Question: How do our prices compare?


Answer: Very well. Our rates begin at just $150!


What Are Average Prices?


     If this is your first time hiring high end local entertainment comparing what you get for how much is likely your initial shopping strategy. You have probably done several web searches and browsed pages of lists of local band websites. You may have visited sites that list available talent such as The Bash, Gig Salad, The Knot, Thumbtack, Zola, Gig Roster, and WeddingWire. You will likely see many of the same bands advertised on each of those sites with profiles that detail their services accompanied by photos, videos, and reviews.


     At this point you have probably seen what bands are popular in your area but may still have no idea what fees to expect. One of the reasons it is so hard to find absolute prices is that every event is different, often requiring customization.


     On this page you will find reconnaissance on band pricing to educate you on what to expect to pay for quality live music. Remember that each band is different, not just in terms of pricing, but how they sound and what they offer as well. Make note of what differentiates each act and why each seems special and what it is you most appreciate. After reading the information on the following links you will likely be relieved by how much value is offered by the rates of The Matt McCallie Orchestra.


Diamond Empire Band:


     On the local St. Louis scene this band advertises prices as high as $33,700 for a 16 piece big band.


Starlight Orchestra Blog:


     The Starlight Orchestra has multiple articles in their blog that list the prices of competing acts. You might be surprised to learn that many DJs charge $2,500-3,500. On the high end DJs charge up to $50,000 per event.


     Bands like The Starlight Orchestra start around $12,000 for a 10 piece band and if hiring more musicians increase to around $30,000 for a wedding ceremony and reception.


     They also list some of the prices for superstar acts. To hire Jennifer Lopez for your event would cost around $1 million. You can have The Rolling Stones make an appearance for $9 million. We're obviously no longer talking about the average St. Louis wedding bands but hopefully you are starting to get an idea of what sort of numbers to expect.


     This following link will take you to an informative blog written in three sections. Start with part two if you want to begin with prices by clicking here.


Solon Z and the Sapphires:


     This is a Boston based big band that, like The Matt McCallie Orchestra, has a big band instrumentation that includes a full strings section. Also like us, they offer bundled packages with set pricing for convenience. Their string quartet starts at $1,299. Their 24 piece big band costs $8,399 for a three hour engagement. Just a solo vocalist goes for $799.


     Of note, they have clearly spent a healthy amount of effort and investment on their website but as of 2016 they have only one video to showcase their talent and nearly every photo on their website is from that one performance.


     A major difference between The Matt McCallie Orchestra and their band is that we play thousands of songs covering almost every popular style while their band doesn't even play a hundred songs. Click here to see their other bundle prices.


J-Mann Music:


     Pricing for a soloist starts at $150 for an hour and another $100 per musician per hour for most events. A trio for three hours is $1,200-$2,000 for weddings and corporate functions. Their wedding and ceremony bundle runs $2,500-3,500 for a total of three musicians; a soloist or duo at the ceremony, a duo during cocktail hour, and a trio during dinner and dancing.


Ocdamia Strings:


     For most events pricing begins at $200 per musician for the first hour and $50 per musician for each additional hour. Their DJ rates run $750-$1,500. At wedding receptions they charge $3,500 for saxophone, keyboard, drums, bass, guitar, a singer, and lighting. They also offer bundles like a solo violinist for two hours for a bridal party event for $400, solo sax for three hours at a groomsmens' party for $400, and violin and piano for an hour and a half during the wedding ceremony for $600, all discounted to $1,300. Their travel rate beyond the first 20 miles is $1 per mile.


St Louis String Quartet:


     There are now two string quartets in St Louis, MO named the St Louis String Quartet, the name The Matt McCallie Orchestra has been using for its string quartet since 2012. These are acoustic ensembles with no amplification, lighting, or custom song arranging.


Martha Stewart:


     Martha Stewart has an article that not only discusses what prices to expect to pay for a wedding band, she also lists the skills unique to wedding bands and explains their value. For smaller wedding reception music bands she suggests $2,400 to $4,000 as common. To hire a larger Latin or big band ensemble for four hours she expects fees to be around $10,000. You can read more here.


Weddingbee:


     Here is a blog in which couples discussed the quotes they received and what they paid with bands and agents when searching for music entertainment. Some of the highlights show average band pricing in Chicago at $15,000 and $16,000 in New York. String quartet pricing packages were $2,000 to $12,000.


Wedding Stats:


     Here is a site claiming the average cost of a wedding band with 4 musicians for four hours cost $3,357 in 2015. Using that same math an 8 piece band would cost $6,714. A 12 piece band would cost $10,071 and a 16 piece band would cost $13,428.


