in NYC. You get a little payout everytime a commercial is shown. It can really ad up. It depends on the contract. Most are buyouts these days. You just get paid for the session unless you get writers credit on those.

A big check no one is mentioning is the Recording Fund payout. That can be pretty sweet depending on how many union sessions you did over the year.

[Brian Hollands]

Secondary use payments come from Local 802 in NYC. You get a little payout everytime a commercial is shown. It can really ad up. It depends on the contract. Most are buyouts these days. You just get paid for the session unless you get writers credit on those.

A big check no one is mentioning is the Recording Fund payout. That can be pretty sweet depending on how many union sessions you did over the year.

Interesting, Thanks.