I did a blog entry on the cost of a sax player for weddings and parties a little while ago and came to the conclusion that the average for two 45 minute sets was about £410 with a range from as low as £150 up to £800+.
Since I wrote that, I thought that I’d address some of the more regular sticking points and aspects to a booking that might increase or decrease the quote.
How far will a saxophonist travel?
A fairly obvious one but if the sax player has to travel a significant distance each way then they’ll charge more for the extra time, distance, petrol money and probably subsistence. I have a general rule that I charge travel if the distance is more than an hour each way. Some bands and soloists do 25-45p per mile or a set amount of money per extra hour of driving. Like any job, driving for 8 hours to get paid for working an hour and a half won’t get the best results from your sax player!
That said, saxophone players will likely do deals if they’re doing a lot for you and otherwise earning well. If the distance is particularly large, or they’re in another country and the saxophonist is playing later then it might be that returning the same day isn’t safe or feasible. They’ll require some sort of reasonable accommodation, which doesn’t have to be five-star but does have to be functional; something like a Premier Inn or a Bread and Breakfast.
When will a saxophonist play at my wedding?
This can be a complex answer but generally a sax player is best used for two 45 minute sets with a 30 minute break in-between during your drinks reception or doing the same length later with a DJ.
I get a lot of people asking for me to play a single 45 minute set at 2pm and then a second set at 8pm - this is requesting two separate gigs and is, frankly, pretty cheeky. Most saxophone players won’t wait around an extra three or four hours to finish their set and a significant wait between sets will likely incur extra charges, depending on the player.
Another somewhat cheeky request is booking an hour and then asking for one tune in the ceremony and 55 minutes over dinner 4 hours later… this is unlikely to go down too well with the saxophone player but do ask to see if you can find a suitable middle ground.
Will saxophone players accept cash payments or play at a discounted rate?
Some parts of the year are slower for work and a saxophone player might consider playing for a little less than normal or give a discount in exchange for a cash payment. However, do remember that the client gets excellent value out of a solo saxophonist in comparison to a band or DJ so if the price is too low then you risk losing your booking. When you hire a wedding sax player you're looking to pay for a top performance from a reliable artist who knows exactly what it takes to work a crowd and make your special day memorable - that does come with a price tag!
Nick Pike Saxophone
A talented and versatile saxophonist, Nick plays iconic pop, funk and soul songs reworked with his unique touch. Nick Pike Saxophone is available throughout London, Essex, Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent and Berkshire. Book now >
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