Agencies:


     Bare in mind that an agent is working to make money for themselves by adding an average of 20% to what the musicians actually earn. Agents often do little work for each event but the relationship between an artist and their agent can be mutually beneficial.


     If a band has an earnest, skilled, and hard working agent the band can benefit from increased exposure to potential clients and may acquire performance opportunities they would miss without the agent's connections. The agent will earn more by booking a band more frequently and at higher rates. Just keep in mind that they are not your entertainer, likely won't be part of your event, and are usually only interested in their commission. Agents also create an additional go between during negotiations and planning. For simple events like charities, corporate events, festivals, and concerts this can be ideal. For more involved events like weddings you may want a direct line to the musicians so there is less opportunity for miscommunication or time lapse to relay information.


     Here is an agency listing four hours with an acoustic jazz combo anywhere from $750-1,500. One of the reasons a small acoustic group is lower priced is that no amplification is required. Amplification can easily add hours to a job on and off site of the performance. They also list exclusive party and wedding bands at $10,000.


     Here is another agency listing four hour trios starting at $2,000 to $5,000 and 7-12 piece bands at $6,000 to $10,000. They also list pricing for wedding ceremony musicians for 30-90 minutes ranging from $150 to $500 per musician.


     Here is another agency with a healthy list of acts organized by price range. Their categories start at up to $1,500 for a duo and go to a section listing several bands at over $10,000.


Headline Booking Group:


     Ever wonder what it would cost to hire your favorite recording artist? Headline Booking Group is an agency that can make that happen. They book various types of entertainers including comedians. Their lowest price range is artists who charge $20,000-$100,000. Here are some artists you may know and their price ranges:




The Matt McCallie Orchestra:


     Visit our booking page and download our event form to find our most up to date price lists. The prices listed reflect our most popular options and almost everything is customizable.



$20,000-$100,000:


.38 Special

Aaron Neville

Air Supply

Becky G

Ben E. King

Big Band Voodoo Daddy

Big Sean

Billy Ray Cyrus

Blue Oyster Cult

Blues Traveler

Bob Newhart

Bobcat Goldthwait

Boyz II Men

Brad Garrett

Brian McKnight

Buddy Guy

Busta Rhymes

Carlos Mencia

Carrot Top

Chaka Khan

Charlie Daniels Band

Cheap Trick

Collective Soul

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Darrell Hammond

Dave Attell

Denis Leary

Dionne Warwick

En Vogue

Flava Flav

Gavin DeGraw

George Benson

Gloria Gaynor

Grand Funk Railroad

Indigo Girls

Jakob Dylan

Jerry Lee Lewis

Joan Jett

John Tesh

Jonny Lang

Kansas

Kathy Griffin

Kool & The Gang

Linda Ronstadt

Live

Lonestar

Madeleine Peyroux

Manhattan Transfer

Marc Cohn

Marlon Wayans

MC Hammer

Mike Epps

Mos Def

Paula Cole

Peter Cetera

Randy Newman

Randy Travis

Richard Marx

Rick Springfield

Roberta Flack

Sawyer Brown

Shawn Colvin

Sinbad

Steve Tyrell

Styx

Sugar Ray

Survivor

Taj Mahal

The Commodores

The Oakridge Boys

Three Dog Night

Toto

Tower Of Power

UB40

Vanessa Williams



$100,000-$250,000:


Adam Lambert

Al Green

Alabama

Alice Cooper

Anita Baker

Aretha Franklin

Arsenio Hall

Babyface

Ben Folds

Big & Rich

Bill Maher

Blondie

Boz Skaggs

Brandy

Brian Setzer Orchestra

Bruce Hornsby

Cake

Cee Lo Green

Chicago

Chris Botti

Chris Isaak

Clint Black

Colbie Caillat

Common

Damon Wayans

Dana Carvey

David Lee Roth

David Spade

Dennis Miller

Dierks Bently

Dwight Yoakam

Emmylou Harris

Erykah Badu

Foreigner

Frankie Vali & The Four Seasons

Gary Clark, Jr.

George Lopez

Gladys Knight

Hall & Oates

Hank Williams, Jr.

