Expert: Barry Benjamin - 8/5/2006

Question
Dear Barry,

My name is Larry Turner, and I live in Louisiana.

I am a career musician, piano/keyboard player.

I have played for the last 20 years in Baton Rouge, 5-6 nights per week, in restaurants and hotels here, for weddings, corporste parties, etc. I play all styles, and prefer solo or duo with a guitarist or vocalist, who would relocate with me.

I earn about $1000 per week currently.

I am considering relocating to the Bahamas.

Naturally, my question is : can a experienced, talented piano player find employment at hotels there, and appoximately what do those gigs pay?

Also it would be helpful to know what booking agents currently handle those rooms.

I will wait for your response.

Sincerely,

Larry Turner

Answer
Larry
I have no idea what a musician can or should earn for gigs in Nassau or Freeport which is the 'big' city in The Bahamas. In my neck of the woods, Exuma we don't like to pay any more than $500 to $550 a night (Sat.) for a three piece band. Of course they are now asking for $1000 and so we are not having a live band on Sat. during the summer. We don't get bands from Nassau or the States because they want travel expenses and this takes the cost to us way above whatever we can make. I would suggest you contact the hotels in Nassau and Freeport directly by going on bahamas.com and getting a telephone number. I hope this helps.
Barry