09/10/2026
So this is the crap I deal with from directory sites like Thumbtack. Look at how bad this lead is. This guy wants 1 (one) musician for his “corporate” event happening NEXT WEEK, and he only wants to pay them $500-$750.
Some poor sap is going to take it, thinking, hey that’s good money for a random Thursday.
Here’s the reality: I would have to pay Thumbtack money in exchange for credits in order to just get in contact with this guy, and then there’s no guarantee he’d even respond. In fact, I’m willing to guarantee I’d be wasting my money because he’ll go with someone else, even if I decided to lower my value to play his gig.
Why is he only reaching out now? Hasn’t he known about this event for weeks, if not months? This kind of oversight tells me it’s going to be a crap gig. They won’t have any plan for where to put you, no sound system, etc. which means you gotta show up early to setup your own system. And it’s outdoors, which means you’re exposing your own stuff to the elements, and they will maybe provide a measly 10x10 pop up tent for you.
For a 5-hour wedding, I’m charging $1,500 as a musician and $900 as a DJ. He’s only willing to pay a basic rate of $150 per hour, forgetting any setup or travel or membership fees. That’s what he thinks 1 musician is worth to entertain 200-250 people. Again, some poor sap will take it. In fact, I bet the guy willing to take $500 will win the gig.
$500 to cancel the plans you just made and trade your whole night. Notice how the gig starts at 1 PM, which means you gotta call off work (no way any self-respecting full-time musician take a gig for that little). Maybe you’re lucky enough you work 3rd shift
I seriously hope this request goes unfulfilled. Because it makes me sad imagining the musician, who has worked so hard at his/her craft, rearranging their life for $500. And even sadder for the ones who paid Thumbtack for credits that will get wasted on this lead after someone else undercuts them.
