Artist Categories and Prices in India

SINGERS OR LIVE BANDS

Singers may choose to work alone or with other instrumentalists and musicians. Live bands usually consist of four to five members, including singers and instrumentalists. Singers usually charge Rs. 10,000 to 75,000 per event, including breaks depending on the type of event and how long they will have to sing for. If you opt for a famous singer that is in demand, they might charge anywhere between Rs. 1 lakh to 7 lakhs per event, for example at a college fest or big wedding.

Live bands usually set their rates according to per event or a particular number of hours. For a solo performance their charges usually are between Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 for three hours, with two singers they would charge around Rs. 13,000 to 15,000 for three hours and for up to four singers it will be Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 for a three-hour performance.

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COMEDIANS

Comedians are great artists to hire to lighten up the mood of any event. They usually charge between Rs. 20,000 to 1 lakh for a 20-minute set. Famous comedians that work for corporate events charge around Rs. 1 lakh to 5 lakh for a 35-to-40-minute set.

If you want to hire a comedian for a large scale event like a college fest, some comedians work at the basic rate of Rs. 20,000 to 1 lakh for a 20 minute set while the more famous ones may charge between Rs. 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs.

MAGICIANS

Magicians usually work on a contract basis for different entertainment companies. Independent artists usually work at children's birthday parties, corporate parties or family functions. A professional magician can charge anywhere between Rs. 5000 to 5 lakhs per event.

ANCHOR

If you're hosting an event that has a schedule to be followed and announcements to be made, that calls the need for an anchor. A professional anchor can charge anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 per event.

DJ

A disc jockey plays pre-recorded music for an audience, and they are employed at almost every other event including weddings, birthday parties and corporate parties, or event concerts. A DJ may work individually or with a partner if required. They also record their own songs and are usually willing to provide samples if needed.

The average charges for a DJ are about Rs. 7000 to 1 lakh per event. more famous and expensive DJs are also available that charge anywhere between Rs. 1 lakh to 7 lakhs per event, they usually play for huge gatherings like at concerts or college festivals.

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CHOREOGRAPHERS

Most people higher choreographers to learn dance routines for special events like weddings, dance competitions, functions or parties. Some choreographers can also help you employ backup dancers to spice up your performance.

Choreographers charge around Rs. 2500 to 4000 per hour depending on the dance routine you choose to learn and the number of people learning. They also offer packages for weddings or other functions for Rs. 12,000 to 15,000 per performance, which includes a Medley of two to three minutes with a mix of the songs you choose.

MAKE UP ARTISTS

Makeup artists are employed to work at weddings, theatre, television, films etc. Make-up artists usually charge Rs. 7000 to 30,000 per session on an average. Famous professional makeup artists can charge even more and reach up to 1 lakh 50 thousand per session depending on their experience and skill.

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PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photographers are employed to capture the special moments at an event like weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and even corporate parties. On an average a photographer charges Rs. 1250 to 15,000 per hour. Professional photographers may even charge Rs. 25,000 or above per hour.

If you're employing a photographer for an event, they usually have packages ready to cater to your needs for you to choose from. These include a certain number of pictures for the fixed amount or might even be based on hourly rates depending on the photographer. If you go for a freelance photographer, they may charge Rs. 1250 per image to Rs. 7500 per image depending on their skill and expertise.

Some points to keep in mind while hiring an artist for the evening:

• Hire entertainment according to the event- even before you begin your search, think about which type of entertainer you’d like at your event to set the right tone, and what will work best for your venue and your attendees. Consider who will be attending your event – their ages, tastes, and expectations – and make sure you’re not alienating anyone with your choice of act. A solid choice for most evening events is a live band. Professional event bands are experienced in catering to diverse crowds, and no matter their genre specialization, the best bands will always be able to adjust their set to cater for any audience.
• Communication is key- whoever you decide to hire at the end of the day, make sure the path to communication always stays open from both the artists' side as well as yours. To keep the stress of event planning to a minimum, it is recommended to book your respective artist well in advance and clear out all discrepancies before the event takes place for smooth sailing of the event. Check each and every statement of the contract before hand to avoid conflict at a later stage.
• Check the artist’s reviews and referrals- it is better to check the artists reviews and referrals before hiring the artist. If you have contact information about the companies or people who may have hired them before, it would be a great idea to check with them and ask any questions about the artist you may have in mind.
• Hire according to your budget- keep your budget in mind while looking for artists to hire and make a choice accordingly. If you don’t have a huge budget, go with a local artist that has good reviews and will get the job done.
• See the performer in action- The easiest way to judge an artist's abilities is to see him/her performing live. But it may not be possible if the artist lives in a distant location. In that case, relying on the videos could be the best bet. Ask the respective entertainers to share their latest performances. Be sure to demand videos where the entertainers are performing in front of a decent crowd. It will unveil their capacity to captivate the audience.

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