Heart

Herbie Hancock

Howie Mandel

Huey Lewis & The News

Ice Cube

Idina Menzel

India Arie

Jackson Browne

Janelle Monae

Jason Mraz

Jessie J

Jewel

Jill Scott

Jim Gaffigan

Jo Dee Messina

Josh Turner

Joss Stone

Kacey Musgraves

Kellie Pickler

Kelly Rowland

Kenny G

Kenny Loggins

Kenny Rogers

Kris Kristofferson

Leanne Rimes

Lee Ann Womack

LL Cool J

Ludacris

Lyle Lovett

M.I.A.

Mannheim Steamroller

Mark Ronson

Martin Lawrence

Martina McBride

Maxwell

Melissa Ethridge

Michael Bolton

Michael McDonald

Mike Tyson

Missy Elliot

Ne-Yo

Olivia Newton-John

Patti Labelle

Penn & Teller

Queen Latifah

Reba McEntire

REO Speedwagon

Sara Evans

Smokey Robinson

Ted Nugent

The B-52's

The Beach Boys

The Black Crowes

The Doobie Brothers

Trace Adkins

Travis Tritt

Trisha Yearwood

Vince Gill

Wayne Brady

Whoopi Goldberg

Wyclef Jean

Wynonna Judd

Wynton Marsalis



$250,000-$500,000:


Alan Jackson

Alanis Morissette

Alison Krauss

Allman Brothers Band

Barenaked Ladies

Beck

Billy Idol

Blue Man Group

Bob Saget

Bonnie Raitt

Brad Paisley

Carole King

Celtic Woman

Chris Cornell-R.I.P.

Counting Crows

Crosby, Still, & Nash

Darius Rucker

Daughtry

Def Leppard

Demi Lovato

Diana Krall

Diana Ross

Ellen Degeneres

Elvis Costello

Englebert Humperdinck

Eric Church

Flo Rida

Goo Goo Dolls

Gretchen Wilson

Hunter Hayes

Il Divo

Irish Tenors

James Blunt

Jamie Foxx

Jane's Addiction

Jason Aldean

Jason Derulo

Jay Leno

Jeff Foxworthy

Jessica Simpson

Joe Walsh

John Fogerty

John Mayer

Julio Iglesias

Kendrick Lamar

Kid Rock

Larry the Cable Guy

Lionel Richie

Liza Minnelli

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Mandy Moore

Marc Anthony

Maroon 5

Matchbox Twenty

Meat Loaf

Meghan Trainor

Miranda Lambert

Montgomery Gentry

Natasha Bedingfield

Paul Anka

Rob Thomas

Sammy Hagar

Sarah Brightman

Sarah McLachlan

Seal

Sheryln Crow

Steve Miller Band

Steve Winwood

Stevie Nicks

Sugarland

The Pretenders

Tom Jones

Tony Bennett

Weezer

Willie Nelson



Over $500,000:


AC/DC

Aerosmith

Alicia Keys

Andrea Bocelli

Annie Lenox

Barbra Streisand

Barry Manilow

Bette Midler

Beyoncé Knowles

Billy Joel

Black Eyed Peas

Bob Dylan

Bon Jovi

Bryan Adams

Carly Simon

Carrie Underwood

Céline Dion

Cher

Chris Rock

Christina Aguilera

Coldplay

Daft Punk

Dave Matthews Band

Dolly Parton

Don Henley

Duran Duran

Eagles

Ed Sheeran

Eddie Vedder

Elton John

Eminem

Enrique Iglesias

Eric Clapton

Faith Hill

Fleetwood Mac

Foo Fighters

Garth Brooks

George Strait

Gloria Estefan

Green Day     

Gwen Stefani

Harry Connick, Jr.

Hozier

Jack Johnson

James Taylor

Jamiroquai

Janet Jackson

Jay Z

Jennifer Lopez

Jerry Seinfeld

Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Fallon

John Mellencamp

Josh Groban

Journey

Justin Bieber

Justin Timberlake





Over $500,000 Continued:


Kanye West

Katy Perry

Keith Richards

Keith Urban

Kelly Clarkson

Kenny Chesney

Lady Antebellum

Lady Gaga

Lenny Kravitz

Little Big Town

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Madonna

Mariah Carey

Michael Bublé

Miley Cyrus

Motley Crue

Neil Diamond

Neil Young

Nickelback

Norah Jones

Paul McCartney

Paul Simon

Pearl Jam

Peter Gabriel

Phil Collins

Pink

Rascal Flatts

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Ricky Martin

Rihanna

Ringo Starr

Rod Stewart

Rush

Santana

Shakira

Shania Twain

Stevie Wonder

Sting

Taylor Swift

The Rolling Stones

Tim McGraw

Tina Turner

Toby Keith

Usher

Van Halen